7 Forwards: Matt Coronato, Morgan Frost, Jonathan Huberdeau (NMC), Mikael Backlund (NMC), Joel Farabee, Connor Zary, Martin Pospisil
Much like the defensive group, the Flames get lucky with some protections here, as Matvei Gridin, Samuel Honzek and the prospect pool of Cole Reschny, Ethan Wyttenbach and Cullen Potter all remain Calgary Flames without needing protection.
Beyond that, there's an obvious pick in the Flames 2025/26 scoring leader Matt Coronato, who could potentially be a key piece of their top-six for years to come, with the hope that he's a 30+ goal scorer in the NHL for a long time to come. The team would also need to protect both Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund due to their no-movement clauses, leaving the Flames with decisions to make on four forwards, with plenty to choose from.
However, given the situation of the Flames likely wanting to protect young players, that means Connor Zary, even given the limited role he's been given would be an obvious candidate, along with Morgan Frost, and even if the latter isn't extended protecting him allows the team to trade him for additional assets.
That leaves the Flames with two options remaining, and given the value of his contract and his play on both the power play and penalty kill, Joel Farabee makes sense for one of those spots after 20 goals in 2025/26, but the other may have been the toughest choice for the Flames. In this situation, we've gone for Martin Popsisil for two reasons: his versatility as a winger and centre, with the ability to play anywhere in the lineup, along with a contract that pays him just $2.5 million a year for the next three seasons.
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