Calgary Flames Player News

The Flames turned to Dustin Wolf in both games of their first back-to-back set this season, but will flip the script on the tail end of their second back-to-back on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth, giving Cooley his first start this season. The 28-year-old Cooley made his NHL debut last season, posting a much-to-be-desired 4.98 GAA and .870 SV% in six contests (2-3-1). If the first week of the season is any indication, Cooley's deployment could be very limited in 2025-26, as Wolf could easily surpass the 53 appearances he had in the crease in 2024-25.

After playing in Calgary's first three games to start the season, Pachal will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 13:38 time-on-ice and has a -1 plus/minus this season. Daniil Miromanov will draw into the lineup as Pachal's replacement.

The Flames have rolled with Wolf in their crease in all three games this season (1-2-0), and will turn to him again in the front end of a back-to-back on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old Wolf was the runner-up for the Calder trophy last season as the NHL's best rookie and will hope to improve in 2025-26 after a mediocre start, posting a 3.99 GAA and .865 SV%. The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as +150 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has been outscored 11-10 through three games (1-0-2).

Ben Jones started his 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in two games with the Iowa Wild, and has now been recalled by Minnesota. Minnesota has assigned Hunter Haight to Iowa in a corresponding move. The 26-year-old Jones played a career-high 26 games with Minnesota last season and scored zero points.

Huberdeau has been sidelined for Calgary's first three games of the season but is nearing a return after skating on Monday. The 32-year-old Huberdeau averaged 19:33 time-on-ice and had 62 points (28G / 34A) in 81 games last season, his most productive campaign with the Flames.

Wolf will somewhat surprisingly get the nod on Thursday as the Flames opt to start him for the second time in as many nights to open their 2025-26 season. Wolf was excellent in Wednesday's season opener in Edmonton, stopping 32 of the 35 shots he faced enroute to a 4-3 shootout victory. Wolf and the Flames enter action on Thursday at +175 on the money line.

Strome is battling an upper-body injury that will delay the start of his 2025-26 campaign. The 32-year-old Strome is entering his fourth season with the Ducks and has been remarkably consistent, finishing each of his previous three seasons with 41 points.

Wolf was excellent in his rookie season, finishing the 2024-25 campaign as the runner-up for the Calder trophy after posting an impressive 2.64 GAA and .910 SV% in 53 games (29-16-8). The 24-year-old Wolf could see an increased workload in 2025-26, starting with tending the twine in Calgary's season opener on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The Flames enter Wednesday's challenging matchup against the high-scoring Oilers as +193 road underdogs.

Calgary placed Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil on IR ahead of their season opener and has recalled Samuel Honzek from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) in a corresponding move. The 20-year-old left-winger was Calgary's 2023 1st round pick (16th overall) and will look to pick up his 1st career NHL point in 2025-26 after failing to do so in five appearances with the Flames last season.

Pospisil returned to practice on Thursday after suffering an injury in a preseason game the night before, but will not suit up for Calgary's season opener against the Edmonton Oilers after being placed on IR on Monday. The 25-year-old Slovak forward is entering his third NHL season after recording career highs in games played (81), points (25), and hits (301).

Huberdeau was ruled out of Calgary's opener earlier on Monday with an undisclosed injury and will now miss the next seven days after he was placed on IR by the Flames. The 32-year-old Huberdeau averaged 19:33 time-on-ice and had 62 points (28G / 34A) in 81 games last season, his most productive campaign with the Flames.

No updated was provided following the game but Huberdeau was absent from practice on Thursday and later listed as day-to-day. The 32-year-old Huberdeau averaged 19:33 time-on-ice and had 62 points (28G / 34A) in 81 games last season; his most productive campaign with the Flames.

Calgary's captain will return for an 18th season with the Flames after Mikael Backlund signed a two-year extension worth $3.25M AAV ($6.5 million total) on Wednesday. The 36-year-old remained a steady nightly presence in Calgary's lineup last season, with 15 goals, 32 points and 175 SOG in 76 games played while averaging 18:44 TOI/GP.

One of the biggest remaining RFAs of the offseason is off the board after Calgary signed Connor Zary to a three-year contract worth $3.775 million AAV ($11.325M total). The 23-year-old bruising forward was Calgary's 2020 1st round pick (24th overall) and has assimilated nicely to NHL hockey with 27 goals and 61 points in his first 117 NHL games across two seasons. He is expected to play a pivotal role in Calgary's offence for the 2025-26 season.