The Calgary Flames enter the 2026–27 season after a challenging 2025–26 campaign where they finished seventh in the Pacific Division with a 34–39–9 record. Let’s compare this season’s Flames to last season’s and evaluate whether or not they will surpass last season’s point total of 77.
Forwards
During the 2025–26 season, veteran presence defined Calgary’s forward corps. However, key players such as Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman were traded. Because of this, former first-round picks like Matvei Gridin and Samuel Honzek are positioned for significantly expanded roles in 2026–27.
Morgan Frost is also expected to have a bigger role next season. Without Kadri, the Flames’ centre depth looks even more grim than before. Frost will be forced to take over as first-line centre. Additionally, the Flames’ fourth line will see some minor changes. This summer, the Flames acquired Maxim Tsyplakov and parted ways with Ryan Lomberg.
However, a large chunk of the forward group will more or less remain the same. Several players, such as Mikael Backlund, Matt Coronato, and Joel Farabee, will be returning for the 2026–27 season. Their roles in the lineup will be very similar to what they were in 2025–26.
Defencemen
Just like the forward group, Calgary’s blue line saw a couple of significant trades over the last calendar year. In the middle of last season, Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar were both traded. Their departures clear the runway for budding superstar Zayne Parekh to take on substantial responsibility.
The arrivals of Simon Nemec and Jake Middleton also give the Flames’ defence a completely new look. Nemec, a young defender who established himself as a full-time NHLer in New Jersey, immediately inherits major two-way duties on the right side. Meanwhile, Middleton adds physical grit and high-end penalty-killing capacity to the left side.
Goaltenders
Although the forward and defence groups will both be different in 2026–27, the crease offers the Flames a sense of continuity. In 2025–26, Dustin Wolf handled a heavy workload with 55 starts. During the franchise’s final season at the Saddledome, Wolf will remain the club’s unquestioned starter.
Devin Cooley emerged as one of the NHL’s most efficient backup goaltenders in 2025–26. He delivered high-end underlying metrics in 31 games played. Cooley’s strong performance provided head coach Ryan Huska with a reliable 1B option. He will be looking to carry that momentum into 2026–27 and have another successful season.
Will the Flames finish with more points than last season?
It is unlikely that the Flames will surpass 77 points in 2026–27.
Calgary finished fourth-last in the NHL standings last season and will probably finish even lower in the standings next season. The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers, whom the Flames finished ahead of in the standings in 2025–26, are both positioned to take a step forward next season after acquiring high-profile players such as Bowen Byram and Pavel Dorofeyev. Meanwhile, the Flames traded away several veteran leaders and will likely take a step back in the standings.
Additionally, the 2025–26 Flames finished dead last in the league in goals scored with 208. There is nothing that suggests they will significantly improve in this category next season. The team will be reliant on young players occupying top-six and top-four roles for the first time.
Overall, the Flames lack the dynamic offensive talent needed to succeed in today’s NHL. They will likely finish in the basement of the NHL standings in 2026–27.
