Calgary Flames announce 2018-19 preseason schedule
By Ramina Shlah
The Calgary Flames announced their preseason schedule for this upcoming season with two games played in China.
The Calgary Flames preseason schedule looks slightly different than it normally does but having some games in China will do that to you. They’ll play ten games in total and won’t have their regular split-squad game against the Edmonton Oilers. That’s generally what both teams do in the first preseason game of the season, one in each arena with a relatively equal mix of vets and rookies on each squad.
However, the team will be having a split-squad game when they play in China, with the more veteran squad in China and the players with less experience here. As we already found out during the regular season, the Flames will have two games in China, both against the Boston Bruins.
With the China trip, the Flames also won’t be participating in the annual Young Stars Tournament. Instead, they’ll have two rookie games before preseason starts. One on September ninth, the other on the 12th, both against the Edmonton Oilers.
Related Story: Flames to play two preseason games in China
Here is how the official preseason schedule looks:
| Date | Opponent | Time (MT) | Location |
| Saturday Sept.15 | vs. Boston Bruins | 2:00 AM | Universiade Center (Shenzhen) |
| Monday Sept.17 | vs. Edmonton Oilers | 7:00 PM | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Wednesday Sept.19 | @ Boston Bruins (split) | 5:30 AM | Cadillac Arena (Beijing) |
| Wednesday Sept.19 | @ Vancouver Canucks (split) | 8:00 PM | Rogers Arena |
| Friday Sept.21 | @ Winnipeg Jets | 6:00 PM | Bell MTS Centre |
| Saturday Sept.22 | vs. Vancouver Canucks | 7:00 PM | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Monday Sept.24 | vs. Winnipeg Jets | 7:00 PM | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Tuesday Sept.25 | vs. San Jose Sharks | 7:00 PM | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Thursday Sept.27 | @ San Jose Sharks | 8:30 PM | SAP Center |
| Saturday Sept.29 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 1:00 PM | Rogers Place |
Per Ryan Pike, due to the China trip, the Flames have also been exempt from having an eight-game limit during the preseason and from the veteran requirement.
"Veteran requirement" is dressing 8 players with a certain amount of NHL experience in pre-season. With rosters in Canada and China for the first half of camp, #Flames would face challenges. But that requirement's waived. https://t.co/2qrT1I98Nv
— Ryan Pike (@RyanNPike) June 14, 2018
Thanks, Ryan.
Next: What could happen for the Flames at the 2018 NHL Draft
Well, this will be a fun pre-season! Only *checks non-existant watch on my wrist* three months to go!