What is the realistic plan for players like Suniev? 1. Does he cook in the AHL for the entire season? 2. Is he a first call-up? 3. If he does appear, is he relegated to the fourth line or does he get an audition in the top 9?
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Monday Mailbag: Setting expectations as the Flames season kicks off
Later today, the Calgary Flames will make their final moves ahead of setting their opening roster for the 2026-27 season. The Flames begin the final year of hockey at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken.
After all sorts of preparation – and waiting – things are about to get going. To get ready for an exciting week, let’s dive into the mailbag!
Honestly, I would expect Aydar Suniev to be up when and if there’s a need for someone to play in the top nine. I don’t think fourth line duty suits his skill-set, but if you put him with offensive-minded players and give him a bit of offensive high ground, he’s got a fantastic shot and he’s really starting to figure out how to utilize it effectively as a pro. He definitely raised his stock over the past month.
Is it possible that Huberdeau will never play again because of his major surgery?
I’m pretty confident that Jonathan Huberdeau will play again and nobody has pooh-poohed my optimism about it yet. But I am very unsure what Huberdeau’s game looks like when he returns.
What's the trade value of Middleton?
Jake Middleton is a smart, physical, reliable defensive defenceman. A playoff team probably gives you a third or fourth-rounder for him, depending on how his game is trending.
I think that, like last season, the challenge will be scoring goals. Is it partially Huska’s system? Is trade for offense a possibility?
Honestly, it’s a bit of a chicken and egg, isn’t it?
The Flames play a defensive, structure-oriented style, with the idea behind being if you check properly without the puck, you’ll have the puck more often and you’ll be able to generate more scoring. But the Flames have a team that lacks elite offensive talent, in particularly finishing ability, and so they’re really reliant on good checking and a volume of quality chances to score enough to win. And they’re a team that plays with thin margins for error defensively because they lack that finishing ability right now.
In theory, as more and more high-end finishers enter the roster, the margin for error will get a bit larger and maybe they can emphasize the role of checking a little less. But the fundamentals behind Ryan Huska’s strategy make a ton of sense.
What’s the current trade value on the likes of Frost and white cloud. And what you’d hope to get at TD on a bad team?
That’s a good question!
Purely my guesswork: Right now, I would think Morgan Frost should get you a second or third-rounder… depending on how his game is trending at the time of the trade. And Zach Whitecloud probably gets you a second, too. I argue that Whitecloud gets you more partially because he’s cheaper, he’s a right-shot defender, and Whitecloud has a ton of situational versatility that Frost doesn’t quite offer up the middle right now.
Was this preseason too short, too long, or just about right?
I think four games is about right. Long enough to get the rust off, but not long enough that the games don’t matter.
What realistic result would qualify this season as a great Flames season? A mediocre season? A bad season?
The goal of this season is to make progress on the team’s development pathway towards being a stronger team, full-stop. So the goal should be to play the brakes off the younger players and use the older players to help those youngsters learn and grow and progress. The Game 84 Flames should be a better team than the Game 1 Flames because of the growth of the younger players.
But it’s also in everyone’s best interests for the team to finish near the bottom of the NHL standings and get a high draft pick, again with the aim of moving the team’s development along by adding a high-end prospect or two.
A great season: [1] growth from the team’s youngsters, [2] adding some picks and prospects by trading a few veterans, and [3] a bottom-five finish and another high draft choice. If all three happen, it’s a great season.
A mediocre season: If only one of those three things happen.
A bad season: If none of those three things happen.
The youngsters stalling, the roster stagnating and the team managing to finish in the mushy middle would be the worst timeline. I don’t think it’s probable, though, because I think the Flames have done a great job setting themselves up for a specific type of success over the next 84 games.
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Breaking News
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Calgary FlamesTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$90,091,666
$70,041,666
Projected Cap Space
$13,908,334
$43,458,334
Current Cap Space
$13,908,334
$43,458,334
Active Players
23/23
16/23
Draft Picks
Round
'27
'28
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
2
1