Introducing the 2023-24 Calgary Flames

Photo credit:Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

9 months ago

Friends, the Calgary Flames have announced their opening 22 player roster, and they begin their season on Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets. The team has changed quite a bit over the past off-season, so here’s a quick snapshot of just who everybody is on the opening roster.

#4 – Rasmus Andersson (RD) [alternate captain]

26 years old (turns 27 on Oct. 27); from Malmö, Sweden
$4.55 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2025-26 season
Calgary’s second round pick (53rd overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Malmö Redhawks (J20 SuperElit) and the Barrie Colts (OHL, as an import)
377 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Produced 8.1 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#8 – Chris Tanev (RD) [alternate captain]

33 years old; from Toronto, Ontario
$4.5 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Played college hockey with the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers (NCAA)
Signed as a free agent
717 career NHL games, with Vancouver and the Flames
Won World Championship with Canada in 2016
Produced 9.1 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#10 – Jonathan Huberdeau (LW) [alternate captain]

30 years old; from St-Jérôme, Quebec
$10.5 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2030-31 season
Florida’s first round pick (3rd overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Acquired in a trade with Florida
750 career NHL games, with Florida and the Flames
Set NHL single-season record for assists by a left wing in 2021-22
Won Memorial Cup with Saint John in 2011
Won QMJHL Championship with Saint John in 2011 and 2012
Produced 7.7 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#11 – Mikael Backlund (C) [captain]

34 years old; from Västerås, Sweden
$5.35 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2025-26 season
Calgary’s first round pick (24th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with VIK Hockey Ungdom and VIK Västerås HK (J20 SuperElit) and the Kelowna Rockets (WHL, as an import)
908 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Won WHL Championship with Kelowna in 2009
Won World Championship with Sweden in 2018
Won King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2022-23
Produced 10.6 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#15 – Dryden Hunt (C/RW)

27 years old; from Cranbrook, British Columbia
$775,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2024-25 season
Played junior hockey with the Regina Pats, Medicine Hat Tigers and Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Signed as a free agent
202 career NHL games, with Florida, Arizona, NY Rangers, Colorado and Toronto
Produced 2.4 goals below replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#16 – Nikita Zadorov (LD)

28 years old; from Moscow, Russia
$3.75 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Buffalo’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) and the London Knights (OHL, as an import)
Acquired in a trade with Chicago
567 career NHL games, with Buffalo, Colorado, Chicago and the Flames
Won OHL Championship with London in 2013
Produced 6.3 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#17 – Yegor Sharangovich (LW)

25 years old; from Minsk, Belarus
$3.1 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following the 2024-25 season
New Jersey’s fifth-round pick (141st overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft
Acquired in a trade with New Jersey
Played junior hockey with Dinamo-Raubichi (MHL)
205 career NHL games, all with New Jersey
Produced 0.4 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#18 – A.J. Greer (LW)

26 years old; from Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Quebec
$762,500 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following the 2023-24 season
Colorado’s second-round pick (39th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Claimed off waivers from Boston
Played junior hockey with the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL), college hockey with the Boston University Terriers, and junior hockey (again) with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
108 career NHL games, with Colorado, New Jersey and Boston
Won QMJHL Championship with Rouyn-Noranda in 2016
A.J. stands for Anthony John.
Produced 2.0 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#20 – Blake Coleman (LW)

31 years old; from Plano, Texas
$4.9 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2026-27 season
New Jersey’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Tri-City Storm and Indiana Ice (USHL) and college hockey with Miami University RedHawks (NCAA)
Signed as a free agent
464 career NHL games, with New Jersey, Tampa Bay and the Flames
Won Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020 & 2021
Produced 1.2 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#25 – Jacob Markström (G)

33 years old; from Galve, Sweden
$6 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 season
Florida’s second round pick (31st overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with Brynas IF (J20 SuperElit)
Signed as a free agent
437 career NHL games, with Florida, Vancouver and the Flames
Won World Championship with Sweden in 2013
Produced 2.1 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#27 – Matt Coronato (RW)

20 years old; from Huntington, New York
$925,000 AAV; will be restricted free agent following 2024-25 season
Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Chicago Steel (USHL) and college hockey with the Harvard University Crimson (NCAA)
Won USHL Championship with Chicago in 2021
1 career NHL game, all with the Flames

#28 – Elias Lindholm (C) [alternate captain]

28 years old; from Boden, Sweden
$4.85 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Carolina’s first round pick (5th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with Brynas IF (J20 SuperElit)
Acquired in a trade with Carolina
743 career NHL games, with Carolina and the Flames
Won World Championship with Sweden in 2017
Produced 7.0 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#29 – Dillon Dube (LW)

25 years old; from Cochrane, Alberta
$2.3 million AAV; will be restricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Calgary’s second round pick (56th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
282 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Won WHL Championship with Kelowna in 2015
Won World Junior gold medal with Canada in 2018
Produced 2.7 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#48 – Dennis Gilbert (D)

26 years old (turns 27 in October); from Buffalo, New York
$762,500 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Chicago’s third round pick (91st overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Chicago Steel (USHL) and college hockey with the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
Signed as a free agent
48 career NHL games, with Chicago, Colorado and the Flames
Produced 1.7 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#52 – MacKenzie Weegar (RD)

29 years old; from Nepean, Ontario
$6.25 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2030-31 season
Florida’s seventh round pick (206th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Acquired in a trade with Florida
387 career NHL games, with Florida and the Flames
Won QMJHL Championship with Halifax in 2013
Won World Championship with Canada in 2023
Produced 9.3 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#55 – Noah Hanifin (LD)

26 years old; from Boston, Massachusetts
$4.95 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Carolina’s first round pick (5th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the U.S. National Development Team (USHL) and college hockey with the Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Acquired in a trade with Carolina
598 career NHL games, with Carolina and the Flames
Produced 0.4 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#63 – Adam Ruzicka (C)

24 years old; from Bratislava, Slovakia
$762,500 AAV; will be restricted free agent following the 2023-24 season
Calgary’s fourth round pick (109th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with HC Pardubice (Czechia) and the Sarnia Sting and Sudbury Wolves (OHL, as an import)
75 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Produced 2.5 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#71 – Walker Duehr (RW)

25 years old (turns 26 in November); from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
$825,000 AAV; will be restricted free agent following the 2024-25 season
Played junior hockey with the Sioux City Musketeers, Tri-City Storm, Chicago Steel and Bloomington Thunder (USHL) and college hockey with the Minnesota State University – Mankato Mavericks (NCAA)
Signed as a free agent
28 career NHL games, all with the Flames
He’s the first NHL player born in South Dakota
Produced 2.9 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#80 – Daniel Vladar (G)

26 years old; from Praha, Czech Republic
$750,000 AAV; will be restricted free agent following the 2022-23 season
Boston’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with Rytiri Kladno (Czech Republic)
Acquired in a trade with Boston
55 career NHL games, with Boston and the Flames
Produced 0.4 goals below replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#82 – Jordan Oesterle (LD)

32 years old; from Dearborn Heights, Michigan
$925,000 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Played junior hockey with the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) and college hockey with the Western Michigan University Broncos (NCAA)
349 career NHL games, with Edmonton, Chicago, Arizona and Detroit
Produced 3.2 goals below replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#88 – Andrew Mangiapane (LW)

27 years old; from Bolton, Ontario
$5.8 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following the 2024-25 season
Calgary’s sixth round pick (166th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Barrie Colts (OHL)
342 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Won World Championship with Canada in 2021
Produced 7.0 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

#91 – Nazem Kadri (C)

33 years old; from London, Ontario
$7 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following the 2028-29 season
Toronto’s first round pick (7th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Kitchener Rangers and London Knights (OHL)
Signed as a free agent
821 career NHL Games, with Toronto, Colorado and the Flames
Won OHL Championship with Kitchener in 2008
Won Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022
Produced 6.4 goals above replacement in 2022-23 (via Evolving Hockey)

Injured/non-roster list

Three players will begin the season on the injured/non-roster list: defenceman Oliver Kylington, and forwards Kevin Rooney and Jakob Pelletier. Had they been at 100%, Kylington and Pelletier would have begun the season on the NHL roster (and Rooney was in the hunt for a fourth-line gig when he was injured).

Rooney and Pelletier are on the standard injury reserve and are required to miss a minimum of seven days from the start of the season before being eligible for activation. Kylington is on the long-term injury reserve and is required to miss a minimum 10 games and 24 games before being eligible for activation. (Players on the standard IR can be moved to the long-term IR retroactively, meaning time they missed while on the standard IR can be applied to the long-term IR term.)

Coaching staff and management

The head coach is Ryan Huska (48; Cranbrook, B.C.), who’s entering his first season as Flames head coach after spending five seasons as an assistant coach.

The assistant coaches are Marc Savard (46; Ottawa, Ontario), Dan Lambert (53; Saint Boniface, Manitoba), Cail MacLean (47; Middleton, Nova Scotia), Jason LaBarbera (43; Burnaby, B.C.) and Jamie Pringle (48; Picton, Ontario). Broadly-speaking, Savard runs forwards and the power play, Lambert runs defence and the penalty kill, MacLean is the “eye-in-the-sky” and advises on in-game adjustments, LaBarbera is the goalie coach, and Pringle is the video coach.

The general manager is Craig Conroy (52; Potsdam, New York), who’s entering his first season as Flames GM. His assistants are Dave Nonis (57; Burnaby, B.C.) and Brad Pascall (53; Coquitlam, B.C.).

Get your tickets for the FlamesNation Season Home Opener party, and come hang out with us at Greta Bar while we watch the Flames take on the Winnipeg Jets in their season opener!