The Stanley Cup playoffs are underway, and while the Calgary Flames narrowly missed the cut, there are still plenty of reasons to tune in this spring. Maybe you’ve got a second team to cheer for, you’re hopeful a Canadian team will finally go all the way, or maybe—just maybe—you really want to see a certain team lose (cough cough Edmonton cough cough).

Former Flames can be found scattered across several playoff rosters this year. Whether they were in Calgary for a handful of games or for multiple seasons, chances are you found yourself rooting for them at some point. Whether or not you still do, it can be fun to keep tabs on former Flames. Let’s take a look at the Western Conference and where they’ve ended up:

Andrei Kuzmenko has turned his season around since landing with the Los Angeles Kings. After a strong finish with the Flames in 2023–24—where he tallied 14 goals and 11 assists in 29 games—it was no secret he struggled mightily in Calgary this year.

At one point, it seemed he might be untradeable. But in late January, he was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers. After a brief stint there, Kuzmenko was moved again—this time to L.A. In 22 games to close out the regular season, he posted five goals and 12 assists.

Now, he’s become a key part of the Kings’ offence heading into the postseason. Kuzmenko could be a difference-maker as L.A. tries to get past the Edmonton Oilers in the first round—a team that’s eliminated the Kings in the opening round three straight years.

Though best known as a long-time LA King, Trevor Lewis spent two seasons with the Flames from 2021–23. A fixture on the fourth line and penalty kill, Lewis wasn’t brought in for his offence—he posted just 30 points in 162 games with Calgary. While his time with the Flames wasn’t exactly memorable, Lewis was still a respected member of the team for the time he spent in Calgary.

Now in his 17th NHL season, Lewis was a healthy scratch for Game 1 and could remain in that role if the Kings stay healthy or gain momentum. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him slot in again as he chases his third Stanley Cup.

David Rittich played parts of five seasons with the Flames, appearing in 130 games and recording 63 wins. Known affectionately as “Big Save Dave,” Rittich never fully locked down the starter’s role in Calgary, leading to a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021.

Now backing up Darcy Kuemper in L.A., Rittich has proven to be a dependable second option. While Kuemper is expected to start throughout the playoffs, Rittich will be on the bench and ready if called upon.

Derek Ryan had three solid seasons in Calgary, including a 38-point campaign in 2018–19, before making the jump to the Flames’ biggest rival—Edmonton—for the 2021 season.

This year hasn’t gone smoothly for Ryan, who struggled to find his game and was sent to the AHL for a stretch. When he hit waivers, some Flames fans hoped he’d be brought back as a fourth-line option—but that reunion never materialized.

Ryan didn’t crack the lineup for Game 1 against the Kings, and with the Oilers battling injuries all season, it’s tough to say if or when he’ll get a shot. As with most playoff runs, depth and durability are key, so don’t count him out just yet.

A fourth-round pick by the Flames in 2012, Brett Kulak never quite developed into the top-calibre defenceman the team hoped for, and he was dealt to Montreal early in the 2018 season. Since then, he’s carved out a steady NHL career and hasn’t looked back.

Now finishing his third full season as an Oiler—without missing a single game—Kulak has been one of Edmonton’s most consistent blueliners. He’ll be a crucial part of the Oilers’ defence if they hope to make a legitimate run at the Stanley Cup.

Cole Schwindt was a secondary piece in the blockbuster trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. There was hope Schwindt might break into the Flames’ lineup as a regular, but he was claimed off waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights at the start of this season before getting a real shot.

He began the year playing fairly regularly for Vegas, but a lower-body injury in January sidelined him for a while. Since returning, he hasn’t been able to re-establish himself in the lineup. With just one goal and seven assists in 42 games, he’s an easy piece for the Knights to rotate out. Expect Schwindt to spend most of the playoffs watching from the press box.

A mainstay on the Flames’ blue line for six seasons, Noah Hanifin was a key contributor from the moment he arrived in Calgary. Though it was clear he was looking for a change of scenery, his departure via a trade to Vegas was still tough to swallow for many fans. In 420 games with the Flames, Hanifin recorded 42 goals and 149 assists.

Now in his first full season with the Golden Knights, Hanifin put up 39 points and looks poised for a deep playoff run with a strong Vegas team. He’ll definitely be one to keep an eye on as the post-season unfolds.

As the playoff race heats up, Flames fans might not have a hometown team to rally behind—but there’s no shortage of familiar faces to follow. Whether you’re rooting for former favourites to succeed, hoping a Canadian team finally ends the drought, or just watching with spite-fuelled popcorn in hand, there’s still plenty of drama, emotion and entertainment to soak in. The Stanley Cup playoffs always deliver—and this year, a few former Flames might just play a big part in shaping how it all unfolds.