The Calgary Flames have only just accepted their rebuild, but after moving plenty of veterans over the past 2-3 years, their roster is shaping up as one that has plenty of potential for years to come.
However, that means there's going to be plenty of pain in the short-term, and while there's going to be plenty to watch in 2026/27 (Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, the potential full-time arrival of players like Samuel Honzek and Aydar Suniev), there's going to be plenty of pain as well.
That was on full display today when NHL.com revealed their predicted Calgary Flames lineup for the upcoming season, and it's safe to say that it's going to be one of, if not the worst teams in the entire National Hockey League.
How are we liking this @NHLFlames projected lineup? 🔥
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) July 10, 2026
Read more on Calgary's projected lineup ➡️ https://t.co/RQm3WCYb4i pic.twitter.com/3JmE4Rzemf
The chemistry of Gridin-Frost-Coronato on the top line was a fun story to watch last year, and if that continues this year, that could be a genuine line for the future in Calgary, but beyond that in NHL.com's predicted team, there's very little to be excited for.
Defensively, the predicted piece has Kevin Bahl and Zach Whitecloud as the Flames top pairing, and we already know that won't be happening, as the team will want to prioritize both Zayne Parekh and Simon Nemec as their top two right-shot defenseman. Whether or not that means Whitecloud will be traded, only time will tell, but given that this year is all about the future, the team need to play their young names in as big a role as possible.
In net, the team will roll with Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley once again, and while the team are set in net, if the lineup does indeed look like this on opening night, the Flames and their fans are in for a tough year, hopefully with some more bright spots deep on the horizon.
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