The Calgary Flames are going to need to make some tough decisions and monumental moves during this off-season. As they prepare to accelerate their rebuild and say goodbye to the iconic Scotiabank Saddledome, it goes without saying that this summer will be a busy one for the Flames.

From draft picks to potential trades, here is a list of what the Flames should focus on this off-season.

Maximize the draft

The Flames need to maximize the draft to get the best possible outcome for the team. This includes making the decision as to if they will keep all of their picks, or trade up. Although the team has a large amount of picks, which would bring valuable talent to the team, it is my opinion that they should trade up.

The Flames are in need of a high end forward, or two, which would likely come from trading up in the draft. The best move for this would be to attempt to trade with the San Jose Sharks for the number two draft pick. This would be a smart move for most teams, because not only would the Flames likely get their forward, the Sharks would be able to acquire, at draft pick six, the defenceman that they need to round out their team.

Determine the future of Morgan Frost

The Flames need to decide whether they want to lock in Morgan Frost long-term or not. He is nearing the tail end of his contract, expiring at the end of next season, which would then lead him into being an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.

Frost currently brings a fair amount of skill to the team, being on the power play and becoming a stable first line player for the team. This kind of leadership is needed for the younger players, but is this enough to keep him around?

Centres are in high demand across the league, meaning the odds of being able to make a trade for Frost fairly quickly is quite high. Some teams have allegedly inquired about him, but no solid moves have been made.

At the end of the day, current management is aiming to rebuild a younger team. Will Frost be a part of that? It remains to be seen, but even a younger team requires a few veteran mentors.

Determine the future of Blake Coleman

Blake Coleman currently has one more season left on his contract, but trade rumours are still swirling. It is rumoured that the front office is willing to “entertain” a trade, even though Coleman is one of their most respected veteran players.

Although the team is potentially looking into a trade, keeping Coleman around would not be a terrible idea. He is one of the only players currently on the team that has a Stanley Cup, setting a high standard for the entire team, but specifically his linemates. He also continues to be a highly skilled offensive player, keeping the team as on top of the game as possible. Lastly, he provides leadership on and off the ice that the Flames would lack if they decide to get rid of their senior players.

On the other side, trading Coleman would help to massively accelerate the Flames rebuild, because he would open up a spot on the starting lineup for a younger player to fill, potentially with one of the newly drafted players in the system.

Solidify plans for last season in the Saddledome

The Flames have unveiled a list of events and tributes to their last season in the Saddledome. A bittersweet end to a memorable era will for sure be a huge topic of conversation for the season. The current plans that have been released include:

A centre ice tribute featuring the names of season-ticket holders
A farewell logo that was recently unveiled, to be used on jerseys and other merch
A rumoured special jersey paying tribute to the Saddledome’s history

What remains unknown is what the fans can expect from this final season, other than what is listed above. Will there be theme nights, giveaways, or meet and greets? It is an exciting season to come for both the team and the fans as they bid farewell to one of hockey’s most iconic buildings.

Unveil the new jerseys

The team is rumoured to sport a range of jerseys for their farewell season, which have yet to be officially announced, including a Saddledome tribute jersey as part of the rumoured Hometown Remix line. This jersey is expected to feature several nods to the arena’s history. It’s rumoured that these jerseys will feature a yellow Flaming C.

Another fun one is the 2004 throwback jersey, which is the infamous red and black jersey that we all know and love from the Flames’ run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

What are you most looking forward to during the 2026 off-season? Let us know in the comments!

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