The Calgary Flames are well into their rebuild, and while it may be a few years until they are contenders again, they've got some very solid veterans to lead this young core's development. Most important of all is captain Mikael Backlund, but right now, the 37-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal, meaning he'll play the final season at the Scotiabank SaddleDome and one year at Scotia Place, before likely heading into retirement.
By that time, the Flames are hoping to be slightly competitive again, and with a very good prospect pool, they'll be hoping to name a new captain that can lead them into the future of what could be a very successful era in Flames hockey.
That next captain could be of the same ilk as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and (likely) Macklin Celebrini, where the best young player is named captain in his teens, and if that's the case, it would likely be a player drafted in the next few years. Knowing how the Flames operate, that's highly unlikely, but with the core being made up of young players, it's likely to be one of them that step up as a leader around the core group of Backlund, Jonathan Huberdeau and Zach Whitecloud in the next 18 months.
Obviously, the team could opt to not name a new captain for the season following Backlund's (potential, but likely) departure, but if they aim to have a new leader in place by 2028/29, here are five potential candidates from the current roster.
5. Zach Whitecloud
While never wearing the C with the Vegas Golden Knights, Zach Whitecloud has long been seen as a leader in the NHL, and from the moment he arrived in Calgary, it became incredibly apparent as to why he was a fan favourite with the Golden Knights. Not only is he a humble, grounded and very likeable person off the ice, but on the ice he's already seen as a responsible leader, and if he remains with the Flames for the next few seasons, he'll likely wear an 'A' at the very least.
He comes in at No. 5 on our list as a result of constant trade speculation, and given that he'll be 30-years-old by the end of the 2026/27 season, the Flames may want to bet on a younger player as a captain that can lead the franchise for a decade to come. Still, Whitecloud is certainly captain material, and if Calgary decide it's best to keep him around and have a veteran to lead the team, there's few options better than the Manitoba native.
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