Earlier this week, hockeystats.com revealed a new tool and tracking metric, Box WAR. I’ll let them explain it below. The full methodology can be found on their website.
“Box WAR is built to do what WAR cannot: rigorously evaluate player performance in a smaller sample, such as the first months of a season, a playoff run, or one single game. It begins with the score of the game: a team’s Box Goals Above Average values add up to its goal differential (excluding empty net goals that didn’t impact the game’s outcome) before being translated from average to above-replacement and from goals to wins.”
So, by using this new handy metric, we can gauge who has truly been the most impactful Flames so far this season on offence, defence, and overall despite the small sample size.
Offence
Here are the top 5 Flames in terms of on-ice offence this season, using the Box WAR metric and taking the projected per-84-game total.
For some added context, Nathan MacKinnon currently leads the NHL with an on-ice offence/84 of 17.7. The worst total in the league belongs to Jonas Siegenthaler at -5.56.
| Player | Position | On-ice Offence/84 |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Farabee | LW | 2.52 |
| Aydar Suniev | C | 2.15 |
| Morgan Frost | C | 2.1 |
| Ryan Strome | C | 1.68 |
| Simon Nemec | RD | 1.68 |
Some unsurprising names in there, and also one big shock. Let’s start with the obvious: the Flames veteran duo of Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost has carried the team offensively this season. The duo has combined for 18 points this year, and currently sit first and fourth in team scoring. They’re driving the bus right now on offence.
Shoutout to the newly acquired Simon Nemec as well, who has been sneakily effective on offence this year. While he’s only got five points, he deserves better, sitting with the fourth-best on-ice offence on the team so far.
Lastly, a player who didn’t even make the Flames roster out of camp is currently their second most effective offensive player thus far. That player is, of course, Aydar Suniev. Through nine games, the rookie has three goals and four points, and ranks sixth on the Flames in scoring.
The worst overall on-ice offence/84 total on the team belongs to Yegor Sharangovich. Who would’ve guessed?
Defence
Next up, defence. Here are the top five Flames so far this season when it comes to on-ice defence/84.
For context, Jacob Slavin currently leads the league with an on-ice defence/84 rating of 10.92. Bryan Rust ranks last at -14.64.
| Player | Position | On-ice defence/84 |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Bahl | LD | 2.24 |
| Zach Whitecloud | RD | 1.82 |
| Martin Pospisil | C | 0.49 |
| Matvei Gridin | C | 0.21 |
| Ryan Strome | C | 0.07 |
No surprises at the top, as Kevin Bahl and Zach Whitecloud have by far been the team’s two best defensive players in 2026-27. In fact, they’re the only Flames defenders sitting above 0 right now on the defensive end. Bahl in particular has been incredible this season, operating as the team’s primary shutdown defender in every situation, and succeeding with flying colours.
Is that Matvei Gridin, at the top of the team for defensive metrics? Yes, it is. The sophomore winger has been an analytical darling this year. Ryan Strome also deserves a shoutout as he currently sits top five in both on-ice offence and defence. The veteran centre has been a key cog for the Flames at both ends of the ice.
Zayne Parekh currently sits with an ugly -5.95 on-ice defence/84 rating, which ranks as the 45th worst total in the NHL.
Overall
Lastly, who have been the Flames’ top players across all metrics? This includes offence, defence, goal creation, power play, penalties, and everything in between.
For context, Connor McDavid currently leads the NHL with an absurd 113.08 GAR this year. Oliver Kapanen ranks last at -16.97.
| Player | Position | GAR |
|---|---|---|
| Matvei Gridin | RW | 14.98 |
| Morgan Frost | C | 14.49 |
| Matt Coronato | RW | 12.11 |
| Joel Farabee | LW | 6.51 |
| Ryan Strome | C | 4.69 |
Gridin’s performance against the Maple Leafs earlier this week was the stuff of legend. The winger dominated at both ends, upset some grumpy old men with the griddy, and led the Flames to a big win. It also boosted him to top overall GAR/84 on the team this season.
Frost meanwhile clearly wants a big payday next summer, as the pending UFA is currently second on the team in GAR. The veteran centre should command a big return at the 2027 trade deadline if this keeps up.
Matt Coronato has also been an integral part of the Flames’ success so far, sitting second on the team in goal creation/84 behind only Gridin and contributing all over the ice.
The worst Flame so far this season in terms of overall GAR/84 is none other than Sharangovich at -3.08. The veteran winger has once again been dreadful this season.
