3. Flames Goaltending Depth Isn't Quite Ready for the NHL
At the NHL level, the Flames will be led by the tandem of Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley, and while the team overall is expected to struggle, the duo could be one of the best in the National Hockey League in 2026/27. Beyond that, the team have some very intriguing prospects, especially in 2026 second-round draft pick Tobias Trejbal, who did not play in this game due to his commitments to UMass ahead of the new season.
Instead, the game featured both Kirill Zarubin and Arsenii Sergeev, and unfortunately, neither was a standout in this game for Calgary, showing that while they have potential, they'll both need significant seasoning in the AHL before being ready for the NHL.
That doesn't mean the Flames won't listen to offers on Cooley if they come in this season, but with the team hoping to have a solid tandem in net, right now, it became even more apparent that neither Zarubin nor Sergeev is yet ready for a full-time role at the next level. Obviously, this game shouldn't rule either out as future NHLers, as they both have the talent to make that jump, but right now, neither player is fully ready to take the leap in 2026/27.
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