The halfway mark of the 2025–26 season is here, and it was a roller coaster first half for the Calgary Flames. After the worst start in franchise history, the team played some solid hockey to close out 2025, climbing their way all the way back to .500 at one point. After a wild first 41 games, it’s time to hand out grades to each Flames forward.
We’ll only consider players who have logged at least 200 minutes at 5v5 so far this season. While the offence as a whole continues to be one of the worst in the NHL, I’ve chalked up a lot of the teams struggles to coaching and will judge each player individually given the system they play in.
All numbers are courtesy of naturalstattrick.com.
A-
Nazem Kadri
Nazem Kadri remains the face of the Flames offence. On a team that ranks 27th in the NHL in goals per game, Kadri continues to chug along at the age of 35. He currently leads the Flames in points with 32, and in assists with 24. His 122 shots are also 25 more than the next best Flames forward.
Kadri continues to prove how valuable he is even as he enters his late 30’s. Currently on pace for 64 points, Kadri is tracking to be the only Flame to finish with more than 50 points this season.
Blake Coleman
Just like Kadri, Blake Coleman has continued to show how valuable he is to this team even in his mid 30’s. The veteran forward is having one of the best seasons of his career offensively, currently leading the Flames in goals with 13. He also ranks fourth for points with 21, and third for shots with 96.
On top of his offensive production, his 53.71 CF% and 54.75 xGF% are both tops among Flames forwards. Entering what could be his final weeks as a Flame, Coleman has been one of the teams best forwards.
Mikael Backlund
Entering the second half of the season, 36 year old Mikael Backlund is second on the Flames in points with 26. I don’t think anyone would’ve predicted that in October. The veteran centre is having one of his best seasons in years, playing a pivotal role on offence and defence for the Flames every night. On pace for 52 points, Backlund is tracking for the second best season of his 17 year career and remains an integral part of the roster.
B
Matt Coronato
After an incredibly tough start to the season, Matt Coronato has rounded into form of late. Entering the midway point of the season, he currently sits second on the Flames in goals with 11, and is third for points with 24. Playing at a 23 goal, 49 point pace is impressive considering just how poorly his season began. He remains the Flames best young forward and one of their only offensive threats.
C+
Jonathan Huberdeau
Jonathan Huberdeau is always the toughest forward to grade. In terms of his contract, his 21 points in 36 games deserves a big fat F-. However if we remove the contract from the equation, he’s been one of the teams better forwards through 41 games. Although that’s not saying much.
He’s currently fourth among Flames forwards for points with 21 in 36 games and also ranks top four for CF%, xGF%, and HDCF%. Regardless, it’s hard not to be disappointed in Huberdeau’s production given his history.
Joel Farabee
Much like Frost, Joel Farabee has been a lot better this season, although you’d still like to see a little more out of the former Flyer. Farabee currently ranks seventh among forwards for points with 18, and fourth for goals with nine. The good news is his underlying numbers have been solid, sitting second on the Flames in xGF%. An okay first half from Farabee, but nothing to write home about.
Morgan Frost
While he’s been better than last season, you’d still like to see a little more out of Morgan Frost. The 26 year old looked strong in October and November, but his play started to tail off in December, registering just two points in his last 10 games dating back to December 10th. He’s also middle of the pack when it comes to underlying metrics. Overall, a very meh first half from Frost.
D
Yegor Sharangovich
The Yegor Sharangovich contract continues to look like Craig Conroy’s biggest ever whiff at the halfway point of the season. While the 27 year old has shown some flashes at times, he’s still been dreadful offensively this season given his contract.
He currently ranks eighth among Flames forwards for points with just 13 in 37 games. That’s a 29 point pace across a full 82 game season. Sharangovich was a ghost for most of the first half of the season.
Connor Zary
It was a nightmare first half of the season for Connor Zary, who had a ton of expectations coming into the year after a long, drawn out contract negotiation in the summer. The young forward has managed a measly 13 points in 39 games, falling well short of expectations while also posting some middling underlying numbers.
This was supposed to be a bounce back year for Zary, but instead he’s playing at a 27 point pace. Here’s hoping his solid December is a sign of things to come in the second half.
F
Adam Klapka
Is Adam Klapka an NHL player? That’s a question a lot of people should be asking right now. The big Czechia forward came into the year with high expectations after a solid end to the 2024-25 season. Unfortunately nothing has gone to plan for Klapka, who sits with just three goals and eight points in 40 games at the midway point of the year.
He’s also sitting at the bottom of the team in underlying numbers, ranking second last for CF% and xGF%. On pace for under 20 points, Klapka’s time as an NHL regular may be coming to an end sooner than expected.
F-
Ryan Lomberg
Vibes aside, Ryan Lomberg continues to be one of the very worst players in the entire NHL. The veteran and Stanley Cup winner currently has just five points in 37 games, while also ranking dead last among Flames forwards for CF%, xGF%, and HDCF%. There’s simply no reason to keep Lomberg around instead of younger, more talented forwards.
