The Calgary Flames came into training camp and the pre-season with very little expected roster drama, with the team hoping that they could run out their pre-planned lines heading into the 2026/27 season.
For the most part, things will stay the same, as a Jonathan Huberdeau injury is the only thing that has truly effected their top-nine, but with the lines set through their full-strength pre-season games, it appears they've made up their mind.
The only thing truly challenging Ryan Huska's potential opening night lineup has been the emergence of Aydar Suniev as an offensive force, so, where should the talented winger start the 2026/27 campaign?
Aydar Suniev Impressed in Every Opportunity This Off-Season
Starting with the NexGen Rookie Showcase, Suniev has appeared in three games for the Flames this pre-season, and in that time, he's scored a combined four goals, and through the organization's first two games, he had all three of their goals.
🔥FLAMES GOAL🔥
— Robert Munnich (@Robert_Munnich) September 21, 2026
Aydar Suniev scores his second goal of the game! He's looked great tonight and in the rookie game.
🎥: Kraken Hockey Network | #Flames pic.twitter.com/DpCnlVN3DF
Not only that, but he's looked much more physically comfortable/imposing, and with his confidence rising on the back of his first full professional season in 2025/26, he's showing that he deserves a top-nine role in the NHL at some point. However, all three of Suniev's performances for the Flames this pre-season came against either rookies or AHL level talent, with that last jump over a full 84-game season. being a very, very tough one to make.
Where Should Suniev Begin the 2026/27 Season?
Obviously, the focus right now in Calgary should be the future, and as a result, many fans would love to see the 21-year-old thrust right into a key position in the lineup. What one may forget however is that Suniev was a -26 in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers a year ago, and while he settled in down the stretch, he still only had 16 goals across 57 games.
That's more than a solid start to his career, and while it would be great to see him on the NHL roster, he deserves a significant spot in the top-nine, but with the team having the likes of Yegor Sharangovich, Samuel Honzek, Connor Zary and Ryan Strome along with the soon returning Jonathan Huberdeau, he just doesn't fit right now.
What that means is the team should be focusing on moving one, two or even three veterans in the top-nine, and when things open up, we won't only see Suniev, but the arrival of their NCAA quartet at the end of the 2026/27 campaign. Ultimately, it would be great to see Suniev full-time in the NHL on the back of a good pre-season, but he should begin the year in the AHL similar to Matvei Gridin a year ago, and if he can continue scoring goals the way he did in the NHL this pre-season, he'll get his opportunity at some point in 2026/27 and won't let go.
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