2025/26 Opening Night Lineup - Forwards
Left Wing | Centre | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
Joel Farabee | Nazem Kadri | Adam Klapka |
Matvei Gridin | Morgan Frost | Matt Coronato |
Connor Zary | Mikael Backlund | Blake Coleman |
Ryan Lomberg | Justin Kirkland | Yegor Sharangovich |
Obviously, the big missing piece from this was Jonathan Huberdeau, who missed the first few games of the Flames season due to injury, and in 2026/27, he's going to likely do the same after his 2025/26 campaign ended due to injury.
In this lineup, we see the likes of Blake Coleman, Nazem Kadri, Justin Kirkland and Ryan Lomberg, all of whom will be elsewhere in 2026/27, and with Adam Klapka looking out of place on the top line, he'll likely be permanently moved to the fourth line this coming season. While this lineup was never a playoff contender, there was certainly some talent there, but heading into 2026/27, the change is clear, with the team having even less talent, but more clarity on their situation moving forward.
2026/27 Expected Opening Night Lineup - Forwards
Left Wing | Centre | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
Matvei Gridin | Morgan Frost | Matt Coronato |
Samuel Honzek | Mikael Backlund | Joel Farabee |
Connor Zary | Ryan Strome | Yegor Sharangovich |
Maxim Tsyplakov | Martin Pospisil | Adam Klapka |
This year, there's a clear opportunity for the Flames to prioritize the future, and with a top line that features three players under 26, we could see a very good line that produces at the top of the Flames order. Beyond that, this is a team that lacks elite level talent, but if the team can give both Samuel Honzek and Connor Zary a role, this won't be a complete waste of a season for the Flames.
On top of that, plenty of players in this lineup are either ageing or potential trade candidates, so with the organization now looking towards the future more and more, this is a lineup that's highly appropriate for a rebuilding squad.
Add us as a preferred source on Google