Where Will the Flames Finish in 2026/27?
Last year, many expected the Flames to bottom out and finish 32nd in the NHL, but with some late victories, the team ended 29th in the standings, ending up with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. In 2025/26, the team moved several key veterans, trading another this off-season, and now with the team turned over to the future, it's the first true opportunity for the team to bottom out.
That won't be easy though, as Seattle, Vancouver and Chicago are all seen as teams that could finish last in the NHL, but with the Flames, more than any other team needing a top-two pick in the NHL Draft, this is their opportunity.
As their last year in the Saddledome, it's not the way that the organization would want to go out, but right now they have a plan, and finishing in a position to get a high draft pick is a key part of that plan, so for the first time ever, the Flames could be in a position to pick top-three after the 2026/27 campaign.
Who Could Break Out for the Flames in 2026/27?
We know the top young players that could produce for the Flames this season in Parekh, Nemec, Frost, Gridin, Coronato etc., but every year there appears to be a breakout campaign, so who could that be in 2026/27?
The first name that comes to mind is Yan Kuznetsov, who found himself in a solid role a year ago, and with a full year in the NHL under his belt, his confidence should be high heading into a year where he's likely to be paired with Zach Whitecloud.
However, the biggest potential breakout name remains Samuel Honzek, who showed potential in 18 games a year ago as a two-way winger, and given his growth both physically and mentally, if he finds a consistent role in the top-six, he has a chance to solidify himself as a key piece of the Flames future.
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