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Flames announce leadership group for 2026-27 season

Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

By Cynthia Ryley Delaney

Sep 30, 2026, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 30, 2026, 15:54 EDT

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The Calgary Flames’ leadership group is set for the 2026-27 season.

On Wednesday morning, the team announced who’ll wear the C and the two As. Mikael Backlund resumes his captaincy, while Jonathan Huberdeau and Zach Whitecloud will serve as alternates. While Huberdeau is injured, the second alternate will rotate between Jake Middleton, Ryan Strome, and Joel Farabee.

Backlund being named their captain is no surprise, as he’s been the team’s captain since the 2023-24, taking over for Mark Giordano, whose reign ended following the 2020-21 season. The Swedish veteran is the clear choice for the role, as he’s been with the Flames organization since the team drafted him 24th overall in 2007. Backlund had a productive 2025-26 season, scoring 17 goals and 43 points, a good season for a player in his late-30s.

What was up in the air was their alternate captains. Last season, Rasmus Andersson, Blake Coleman, Farabee, Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar, and Whitecloud all wore an A on their chest. However, Andersson, Coleman, Kadri, and Weegar have all since been traded.

In fact, Whitecloud was acquired in the Andersson trade. He’s a pretty clear choice to wear a letter, as from all reports, the Flames love the leadership he provides. Following the trade, he picked up 10 assists in 31 games, giving him two goals and 17 points split between the Vegas Golden Knights and Flames.

Huberdeau played 50 games last season, scoring 10 goals and 25 points. However, he underwent hip resurfacing surgery, ending his season early. Because of the surgery, Huberdeau will miss the beginning of the 2026-27 season, and it’s worth noting that the surgery is notoriously hard to come back from.

In his absence, Farabee, Middleton, and Strome will all spend time wearing the A. Farabee joined the team before the 2025 trade deadline, scoring 20 goals and 38 points in 82 games last season. Middleton joined the team this off-season, as he was acquired for Coleman and Olli Määttä from the Minnesota Wild. Strome has experience wearing the A, as he was the Anaheim Ducks’ alternate captain in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Having good veterans during a rebuild is incredibly valuable, and the good news is that the Flames have those good veterans.

Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.

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