2. Cole Reschny
The final piece of the Flames potential youth movement to end 2026/27 is perhaps their most exciting in the former of centre Cole Reschny, who put the hockey world on notice with his recent performance at the World Juniors Summer Showcase. For the past year, many hoped that Reschny could fill the Flames 2C role for years to come, but given the development and the two-way game that he plays, his recent performances have some believing he could drive play as the Flames top centre for years to come.
Only time will tell on that, but he's clearly a player that's ready for a major role in the NHL both on and off the ice, as he showed his maturity and leadership during the Flames Development Camp following the 2026 NHL Draft.
If Reschny can excel at North Dakota again in 2026/27 and at the World Juniors in Edmonton, the stock will continue to rise, and as Scotia Place opens, he should be seen as a player that represents a huge piece of the future in Calgary.
1. Jonathan Castagna
While we know that the quartet above will all likely arrive in Calgary to finish the 2026/27 season, there's likely one big debut coming during the year, and if the Flames decide to move one or two of Connor Zary, Ryan Strome and Morgan Frost, it becomes even more likely.
Jonathan Castagna was a huge pickup for the Flames at the 2026 trade deadline, acquired in the Mackenzie Weegar to Utah deal, and after winning Defensive Forward of the Year at Cornell, he perfectly fits the Flames model of a third-line centre. The defensive play doesn't mean he's a liability offensively however, as he posted 15 goals and 34 points in 34 games played, and now, the 6-foot-2, 200 pound centre is set to start the year in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers.
It's unclear if he's going to hit the ground running with the Wranglers, but at 21-years-old, he's the type of player the Flames should be prioritizing, and if there's any opportunity to get him significant minutes down the middle, it's a risk they need to take at some point in 2026/27.
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