We are now just one year away from the opening of Scotia Place. As we enter the final season of hockey at the Saddledome, the Flames\u2019 roster outlook is becoming clearer for the 2027-28 season.<\/p>\n
This projected lineup should, of course, come with a grain of salt. It\u2019s impossible to fully predict how an NHL team\u2019s lineup will look in a year. However, the Flames have mostly traded their major trade chips over the past year, so the selling will likely slow down considerably now.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s have some fun and predict how the Flames will line up in a year to open up their state-of-the-art building.<\/p>\n
Flames under contract in 2027\u201328<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s take a look at who the Flames currently have under contract in 2027\u201328 when Scotia Place opens up. The list is very long already after re-signing core players, signing draft picks, and bringing in veterans in trades.<\/p>\n
PlayerAge in October 2027Mikael Backlund38Jonathan Huberdeau34Jacob Middleton31Zach Whitecloud30Devin Cooley30Yegor Sharangovich29Kevin Bahl27Joel Farabee27Martin Pospisil27Dustin Wolf26Conner Zary26Matt Coronato24Simon Nemec23Samuel Honzek22Jonathan Castagna22Axel Hurtig22Matvei Gridin21Zayne Parekh21Andrew Basha21Theo Stockselius20<\/p>\n
As it stands, the Flames already have 20 players under contract for the 2027-28 season. That list includes 12 forwards, six defenders, and two goalies.<\/p>\n
In the past year, Craig Conroy has locked up Matt Coronato, Dustin Wolf, Kevin Bahl, and Simon Nemec to long-term deals. He\u2019s also handed out ELC contracts to Jonathan Castagna, Theo Stockselius, and Andrew Basha.<\/p>\n
Of the group, 15 of the 20 will be below the age of 30 in October of 2027. In fact, nine will be below 25.<\/p>\n
The 2027\u201328 opening night lineup<\/p>\n
For this lineup, I\u2019ve considered the Flames\u2019 current organizational depth charts, potential free agent signings, and the 2027 NHL Draft. I won\u2019t be considering hypothetical trades.<\/p>\n
Forwards<\/p>\n
LWCRWMatvei GridinRyan StromeMatt CoronatoJonathan Huberdeau (A)Cole ReschnyJoel FarabeeSam HonzekMilan Sundstr\u00f6m*Yegor SharangovichMartin PospisilMikael Backlund (C)Aydar SunievJonathan Castagna<\/p>\n
A changing of the guard at forward<\/p>\n
I\u2019m predicting that Morgan Frost, Connor Zary, and Adam Klapka will all be gone before October 2027. I just don\u2019t see any of the three mentioned names having long-term futures in Calgary, at least at the NHL level.<\/p>\n
Veterans staying in Calgary<\/p>\n
Both Huberdeau and Sharangovich are on immovable contracts and won\u2019t be going anywhere. Backlund, meanwhile, is fully committed to staying in Calgary and remaining captain to end his career. Farabee seems to have earned a lot of respect around the organization, even wearing an A last season, so I have him sticking around.<\/p>\n
While he\u2019s certainly not a veteran, Matt Coronato is quickly becoming one of the more experienced forwards on the Flames\u2019 young roster and won\u2019t be going anywhere.<\/p>\n
Ryan Strome may seem like a surprise addition here given he\u2019s a pending UFA, but I wouldn\u2019t at all be surprised to see Conroy keep him around on a short-term deal. The Flames are devoid of veteran bodies down the middle, and he could provide a perfect stop gap while the teams younger centre\u2019s adapt to the NHL.<\/p>\n
Young guns taking over<\/p>\n
Among prospects making the leap in 2027-28, I have Cole Reschny, Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna playing NHL minutes in 2027-28. I also have Matvei Gridin (obviously) and Sam Honzek as regular NHLers in 2027-28.<\/p>\n
I debated putting Ethan Wyttenbach here, but I believe the organization will want him playing at least one year of AHL hockey after leaving college before making the jump to the NHL.<\/p>\n
Draft dreaming<\/p>\n
The 2027 draft is arguably the most important in Flames history. The Flames desperately need a high-end centre prospect, and the top of the 2027 draft class is full of them. I\u2019ll predict they fail to land a top three pick once again, but land Swedish centre Milan Sundstr\u00f6m in the 4-6 range.<\/p>\n
Defencemen<\/p>\n
LDRDKevin BahlSimon NemecZayne ParekhZach WhitecloudJacob MiddletonHunter BrzustewiczYan Kuznetsov<\/p>\n
Key veterans sticking around<\/p>\n