Calgary Flames first 10 games of 2025-26 season takeaways

The Calgary Flames entered the 2025-26 season with modest expectations, but even those low hopes have been tested through the first 10 games. With a dismal 2-7-1 record leaving them at the bottom of the NHL standings, the early returns suggest this might be a longer season than fans anticipated. After nearly sneaking into the playoffs last year, missing by just a single point, the Flames brought back essentially the same roster. However, the chemistry and execution that nearly got them there have been conspicuously absent. While there’s still plenty of hockey left to play, these opening games have revealed critical issues that need addressing.

Despite the poor record and struggles at both ends of the ice, not everything has been doom and gloom in Calgary. Young prospects continue to develop, veterans are finding their rhythm, and there are signs of improvement emerging in recent performances. The teams five-goal outburst against the New York Rangers to snap their eight-game losing streak offered a glimpse of what this team can be when firing on all cylinders. Here’s a comprehensive look at the key takeaways from the Calgary Flames’ first 10 games of the 2025-26 season.

Offensive struggles define Calgary Flames first 10 games 2025-26 takeaways

The most glaring issue facing the Flames has been their inability to generate consistent offense. With just 21 goals through their opening 10 contests, Calgary owns the dubious distinction of having the NHL’s least productive attack. The goal-scoring drought has been particularly painful during their eight-game skid, where offensive zone time rarely translated into quality chances and even fewer resulted in goals.

Matt Coronato, who burst onto the scene last year with 24 goals and 47 points, has been one of the biggest disappointments. The 22-year-old winger has managed just two goals—both coming in the same game—and three points through nine appearances. The struggles became so pronounced that head coach Ryan Huska made him a healthy scratch for the Rangers game, hoping the message would spark a response.

Connor Zary represents another young forward who hasn’t taken the expected step forward. After a promising rookie campaign in 2023-24, Zary’s development was derailed by knee injuries last season, ultimately forcing him to accept a bridge contract rather than the long-term deal he seemed destined for. Through 10 games this year, he’s posted just one goal and one assist while bouncing between center and wing, failing to establish any rhythm or consistency.

The veteran core has provided some offensive stability, with Nazem Kadri leading the team with seven points, Blake Coleman contributing six, and Mikael Backlund adding five. However, relying on players aged 33, 35, and 36 to carry the offensive load isn’t sustainable over an 82-game schedule. The Flames desperately need their mid-20s cohort—players like Morgan Frost, Yegor Sharangovich, and Joel Farabee—to start producing at the level management envisioned when assembling this roster. According to The Hockey Writers, this lack of secondary scoring has been one of the defining characteristics of Calgary’s disappointing start.

Power play woes highlight special teams concerns

Special teams performance has been equally troubling, particularly on the power play where the Flames have converted at an abysmal 12.2% clip. With just five goals on 41 man-advantage opportunities, Calgary ranks 29th in the league, ahead of only Colorado, Nashville, and Carolina. For a team already struggling to score at even strength, the inability to capitalize with the extra skater has been devastating to their chances of winning games.

The power-play struggles were compounded early in the season when Jonathan Huberdeau missed the first five games. Huberdeau serves as one of the unit’s primary playmakers and facilitators, and his absence left a significant void in the team’s offensive structure. However, the return of the veteran forward hasn’t sparked the dramatic improvement many hoped for, suggesting deeper systemic issues with the setup, execution, and shot generation.

Head coach Ryan Huska has experimented with different personnel groupings and formations, but none have produced sustained success. The unit lacks a true quarterback on the blue line who can consistently create high-danger chances, and the forwards haven’t been able to find the chemistry needed to move defenders around and create shooting lanes. In a tightly-contested league where power-play efficiency often determines playoff positioning, this deficiency could prove fatal to Calgary’s postseason aspirations.

The penalty kill has been more respectable, operating at 75% efficiency and ranking 19th in the NHL. While not spectacular, it’s adequate enough that it hasn’t single-handedly cost the Flames games. The problem remains that in an era where special teams often determine outcomes, Calgary can’t afford to give away potential points through poor power-play execution while their even-strength offense continues to sputter.

Dustin Wolf’s workload raises sustainability questions

One of the most concerning trends through the first 10 games has been Dustin Wolf’s heavy workload. The 24-year-old goaltender has started nine of the team’s first 10 games, a pace that would see him appear in 73 or 74 contests if maintained throughout the season. That would represent the highest total for any NHL goaltender since Cam Ward played 74 games for Carolina in 2010-11—a workload that modern sports science suggests is neither sustainable nor advisable.

Wolf’s raw statistics appear concerning at first glance, with a 3.37 goals-against average and .886 save percentage representing significant declines from his spectacular rookie campaign. However, context matters, and a deeper examination reveals that Wolf has been considerably better than those numbers suggest. After struggling in the team’s opening back-to-back against Edmonton and Vancouver—where playing consecutive nights clearly affected his performance—Wolf has looked much sharper in his last four starts, making several spectacular saves and giving the Flames a chance to win.

The decision to ride Wolf so heavily falls partly on backup Devin Cooley, who has made just one appearance all season. Ironically, Cooley looked excellent in that start against Utah on October 15, stopping 29 of 31 shots in a loss. His performance should have earned more opportunities, particularly in the second game of back-to-back sets where Wolf has visibly struggled. As reported by the Calgary Herald, the debate over Wolf’s workload has already begun among analysts and fans alike.

Moving forward, the coaching staff needs to find more opportunities for Cooley to spell Wolf, especially if the Flames continue their downward trajectory and playoff hopes become increasingly distant. Preserving Wolf’s health and confidence for next season when the team may be more competitive should become a priority if this year becomes a write-off.

Defensive inconsistencies plague the blue line

While offensive struggles have dominated headlines, the Flames’ defensive performance hasn’t been much better. Only Minnesota and San Jose have allowed more goals than Calgary through the first 10 games, a troubling statistic for a team that prided itself on defensive structure under Huska. The blue line has been wildly inconsistent, with some pairings performing admirably while others have struggled to provide the necessary support.

MacKenzie Weegar’s early-season difficulties represent the most significant concern among the defensive corps. The veteran blueliner, who established himself as a legitimate top-pairing defender since arriving in 2022-23, has posted just two assists and carries a team-worst minus-10 rating. His invitation to Team Canadas Olympic orientation camp last summer raised expectations, but the pressure of making the 2026 Olympic roster may be weighing on him mentally.

Weegar’s struggles are particularly problematic because he’s typically one of Calgary’s most reliable and steady presences on the back end. His ability to eat minutes, shut down opposing top lines, and contribute offensively makes him invaluable to the team’s success. Whether he’s dealing with an undisclosed injury or simply going through a rough patch remains unclear, but the Flames desperately need him to rediscover his game if they hope to climb back into playoff contention.

On a more positive note, the Kevin Bahl and Rasmus Andersson pairing has shown significant improvement compared to their disastrous end to last season. Andersson finished 2024-25 with the NHL’s third-worst plus-minus at minus-38, a statistic that deeply disappointed the competitive defenseman. Both Bahl and Andersson are plus-players through 10 games this year—an impressive achievement on a team with the league’s worst goal differential. Their resurgence is particularly important for Andersson, who is widely expected to be traded before the March deadline. The better he plays, the more valuable he becomes to contending teams seeking a puck-moving right-shot defenseman with playoff experience.

Young prospects show promising development despite team struggles

Despite the Flames’ overall struggles, several young players have demonstrated encouraging signs of development that could pay dividends in future seasons. Zayne Parekh, the ninth-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has looked exactly like what he should be—a 19-year-old finding his way in professional hockey. With one assist in eight games, Parekh has received power-play time and appears to be growing more comfortable with each passing game.

The historic numbers Parekh posted in the OHL generated significant excitement, but realistic expectations recognize that adapting to the NHL’s speed, size, and tactical complexity takes time. There will be ups and downs as he makes the necessary adjustments, and so far, he’s handling the transition about as well as anyone could expect. His skating ability and offensive instincts flash regularly, suggesting the player he’ll become once he fully acclimates to the professional game.

Matvei Gridin’s situation illustrates the organizational depth Calgary is building. After an impressive preseason and one goal in four NHL games, Gridin was assigned to the AHL Calgary Wranglers when Jonathan Huberdeau returned from injury. The move made sense because Gridin was waiver-exempt, but his absence has been felt. Since joining the Wranglers, he’s been dominant, scoring three goals and seven points in just four games.

For a Flames team starving for offense, Gridin’s scoring touch and offensive creativity make his return to the NHL inevitable. It’s not a question of if but when he’ll be recalled, and once he’s back, he may force management’s hand by making it impossible to send him down again. Morgan Frost has also emerged as a pleasant surprise, sitting third on the team with five points and showing the two-way awareness that makes him valuable in multiple situations.

Martin Pospisil’s absence creates noticeable void

One underrated factor in Calgary’s struggles has been Martin Pospisil’s absence due to an undisclosed injury sustained during the preseason. While the Slovak winger doesn’t produce gaudy offensive numbers, his blend of speed, physicality, and relentless forechecking makes him invaluable to how the Flames want to play. His ability to win puck battles along the boards and create turnovers in the offensive zone opens opportunities for skilled linemates to capitalize.

The statistical evidence of Pospisil’s importance is striking. Since he broke into the NHL in November 2023, the Flames have posted a dismal 4-14-1 record when he’s been unavailable due to injury or suspension—a .237 points percentage that would be the worst in the league over a full season. While correlation doesn’t always equal causation, the pattern is too consistent to ignore.

Pospisil has been skating on his own but hasn’t yet joined team practices, suggesting his return remains weeks rather than days away. When he does come back, he won’t single-handedly fix the team’s offensive woes or defensive breakdowns, but his presence should help stabilize the bottom-six forward group and provide the energy and intensity that’s been missing. His return could also allow Huska to reunite effective line combinations that were broken up by his absence, potentially creating better chemistry throughout the lineup.

The Flames have sorely missed Pospisil’s physical edge and willingness to engage in the dirty areas of the ice. In a division featuring physical teams like Edmonton, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, having players who can match that intensity makes a significant difference over the course of a season. Getting him healthy and back in the lineup needs to be a priority for the medical staff.

Signs of improvement emerge in recent performances

While the 2-7-1 record tells a bleak story, context reveals reasons for cautious optimism. The Flames have shown noticeable improvement in their last two games, scoring three goals against Winnipeg and five against the Rangers—accounting for eight of their 21 total goals in just two contests. The offensive floodgates may finally be opening as players gain confidence and line combinations begin to develop chemistry.

The victory over New York was particularly encouraging, representing the type of complete performance the Flames need to replicate consistently. They generated sustained offensive pressure, converted on their chances, and received solid goaltending from Wolf. The line of Morgan Frost centering Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri showed real promise, combining skill, hockey IQ, and finishing ability in ways that could make them a legitimate scoring threat moving forward.

Yegor Sharangovich breaking his scoring drought with his first goal of the season against the Rangers could prove catalytic for the Russian winger. Players of Sharangovich’s caliber often need to see one go in before they can relax and play their natural game. If he can build momentum from that goal and start producing at even half the rate he’s capable of, it would provide a significant boost to the team’s offensive depth.

The challenge now becomes sustaining that momentum and building on it. One good game doesn’t erase nine poor ones, but it can serve as a template for how the Flames need to approach every night. The pieces are there for Calgary to be competitive—they just need to find the consistency to put together winning streaks rather than losing ones.

Long-term perspective: Could struggles benefit future success?

While nobody in the organization wanted to see this type of start, finishing near the bottom of the standings may not be entirely catastrophic for the Flames’ long-term prospects. This harsh opening has reinforced what many suspected—Calgary lacks a true elite, game-changing forward who can take over games and elevate teammates. A high draft pick in 2026 could provide the opportunity to address that deficiency.

The 2026 NHL Draft is expected to feature several high-end forward prospects who could develop into legitimate top-line centers or dynamic wingers. Landing one of those players would accelerate the rebuild or retool that seems increasingly inevitable. While tanking is never an explicit organizational strategy, accepting the reality of a down year and focusing on development rather than desperately chasing a playoff spot that may not materialize could prove beneficial.

This perspective shift would also allow the Flames to be more aggressive at the trade deadline in moving pending unrestricted free agents or players on expiring contracts. Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri, and others could fetch significant returns from contending teams if Calgary embraces their position as sellers. Those assets—whether prospects, draft picks, or young players—would strengthen the foundation for future success.

The key is avoiding the middle ground where teams finish just outside the playoffs but also miss out on elite draft positioning. That purgatory can trap franchises for years, preventing them from accessing the star-level talent necessary to compete for championships while also not being good enough to make postseason runs. If the Flames are going to struggle, they might as well embrace it fully and maximize the long-term benefits.

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The Calgary Flames’ first 10 games of the 2025-26 season have revealed a team in transition, struggling to find its identity and execution. While the 2-7-1 record and last-place standing in the NHL are deeply concerning, not everything is lost. Young prospects like Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin continue developing, veterans are starting to produce, and recent performances suggest improvement may be coming. The key questions facing management now are whether to commit to competing this season or pivot toward building for the future.

With 72 games remaining, the Flames still have time to salvage their season, but the margin for error has essentially disappeared. Every game becomes a must-win, and the team needs its underperforming players like Matt Coronato, MacKenzie Weegar, and Connor Zary to rediscover their games immediately. If the struggles continue, however, Calgary may be better served accepting this reality and focusing on development, asset accumulation, and positioning for a brighter future. The next 10 games will likely determine which path the organization ultimately chooses.