Six questions the Calgary Flames must answer this summer

The Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 2024 IIHF World Championships are currently in full effect, while the Calgary Flames are sitting at home patiently waiting for a huge summer ahead that could effect this franchise for decades to come.

With key free agent decisions, potential trades and a draft that could help or hinder this rebuild, Craig Conroy certainly has his work cut out for him as he looks to clean up the mess left by former General Manager Brad Treliving. The next few months are expected to be chaos for the Flames, so we’ve put together a simple list of five questions this organization has to answer this summer to take the franchise forward in a positive manner.

What does an extension look like for Oliver Kylington?

After the 2023-24 season, Oliver Kylington officially became a free agent, but with what he went through and the support the Flames organization and fans gave to him through a difficult time, most assume that the talented defenseman would re-sign with the team. At 26-years old, the defenseman is just hitting his prime, and with just 33 games played in the past two years due to his mental health struggles, he’s got much less wear and tear on his body than most players in the NHL at his age.

So, with his free agency upcoming, the question remains, what does an extension look like for Kylington?

In his only full year in the league, Kylington tallied a solid 9 goals and 31 points in 73 games back in 2021-22, but given the time off, it’s tough to judge a comparable contract that he could ink this summer. The talent is there however, and with Noah Hanifin traded at the deadline, Kylington has a role to step into as the offense defenseman of this group, with the second pairing seemingly the perfect spot for him heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

Our guess is that Kylington signs a 1-2 year deal worth between $1.5M and $2.5M a season, but if the Flames can get him for longer than that at a similar cap hit, it would be a major victory for Conroy and the front office who need experience on the blue line until the prospects are ready to impact winning at the NHL level.

Do Calgary want a new Iginla in town?

All attention for the Calgary Flames and the Flames have now turned to the 2024 NHL Draft, after officially finding out they will be drafting at No. 9 overall when the event rolls around in late June. There’s expected to be so much talent available when the Flames are on the board, but to no ones surprise, all the talk has been around Kelwona’s Tij Iginla, whose last name obviously carries much weight in the city of Calgary.

Over the past year, no one in the 2024 draft class has risen more than the talented forward, who has the ability to play both wing and centre, making him the perfect prospect to potentially lead the Flames into the future. If he falls to No. 9, the Flames have a massive decision on their hands, because while he may have the talent to be worthy of that spot, the pressure that his last name will bring is something Calgary need to take into serious consideration.

Ultimately, the Flames are likely to go best player available, and if that’s Iginla, so be it, but given that Jarome will now be in the front office moving forward, it’s a question that he and Craig Conroy will need to weigh up heavily.

Buy or sell in free agency?

While most fans look at this roster and the future and believe a rebuild is the way to go, Craig Conroy recent addressed the future, revealing they are looking closely at the way the Dallas Stars were able to re-tool on the fly so well. The best way to know exactly how the Flames are looking at their future is how they approach the 2024 free agency class, as they could land a solid name or two if they are indeed looking to compete.

Names like Steven Stamkos, Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel, Jonathan Marchessault and many more could all be used for the Flames to compete right now, but if they are looking to rebuild properly, it makes sense to stay away from expensive names like this. With the team locked into the likes of Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, adding more expensive free agents isn’t the right move, but knowing the front office’s desire to make a playoff push, don’t be shocked to see them in the race for a top name.

How do the Flames address goaltending over the summer?

At the trade deadline, Craig Conroy attempted to move Jacob Markstrom, but after his deal was shot down by the higher ups, it derailed Markstrom’s season and saw him struggle mightily as the ‘chased a playoff spot’. Over that time, Dustin Wolf stepped up and showed tremendous potential, and given his age and sustained success at the NHL level, it appears he’s set up to be the teams No. 1 moving forward as the rebuild continues.

After failing to move the veteran at the trade deadline, now Conroy will look to ignite talks again, with the organization needing to move him before the 2024-25 season begins. With rumours the team are looking to move up in the first round, the Flames may look to add another veteran goaltender, as Dan Vladar has been very up-and-down in his role as a backup over the past two years.

Simply put, the Flames need to move Markstrom and move forward with Wolf as their top starter, but beyond that, there’s many different scenarios that could see the Flames look to a trade or free agency to land a veteran backup and some more future assets.

What does the future hold for the Flames 2025 free agents?

Last season, the biggest talking point for Calgary was the impending free agency of Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin and Nikita Zadorov, with the team moving four of them and locking up their captain to an extension. The story of the 2024 summer won’t be as critical, as there are just three names to hit free agency at the end of the season; Yegor Sharangovich, Andrew Mangiapane and Andrei Kuzmenko.

With all three approaching their late 20’s, the development of the Flames youth could play a big part in how they are handled moving forward, so now the Flames need to weigh up whether or not to move them in the summer or look to the trade deadline to boost their value. If the flames can play this well, they could end up with many more future assets, and if they can hit on a majority of their draft picks, the future could look very, very bright in Calgary.