It’s been a while since the Calgary Flames have played an NHL game. Before the NHL paused for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Flames defeated their provincial rival Edmonton Oilers, by a score of 4-3 on February 4. However, their forward lines could look a little different the next time Calgary takes the ice due to injuries and more.
Based on the Flames’ first day back at practice after returning from the Olympic break on February 18, here is how their forward group could line up when they visit the San Jose Sharks on February 26:
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Yegor Sharangovich | Mikael Backlund | Matt Coronato |
| Connor Zary | Nazem Kadri | Joel Farabee |
| Blake Coleman | Morgan Frost | Matvei Gridin |
| Ryan Lomberg | John Beecher | Adam Klapka |
The top six remains intact
The Flames’ top two lines remain the same as in their most recent game. However, the top line will need to be better offensively, as captain Mikael Backlund and the team’s leading goal scorer, Matt Coronato, have only two points in their last five games.
Yegor Sharangovich hasn’t scored a single point since January 21. Conversely, the Flames’ second line was quite solid before the Olympic break. Joel Farabee has three points in his last three games, while the team’s leading point producer, Nazem Kadri, has four points in his last three games. Additionally, their linemate Connor Zary scored a goal in the final game before the Olympic break.
Jonathan Huberdeau is out for the season
The Flames’ lineup will be without Jonathan Huberdeau, who is one of their primary offensive catalysts. Following the team’s final game before the Olympic break, the club announced that Huberdeau will undergo season-ending hip resurfacing surgery in March. As the team’s highest-paid player, he will be difficult to replace. However, his absence from the lineup will provide an opportunity for younger players within the Flames’ organization to see an increased role.
Matvei Gridin deserves a larger role in the Calgary Flames’ lineup
Matvei Gridin is the perfect player to replace the playmaking that Huberdeau brought to the lineup. Gridin was recalled from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers after helping Team Pacific win the 2026 AHL All-Star Game. Gridin has shown flashes of skill in his 13 NHL appearances this season and will only get better with more NHL playing time.
Blake Coleman’s return to the lineup
After being sidelined since January 8 with an upper-body injury, Blake Coleman shed his non-contact jersey during the February 18 practice. He was officially activated off the injury reserve on February 20 and will likely join Gridin and center Morgan Frost on the third line. Coleman’s return to the lineup is also the perfect opportunity for the Flames to showcase his value before the March 6 trade deadline.
Martin Pospisil’s status is uncertain
Martin Pospisil, who represented Slovakia at the 2026 Olympics, may not be available to play for the Flames on February 26 since he was absent from Slovakia’s Bronze Medal Game against Finland due to illness. Reportedly, Pospisil “has been trying to play through something” at the Olympics, indicating that he may still be dealing with a nagging injury when he returns to Calgary.
John Beecher’s return to the lineup
Even if Pospisil can play, it seems plausible that head coach Ryan Huska would prefer a fresh set of legs in the lineup. John Beecher, who hasn’t played a game since January 3, was recently activated off the injury reserve and seems like the perfect candidate to replace Pospisil in the Flames’ lineup. If Beecher plays on February 26, he will almost certainly slot in as the fourth line center to play with Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka, two of the Flames’ most physical players.
Looking forward
The loss of a veteran pillar like Huberdeau is undeniably a blow to the forward depth, but it has cleared a path for players like Gridin to prove that they belong in the NHL full-time. As Calgary prepares to face the Sharks on February 26, we’ll see if the returns of Coleman and Beecher provide enough of a spark to carry this forward group through the final stretch of the season.
