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Greatest Saddledome Games: Punching a ticket to their first Stanley Cup Final (May 14, 1986)

Ryan Pike — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:00:45 GMT

As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: one of the most important games in the team’s development into a legitimate powerhouse.

The Atlanta Flames walked so the Calgary Flames could run. During the 1970s, Flames management constantly tinkered with the group they inherited from the 1972 expansion draft. By the time they arrived in Calgary in May 1980, the team was starting to get pretty good.

By the mid-1980s, the team was starting to get really good. On May 14, 1986, they hit a major milestone on home ice, as they managed to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the very first time in franchise history.

The lead up

When the Flames arrived in Calgary in 1980-81, they ended up having their best playoff performance ever. They rode some strong performances to get past Chicago and Philadelphia to reach the Stanley Cup Semi-Final round, before beating eliminated by the Minnesota North Stars in six games.

The Flames made the post-season in the next four seasons but couldn’t repeat that breakthrough. Well, until 1985-86, when they managed to get past Winnipeg and Edmonton to reach the third round for the second time. (The series-deciding goal against Edmonton was the infamous Steve Smith own goal.) And so the Flames faced St. Louis in the Campbell Conference Final with a trip to the Final series on the line.

The clubs split the first four games evenly. The Flames beat the Blues at home in Game 5 to give themselves a chance to advance in St. Louis, but lost 6-5 in overtime. They returned to the Saddledome with a second chance to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

The box score

Calgary (1-0) – Al MacInnis (4) (Tim Hunter, Jamie Macoun) – 5:42, first period
Peplinski Cgy (elbowing), Ramage StL (holding) – 12:37, first period
Bartel Cgy (cross-checking) – 17:23, first period

Calgary (2-0) – Colin Patterson (6) (Paul Reinhart) – 1:42, second period
Baxter Cgy (charging) – 1:53, second period
Nattress StL (hooking) – 5:47, second period
Beers StL (elbowing) – 8:52, second period
Ramage StL (tripping) – 14:28, second period
Hunter Cgy (fighting, misconduct), Norwood StL (fighting) – 17:37, second period

Bartel Cgy (holding) – 3:36, third period
Tonelli Cgy (hooking) – 15:40, third period
Macoun Cgy (hooking) – 16:52, third period
St. Louis (2-1) – Eddy Beers (3) (Ric Nattress, Bernie Federko) PP – 18:02, third period

Final Score: Calgary 2, St. Louis 1

W: Mike Vernon (1 goal against on 18 shots); L: Rick Wamsley (2 goals against on 25 shots)

The aftermath

The Flames faced the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens in the 1986 Stanley Cup Final. It didn’t go great, with the Flames winning Game 1 (woo-hoo!) and then suffering four consecutive losses in what’s known as “the gentleman’s sweep.” (But we’ll get to that later.)

To file under “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”: five members of the 1986 Blues roster ended up joining the enemy, and were part of the 1989 Flames lineup that won the Stanley Cup: Doug Gilmour, Mark Hunter, Ric Nattress, Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – HM: William Stromgren

Paige Siewert — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:00:48 GMT

William Stromgren, like Rory Kerins, cracked the FlamesNation prospect list no problem last summer but with the new talent and draft picks the Flames have picked up, he’s fallen outside of the top 20. He still collected votes and in the short term, is a player to watch for NHL opportunities with the Flames. Last off-season, he was number 16 on the list. Prior to that, he was number eight.

William Stromgren

Forward; Shoots Left
Born June 7, 2003 (age 23) in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
6’4”, 190 pounds
Drafted in the second round (45th overall) by Calgary in the 2021 NHL Draft

The Stromgren drop off in the rankings isn’t exactly due to a change in talent. As he gets older and has more time in pro hockey, his ceiling tends to be more apparent. Where Stromgren currently stands, he has the ability to be a call up option on the wing but is not at an AHL graduate status. Stromgren’s first NHL games came early in 2026. He got a three game shot starting with an away start against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan 7, was scratched for the game against the Boston Bruins the next day, then played the next two road games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets.

William Stromgren makes his NHL debut tonight for the @NHLFlames! 🔥

📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/c8sn4YNCqh

— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2026

In his three game stretch, he started around eight minutes of ice time, then was down to just under six and a half minutes by the last appearance. He had between 10-12 shifts in these games. Stromgren’s confidence comes from his passing and space to make plays. Both of these opportunities were limited in the NHL. It’s tough to make that immediate impact while you’re trying to catch up to the speed of play while also trying to generate some chemistry with your linemates, so the pressure was really on for him in this showing.

Stromgren rejoined the Wranglers after this stint and had a bit of a slump. It was coincidentally one of the toughest parts of the season for the Flames’ AHL affiliate and he was left off the scoresheet for over a month. On Feb. 7, William broke the slump and went on to have an 11 point run over an eight game stretch. Stromgren’s overall performance last season was quite similar to the season before, with 47 points in 66 games broken down by 11 goals and 36 assists. He was second in team assists, just under Dryden Hunt.

William Stromgren scores first for the Wranglers. Make that seven points in three games for number 11 now pic.twitter.com/ZHY43PDfM4

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) January 1, 2026

FlamesNation’s managing editor, Ryan Pike, shared some thoughts on Stromgren from his viewings last season and beyond. Pike said,

“On paper, William Stromgren is a really exciting player. He’s got size. He’s got skill. He’s played at big international events. He’s played pro hockey in two very high-end leagues, in the SHL and AHL. The challenge for him so far in the Flames system has been putting all of his tools together at once. He’s shown flashes of brilliance at times, but he just needs the consistency to put it all together.”

William Stromgren with the game on his stick and he wins it! pic.twitter.com/vhqYR2Nj3W

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) February 22, 2026

Expectations for the 2026-27 season

The organization still sees the potential in William Stromgren and that goes a long way. The decision to extend him for another year while they cleaned house of the majority of the rest of the players on the Wranglers shows their confidence in him. Right as free agency opened, Stromgren was secured on a one year, two-way contract.

This will be a very important fall for the Swedish winger. He is no longer waiver exempt and will likely be one of the players they try to hide in the first waiver assignment of the season post-training camp. Stromgren got that little taste of being an NHL player and hopefully that motivated him to take things to another level this summer. He is going to have to be good fast in a shortened preseason and has an uphill battle to try and crack an opening night roster.

If he does not, he still seems to be in that type of player pool where most teams have guys like him kicking around. He would probably clear waivers in the fall and spend most of the season in the AHL. He’d need to set himself apart from the new guys on the team and continue to be one of their best set-up guys on the ice. I’d also like to see him take more chances on the ice. He’s gotten much better at protecting the puck and making space for himself, and shows sparks of highlight reel stick-handling and shot attempts. He needs to find more ways to dance around his opponents and establish an identity he can carry with him to the NHL. Stromgren should be shooting for a longer look in the NHL and if he is really to grab that by the reins, he could see between 10-20 games this season if not more if he really surprises.

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Wranglers extend Quinn Olson, sign two more forwards to minor league contracts

Paige Siewert — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 12:00:50 GMT

In early August, the Calgary Wranglers signed three players to add to their depth chart. This included Will Dineen, Tyler Inamoto and Tyson Feist. In the days following this announcement, they also signed three additional forwards including a contract extension for Quinn Olson, and new deals for Alexander Campbell and Ryan Hofer.

All three guys are inked to two-way AHL/ECHL contracts.

Quinn Olson

25 years old, 5’11”, 170 lbs

Drafted by the Boston Bruins 92nd overall in 2019

Position: Left shot centre

Last Team: Rapid City Rush

Last Season’s Performance: 61GP, 17G, 33A, 50 total points

Olson is a Calgary product who made his way up through the Calgary Bisons and Okotoks Oilers systems in his minor hockey days. After being drafted by the Bruins, he signed with the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2019-20 and played five seasons with them. In his last two seasons, he served as the team’s captain and had over 20 point seasons in his last three years.

In the 2023-24 season, Olson made his professional debut for one game with the Ontario Reign and spent time between the Reign and Greenville Swamp Rabbits in 2024-25. His season was mostly in the ECHL with 29 games played and 19 points over that stretch. He was signed to a two-way AHL/ECHL contract with the Wranglers in mid-October 2025 and spent the season with ECHL’s Rapid City and was just recently signed to a one year extension.

With Olson’s 50 point year, he was second in team assists, sixth in goals and fourth in points. He’s a core player for the Rush and if he keeps up what he did last season, he’s likely to get a look with the Wranglers at some point this season.

Alexander Campbell

25 years old, 5’10”, 176 lbs

Drafted by the Nashville Predators 65th overall in 2019

Position: Left wing/left shot center

Last Team: Adirondack Thunder

Last Season’s Performance: 46GP, 10G, 24A, 34 total points

Campbell is a former BCHL Rookie of the year for his performance with the Victoria Grizzlies in 2018-19. He had a 67 point campaign in 53 games and really put himself on the map for the NHL draft that Spring. After being picked by Nashville, Campbell played a year with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL serving as their alternate captain. After this, he went the NCAA route to play three seasons at Clarkson University before finishing up at Northeastern University his senior year. His last year was his best with 42 points in 36 games.

After he wrapped up his collegiate career, Alexander Campbell got a nine game professional preview with the Milwaukee Admirals where he had three points in that time. Next season, he got another 18 games with the Admirals then got five games in the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators. Last season, Campbell had his first year that was entirely in the ECHL and was in the New Jersey Devils’ system with the Adirondack Thunder. He’s yet to play a full season in his professional career so hopefully he is able to stay healthy and find a fresh start with the Wranglers and/or Rush.

Ryan Hofer

24 years old, 6’3”, 192 lbs

Drafted by the Washington Capitals 181th overall in 2022

Position: Left shot centre/winger

Last Team: Hershey Bears/South Carolina Stingrays

Last Season’s Performance:

AHL – 11GP, 1A, 1 total point

ECHL – 45GP, 2G, 15A, 17 total points

Hofer is a product of Winnipeg, MB and went the WHL route with the Everett Silvertips for his major junior career. He had a one season overlap with Dustin Wolf in 2020-21 and served as the team’s alternate captain for 36 games before being traded to the Kamloops Blazers in the back half of the season. He made his debut in professional hockey in the 2023-24 season with the Hershey Bears, where he played in 40 games.

In 2024-25, he was no longer regarded as a regular AHLer and played five games with the Bears and 52 games in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. Last season, he played one game with the Bears in their second game of the season then got a lengthy stretch with the Stingrays once again before coming back to the AHL for a 10 game stretch for just under a month between late January and late February.

Hofer has some depth to jump especially if he wants time up the middle at the AHL but weirder things have happened. He’s a good guy to have for friendly competition in the extended affiliation and appears to be one of the many players working towards getting closer to the point per game production he had in junior.

Due to their contracts and the amount of options the Wranglers now have for their roster, the listed players above will likely not get extended time in the AHL but are definitely options. Based on what the Flames’ AHL squad is lacking or if any of these guys separate themselves from the pack, they could get stretches of games at multiple times over the course of the season.

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Classic Saddledome Moments: The time Doug Risebrough shredded an Oilers jersey with his skates (January 2, 1986)

Ryan Pike — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:00:42 GMT

As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: a classic, infamous moment in Battle of Alberta history.

Pals, there’s been a certain animosity between Calgary and Edmonton for well over a century, dating back to the Canadian Pacific Railway opting for a more southern alignment in the early 1880s that put Calgary smack-dab in the middle of the busiest shipping operation in the country.

And while the enmities of 100 years prior had nothing to do with the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, it just so happens that members of those two hockey clubs do not like each other. At all. There may be no better example of two teams hating each other than an incident that took place on Jan. 2, 1986 at the Olympic Saddledome.

At the time, things weren’t going great for the Flames. They had lost seven in a row, effectively burning off the momentum they had generated throughout November and early December. They were backsliding towards the .5o0 mark after a pretty solid start to the season and were a bit cranky about it.

By the latter stages of the second period, the Flames were down 4-1 to the Oilers. And so, things got a bit ugly.

Four fights broke out: Doug Risebrough fought Marty McSorley. Then Tim Hunter fought Dave Hunter. Jim Peplinski and Kevin McClelland fought, to the point where each player got two fighting majors. And then Paul Baxter fought McSorley. Risebrough had already been steered into the home penalty box when a linesman, trying to get things back in order, absent-mindedly chucked an McSorley’s discarded jersey into the Calgary penalty box.

Whoops.

Whether he was upset about the losing streak. Or the in-progress loss to the Oilers. Or the fight. Or just a combination of everything, Risebrough put McSorley’s jersey on the floor of the penalty box and walked over it with his skates, slicing and dicing it with his blades.

Here’s how the Calgary Herald’s Gyle Konotopetz described the aftermath a couple days later in the Jan. 4, 1986 edition of the newspaper, as Oilers head coach Glen Sather was upset about the incident:

“Sather wants the NHL to discipline Flames’ Doug Risebrough for shredding the sweater of Marty McSorley with his skate blades, while sitting in the penalty box after a brawl during Edmonton’s 4-3 win Thursday night.”

Ultimately, Risebrough was never disciplined by the league for the incident. The Flames’ losing streak lasted for 11 games, when it was snapped by rookie netminder Mike Vernon, who the club had called up from the minors.

While the Oilers dominated the regular season series in 1985-86 – winning six of eight meetings – the Flames got a measure of revenge in the playoffs, eliminating the Oilers in the second round en route to their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

And linesmen have been a little more careful about which penalty box they toss errant jerseys into.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – HM: Yegor Yegorov

Ryley Delaney — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:00:38 GMT

The Calgary Flames have drafted a handful of Russians over the last few drafts.

Since becoming the team’s general manager following the 2022-23 season, Craig Conroy has spearheaded four drafts and has taken six Russian-born players. Two of which came in the 2023 draft, including one of the two Russian goaltenders he selected.

Yegor Yegorov earned one vote, ranked 13th, by one of our writers. While it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in our 2026 summer top 20, he does get an honourable mention.

Yegor Yegorov

Goaltender; catches left
Born Aug. 30, 2005 (age 20) in Moskva, Russia
6’3”, 191 pounds
Drafted in the sixth round (176th overall) by the Flames in the 2023 NHL Draft

While Yegorov didn’t rank on my ballot, I watched a few of his games in Russia due to what I like to call “bad-sleep-schedule-itis.” For the four consecutive seasons, Yegorov spent last season in the Junior Hockey League (MHL). It was also his third team at the level.

Beginning his career with Moscow Dynamo Jr. in 2022-23, he managed to post a .915 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average in 15 games, leading to the Flames selecting him 176th overall in the 2023 draft.

His work load increased and his numbers improved in 2023-24, but he took a massive step back in 2024-25 with Krylya Sovetov Jr. Over 20 games, he finished the season with a .904 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average. That season was also the first that he got a look in the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL), basically Russia’s version of the American Hockey League. He played four games and didn’t play particularly well.

Yegorov needed a bounce-back season in his age-20 season, doing just that. Playing with Moscow Spartak Jr. MHA, the hometown product finished his season with a career-best .918 save percentage in a career-high 38 games. While his 2.97 goals against average was high, it’s a good indication that he faced a bunch of shots.

Turning 21 in late August, Yegorov announced his commitment to Miami University (Ohio) for 2026-27, his first season in North America.

For those that don’t have “bad-sleep-schedule-itits,” here’s a scouting report courtesy of Elite Prospects’ Dylan Griffing.

Yegorov’s development didn’t necessarily stagnate in Russia, but since joining the Spartak Moskva system, he was only given chances on their inferior MHL clubs and put up decent, not great, numbers. With seemingly no promising path forward, his move to the NCAA makes a ton of sense for working his way to at least an AHL deal.

Expectations for the 2026-27 season

Yegorov hasn’t played behind a great team the last two seasons. There are two divisions in both MHL conferences: the gold division and the silver division. Both Krylya Sovetov Jr. and Moscow Spartak Jr. MHA are in the latter, the inferior division. Yegorov just hasn’t played on good teams the past two seasons.

Miami are a bit better, coming off a season where they finished seventh in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. While they didn’t make it far in the NCHC, they could find some solace knowing they lost to the eventual National Tournament winners, Eric Jamieson’s Denver.

Yegorov will be competing with two undrafted goaltenders for the starting job, 21-year-old Benji Motew and 23-year-old Matteo Drobac. The latter appeared in all but one of Miami’s games last season, so there’s a strong chance Yegorov will serve as the team’s backup.

That said, he’ll likely get more playing time than Miami’s backup netminder last season, and in those opportunities, he’ll need to shine. Doing so will at least earn him more opportunities and give the coaching staff trust if Drobac falters.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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NHL Notebook: Kings set to retire Anže Kopitar’s number in February

Ryley Delaney — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:00:54 GMT

The 2026-27 National Hockey League season is rapidly approaching.

One player who won’t participate in it is Los Angeles Kings legend, Anže Kopitar. Following the Kings’ sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, the Slovenian forward retired. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for the team to honour him, as the Kings are set to retire his number 11 on Feb. 24, 2027.

ONE OF ONE. The @LAKings will retire Anze Kopitar’s No. 11 and unveil a bronze statue of the franchise’s all-time leading scorer @cryptocomarena on February 24, 2027, against the Montreal Canadiens.

📰: https://t.co/kFHSitNSw4 pic.twitter.com/yeDcQh00e7

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) August 7, 2026

Kopitar spent his entire 20-year career with the California based team. Drafted the same overall as the jersey on his back in 2005, the centre went on to score 452 goals and 1,316 points in his 1,521 career games.

On a personal level, he managed to win two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies, and the 2021-22 Mark Messier Leadership Award. But that pails in comparison to the two Stanley Cups he helped the team win in the early 2010s.

Kopitar got a cup of coffee in the post-season in 2010, but he helped the Kings become the first eighth-seeded team to win it all, doing so in 2012. Over 20 games, he scored eight goals and 20 points. The Kings fell in the Western Conference Finals to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013, but they got their revenge in 2014, winning the WCF in an instant classic, en route to another Stanley Cup.

Despite the two Stanley Cups, the Kings only made it out of the first round three times in Kopitar’s 20-year career. In 107 games, the Slovenian finished with 27 goals and 89 points.

Noah Philp retires

Another player who retired ahead of the 2026-27 season is Noah Philp. In HV71’s recent press release, the Swedish Hockey League club announced that Philp has retired.

ℹ️ Noah Philp bryter sitt kontrakt med HV71 och avslutar hockeykarriären.

🗨️ "Jag ber verkligen om ursäkt till HV71 och samtliga involverade kring tajmingen av mitt beslut, men jag har dock beslutat mig för att sluta spela hockey. Min motivation för hockeyn är inte där fullt ut… pic.twitter.com/L2xUhhRjqx

— HV71 (@HV71) August 7, 2026

Philp is a Canmore, Alberta product and even had a cup of tea with the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat toward the end of the 2018-19 season. His next three seasons (only two of which were played) were spent at the University of Alberta, joining the Edmonton Oilers’ organization shortly after.

In 2022-23, he scored 19 goals and 37 points in 70 games, but briefly retired following the season due to personal reasons. Returning for the 2024-25 season, Philp scored 19 goals and 35 points in 55 AHL games, playing 15 games with the Oilers that season where he had two assists.

Philp made the Oilers roster out of pre-season, scoring two goals and three points in 15 games in 2025-26. But in December, he was waived and claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes. He played just two more NHL games, then another 29 AHL games to end the season.

Penguins sign Ville Koivunen

On Thursday morning, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they’ve signed forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year deal worth $4 million annually.

The Penguins have re-signed restricted free agent forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year contract.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 6, 2026

Koivunen, 23, was drafted 51st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2021 draft. Before the 2024 trade deadline, he was part of the package sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins to land Jake Guentzel.

The Finn made his NHL debut the following season, picking up seven assists in eight games, along with 21 goals and 56 points in 63 AHL games. He got a longer look in the NHL this past season, scoring two goals and seven points in 39 games, while also being productive in the AHL, finishing with 13 goals and 41 points. In the post-season, he added four goals and nine points in 15 games.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Greatest Saddledome Games: Opening night (October 15, 1983)

Ryan Pike — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:55 GMT

On Oct. 15, 1983, the puck dropped for a National Hockey League game at the Olympic Saddledome for the very first time.

The opening puck drop was, to be blunt, a long time coming.

Construction of the Saddledome began at the end of July 1981, after the provincial government intervened to ensure that zoning changes would be approved in time. That intervention ended months of community opposition to building an arena in Victoria Park; oddly enough, the Stampede Corral had already existed in the community for three decades, but the thought was building a larger arena across the street would be disruptive – or at least more disruptive than the Corral had been.

Building a more modern area to replace the Corral was, itself, a decades-long process. The Corral had been home to several hockey teams for decades, but in the 1970s it was deemed insufficient to host major league hockey – the NHL shared that verdict when the World Hockey Association was exploring a merger potentially involving the Calgary Cowboys – and the Stampede Board’s long-rumoured plans to expand the Corral’s capacity never came to fruition.

But the parallel paths of the city’s third Olympic bid and the arrival of the Flames from Atlanta finally got things over the finish line. A few months after construction began, the International Olympic Committee awarded Calgary the 1988 Olympics.

The lead up

The Flames began the 1983-84 season on a three game road trip, going 1-1-1. Their first game at the Saddledome was on a Saturday night, and the first half of a back-to-back, home and home set with the Edmonton Oilers.

The box score

Edmonton (1-0) – Jari Kurri (4) (Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey) – 1:51, first period
Baxter Cgy (roughing) – 2:31, first period
Huddy Edm (hooking) – 3:05, first period
Eaves Cgy (interference) – 3:20, first period
Jackson Edm (fighting major), Barry Edm (roughing), Brubaker Cgy (roughing double-minor) – 12:02, first period
Calgary (1-1) – Lanny McDonald (3) (Eddy Beers, Paul Reinhart) PP – 12:18, first period
Messier Edm (fighting major, game misconduct), Linseman Edm (roughing), Jackson Edm (misconduct), Hanson Cgy (fighting major, roughing, misconduct), Peplinski Cgy (fighting major, misconduct, game misconduct) – 14:24, first period
Edmonton (2-1) – Glenn Anderson (4) (Kevin Lowe, Randy Gregg) PP – 19:25, first period
Risebrough Cgy (hooking) – 19:56, second period

Edmonton (3-1) – Wayne Gretzky (7) (Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri) PP – 1:06, second period
McDonald Cgy (high-sticking), Anderson Edm (high-sticking) – 3:29, second period
Gregg Edm (high-sticking) – 6:08, second period
Lumley Edm (hooking) – 9:27, second period
Calgary (3-2) – Dave Hindmarch (1) (Lanny McDonald, Doug Risebrough) – 19:06, second period

Edmonton (4-2) – Ken Linseman (2) (Pat Hughes) – 14:02, third period
Calgary (4-3) – Doug Risebrough (2) (Jamie Hislop, Paul Reinhart) – 17:31, third period

Final score: Edmonton 4, Calgary 3

W: Grant Fuhr (3 goals against on 41 shots); L: Reggie Lemelin (4 goals against on 31 shots)

The aftermath

For the curious, the first-ever fight at the Saddledome was between Mark Messier and Jim Peplinski.

The Flames played five more road games before returning home, going 1-4-0 on that road trip, returning home on Oct. 26 to face St. Louis with a 2-6-1 record. They beat the Blues by a 5-4 score for their first home win at the Saddledome.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – HM: Trevor Hoskin

Ryley Delaney — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:00:34 GMT

The Calgary Flames have drafted some enticing prospects in the latter rounds of the draft since Craig Conroy took over as the general manager.

None are better than Ethan Wyttenbach, but one player who has put up consistently strong point totals in his two seasons in the NCAA is Trevor Hoskin. The Belleville, Ontario product earned three votes, with the forward coming in as my 19th-best Flames’ prospect.

That wasn’t enough to rank him, instead earning an honourable mention, as he did in our 2025 rankings.

Trevor Hoskin

Forward; shoots right
Born May 18, 2004 (age 22), Belleville, ON
6’1”, 196 lbs
Drafted in the fourth round (106th overall) by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft

Hoskin was born in Belleville, Ontario, a city a couple of hours east of Toronto down Highway 401. He played three seasons for the Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, scoring 42 goals and 100 points in 52 games, with another 11 goals and 28 points in 18 post-season games.

That led to the Flames selecting the forward with the 106th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Committed to Niagara University, Hoskin scored 12 goals and 39 points, tied for the team-leading in the latter category.

Not only did he share a team-lead in points, but his 39 points were tied for fourth in all of the Atlantic Hockey America division. That earned him the conference’s Rookie of the Year, as well as an appearance on the All-Atlantic Hockey America second team.

It was undeniably a good season for Hoskin, but it got even better once he transferred to Merrimack College for the 2025-26 season.

Joining the Hockey East school, Hoskin finished with 13 goals and 35 points in 34 games, with seven goals and 20 points coming in the 20 games he played in the conference. Out of conference, his 35 points ranked tied for sixth, while his 20 in-conference points ranked ninth, and his 1 point-per-game pace ranking tied for fourth. But it gets better.

While Hoskin didn’t win any honours like the year prior, he was an instrumental part of helping Merrimack win their first ever Hockey East title, automatically sending them to their first NCAA National Tournament since 2023, just the fourth time since joining the Hockey East conference back in the late 1980s.

Hoskin had a good Hockey East tournament, which included scoring the overtime winner against Providence in the quarterfinals. They eventually fell to Cole Reschny, Abram Wiebe, and Cade Littler’s North Dakota in the regional semifinals of the national tournament.

Still, it was a great year for the 22-year-old.

Expectations for the 2026-27 season

Hoskin is set to return to Merrimack for the 2026-27 season, his junior season. After having either leading or finishing second on the team in points, he needs to have that type of season once again. Even more so as he’s projected to be one of the older players on Merrimack’s roster.

A speedy playmaker, he needs to build upon his 2025-26, but also follow up Merrimack’s success they had last season. While winning the Hockey East tournament is easier said than done, considering Boston College and Boston University are also in the conference, putting themselves in a spot to earn a bye is a must.

There’s a good chance that this will be Hoskin’s final NCAA season, as senior collegiate players earn unrestricted free agent rights. He needs to make it a good one to force the Flames’ hands to sign him to an entry-level contract.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – HM: Abram Wiebe

Mike Gould — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:00:21 GMT

When the Calgary Flames traded Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights in January, not many fans in the Stampede City knew a thing about Abram Wiebe, who had just become the Flames’ newest defence prospect.

Fast-forward more than six months later, and while Wiebe has since wrapped up his collegiate career at the University of North Dakota and signed his entry-level deal with the Flames, he’s still something of an unknown quantity as a professional. One thing’s for sure, though: Wiebe absolutely turned his game up by a few notches after the trade, racking up 15 points in 16 games to conclude his junior year with the Fighting Hawks.

Wiebe is really going to have to battle to make a name for himself within the Flames’ ultra-crowded pool of young defencemen, but he’s got a few things working for him: namely, his size and handedness, as well as experience at a top-tier NCAA program. If he’s gonna become an NHLer, it’ll have to happen pretty soon, but at least he already has four games under his belt. Depending on how the 2026-27 season unfolds, it might not be long before Wiebe finds himself back in Flames silks.

Abram Wiebe

Defenceman; shoots left
Born Aug. 28, 2003 (age 22) in Mission, B.C.
6’3″, 206 pounds
Selected in the seventh round (209th overall) by Vegas in the 2022 NHL Draft

Few teams have established as strong a connection with an NCAA program in recent years as the Flames have with North Dakota, with top 2026 draft pick Carson Carels set to follow in the footsteps of Wiebe, Cole Reschny, and Cade Littler in his upcoming freshman year at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. In fact, Carels will likely take the exact lineup spot Wiebe vacated when he signed his two-year, entry-level contract with the Flames on Apr. 10.

Wiebe only became Flames property roughly three months before he turned pro, with Vegas packaging him alongside Zach Whitecloud and two future draft picks (one of which has already been flipped to acquire Simon Nemec) in the return for Andersson. At the time, the former Chilliwack Chiefs captain appeared to be little more than a throw-in, given his limited draft pedigree and pedestrian collegiate production, but Wiebe quickly made himself known to Flames fans by playing some of his best hockey as a Fighting Hawk after the trade.

As North Dakota embarked upon a particularly difficult stretch drive in the NCHC, Wiebe collected two goals and 13 assists while averaging 19:52 of ice time in 16 games against the likes of Minnesota-Duluth, Western Michigan, Quinnipiac, and Wisconsin. Skating primarily on a two-way pairing with shutdown defender E.J. Emery, Wiebe played an instrumental role in the Fighting Hawks capturing their conference championship and earning a berth in the Frozen Four.

Just two days after Wisconsin eliminated North Dakota from the NCAA tournament, Wiebe made his NHL debut with the Flames in Seattle. He ultimately skated in Calgary’s final four games of the 2025-26 season, averaging 12:01 of ice time and generally performing exactly as you’d expect of somebody who started his week playing in college and ended it in the NHL.

Here’s what Dakota Student contributor Anthony Dillett had to say about Wiebe’s growth with the Fighting Hawks in 2025-26:

Last season: Abram Wiebe continued to grow as a player in his junior season, leading the team as an associate captain and shining as one of the star members of North Dakota’s defensive corps.

Wiebe notched similar numbers to his 2024/25 campaign, save for a reduced number of blocked shots and a higher shooting percentage, owing in part to a more consistent defensive line chart. He continued to feature on the Hawks’ power play and penalty kill throughout the season. North Dakota Assistant Coach Matt Smaby described Wiebe as “rock solid,” praising his play on the man advantage and sound defense.

Wiebe ranked fourth among NCAA defensemen in assists and earned NCAA all-tournament honors at the Sioux Falls, S.D. Regional. As part of the U.S. Collegiate Selects, he travelled to Davos, Switzerland, where he featured in all four games the team played. The 6’3” associate captain remained a steady presence in the North Dakota locker room, establishing himself as a key upperclassman for the Hawks’ incoming freshmen to look up to throughout the season.

Expectations for 2026-27

In his time at the junior and collegiate levels, Wiebe was consistently a leader off the ice — but also, a bit of a late bloomer on it. While in Chilliwack, Wiebe only put himself on the map as a potential NHL draft pick after his second year of eligibility, and even then, he went in the seventh round. Then, after serving as the Chiefs’ captain in 2022-23, Wiebe headed off to North Dakota, where he only truly emerged as a difference-maker during his sophomore year before being named an alternate captain as a junior.

Given the circuitous nature of the route he’s taken to this point, it wouldn’t come as a surprise for Wiebe to start the 2026-27 season with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. Sure, he’s exempt from waivers, and the Flames certainly don’t have a spot for him (they barely have one for Hunter Brzustewicz), but Wiebe simply also needs more time to acclimate to the speed of the pro game. He’ll be one of the go-to options on the farm, although he won’t be thrown to the wolves; new signings Andreas Englund, Jake Livingstone, and Mike Benning will be there to insulate all of the Wranglers’ less experienced defenders.

Wiebe doesn’t need to become an everyday NHLer for the Andersson trade to be a success; still, every game he plays for the Flames is a nice little bonus. He’ll likely top out as a bigger version of Joel Hanley at the NHL level, and while that might not sound like much, it’s certainly a valuable type of player to have around. Expect to see Wiebe wearing the Flaming C a handful of times in the 2026-27 season, if (and when) the injury bug bites.

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Flames 2025 training camp flashback: Who’s here and who’s gone?

Ryan Pike — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:21 GMT

The Calgary Flames look a lot different than they did at the start of the 2025-26 season.

Training camp opened back on Sept. 17 with 58 players reporting. Since then, the Flames have made several trades – big and small – and seen many players depart, with others joining to fill their places.

Here’s a rundown of how different the Flames look now compared to nearly one year ago.

Which players departed the Calgary Flames since 2025 training camp?

D Rasmus Andersson – The longtime Flames defender and alternate captain ended his tenure with the club when he was traded to Vegas in late January.
F Jacob Battaglia – A 2024 draft choice out of the OHL, Battagalia was traded to the Rangers prior to the trade deadline.
D Jake Bean – The hometown kid’s tenure with the Flames ended after two seasons following a season-ending injury and his contract expiring. He’s currently a free agent.
F Parker Bell – A 2022 draft choice that spent his entry level years with the Flames, he didn’t receive a qualifying offer and signed in Czechia.
F Clark Bishop – The Wranglers’ captain, he left as a free agent and signed an AHL deal with Syracuse.
F Nathan Brisson – Attended camp on a try-out, but went back to the QMJHL.
D Nick Cicek – Spent the year as the Wranglers’ utility defender, but left as a free agent and signed with the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons.
F Lucas Ciona – A 2021 draft choice that spent his entry-level years with the Flames, he didn’t receive a qualifying offer and signed an AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
F Blake Coleman – A veteran two-way winger (and alternate captain), he was traded to Minnesota in early July.
F Martin Frk – With the Wranglers on an AHL deal, he left as a free agent and signed with the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons.
was on AHL deal, left as UFA
D Artem Grushnikov – A depth defender, he didn’t receive a qualifying offer and signed with the KHL’s CSKA Moskva.
F Nazem Kadri – A veteran centre (and alternate captain), he was traded to Colorado just prior to the trade deadline.
F Carter King – A hometown kid who signed with the Flames after college, he didn’t receive a qualifying offer. He’s currently a free agent.
F Justin Kirkland – A savvy shootout specialist, he left as a free agent and signed with Minnesota.
F Hunter Laing – A 2024 draft choice, his rights lapsed on June 1.
F Mael Lavigne – Attended camp on a try-out, but he went back to the QMJHL.
F Ryan Lomberg – A veteran energy winger, he left as a free agent and signed with Columbus.
D Simon Mack – A depth defender on an AHL deal, he left as a free agent and signed in Slovakia
F Kadon McCann – Attended camp on a try-out, but he went back to the WHL.
D Daniil Miromanov – A puck-moving defender at the AHL level, he left as a free agent and signed with the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg.
D Etienne Morin – A 2023 draft pick who had growing pains in the AHL, he was traded to New Jersey in June.
G Connor Murphy – A depth goaltender on an AHL deal, he left as a free agent and signed with Coachella Valley.
was on AHL, left as free agent
D Jeremie Poirier – An offensive defender who struggled after a serious skate cut, he was traded to Dallas in February.
G Ivan Prosvetov – The third-string goalie last season, who spent the entire year with the Wranglers, he left as a free agent and signed with the KHL’s Avangard Omsk.
F David Silye – A depth forward on an AHL deal, he left as a free agent and signed in Hungary.
was on AHL deal, left as free agent
D Ilya Solovyov – A physical depth defender, Solovyov was claimed off waivers by Colorado in October.
D MacKenzie Weegar – A versatile two-way defender, Weegar was traded to Utah in March.

Which new players since joined the Calgary Flames roster for 2026-27?

D Michael Benning – A Florida draft pick from 2020, this college product signed as a free agent.
F Jonathan Castagna – A Cornell standout, he was traded from Utah in the Weegar trade and signed his entry-level deal in the spring.
D Andreas Englund – An Ottawa draft pick from 2014, this Swede signed as a free agent.
F Tyson Gross – A Calgary kid and standout at St. Cloud State, he signed as a free agent.
F Chase Harrington – A draft pick from 2026, he’s headed back to Spokane in the WHL.
F Joe Iginla – A draft pick from 2026, he’s headed back to Vancouver in the WHL. You might remember his dad.
F Ben Jones – A Vegas draft pick from 2017, he’s returning to the Flames system as a free agent after a couple years with Minnesota’s.
F Simon Katolicky – A draft pick from 2026, he’s headed to Sarnia of the OHL as an import after playing in Finland for a couple seasons.
D Bode Laylin – A draft pick from 2026, he’s headed to Everett of the WHL after playing in the USHL for a couple seasons.
D Jake Livingstone – A college free agent that briefly played with Nashville, he signed with the Flames as a free agent.
D Jacob Middleton – A burly veteran defender, he came over from Minnesota in the Coleman trade.
D Simon Nemec – A puck-moving young defender, he was acquired from New Jersey in June.
F Brennan Othmann – A versatile young winger, he was acquired from the NY Rangers prior to the trade deadline.
F Ryan Strome – A veteran centre, he was acquired from Anaheim prior to the trade deadline.
F Maxim Tsyplakov – A Russian winger who split last season between the Islanders and Devils, he was acquired from New Jersey in June.
D Zach Whitecloud – A stay-at-home defender, he was acquired from Vegas in the Andersson trade.
D Abram Wiebe – A Vegas pick from 2022, he was acquired from Vegas in the Andersson trade and signed his entry-level deal in the spring.
G Kirill Zarubin – A 2024 draft pick, he’s starting his entry-level deal after previously playing in Russia.

What do you make of the turnover the Flames have seen since last September? Let us know in the comments!

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