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What should we expect from the Calgary Hitmen in 2026-27?
Photo credit: Jenn Pierce/Calgary Hitmen
Pals, there’s a bit of a paradox happening in terms of Calgary’s hockey teams.
In 2025-26, one of the three teams residing in the Scotiabank Saddledome played playoff hockey. Heck, they played two rounds. Yet, the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen have become a bit of an afterthought in the sports scene in recent years – particularly since the arrival of the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers a few years back. But let’s be clear: they deserve your attention, and they’re kinda fascinating right now.
So with Hitmen training camp opening this week, let’s dig into what’s so interesting about the Hitmen and what you can expect from them in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Last season
The Hitmen went through a ton of change in 2025-26. In addition to the seismic shift in junior hockey of the NCAA’s new rule allowing Canadian major junior players to go to college – which led to a ton of roster changes for basically every CHL club – the Hitmen also got an entirely new coaching staff led by head coach Dustin Friesen.
It turned out pretty well.
The Hitmen went 38-21-9 and returned to the post-season, sweeping the Brandon Wheat Kings in four games before getting swept themselves by the powerhouse Medicine Hat Tigers in the second round.
Off-season changes (so far)
Departing from the Hitmen for college opportunities are newly-drafted blueliner Ben MacBeath (drafted by the New York Rangers, headed to the University of Denver), Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Kale Dach (Penn State), forward Ethan Merner (Merrimack College), and graduating overage forwards Ethan Moore (Lake Superior State) and Harrison Lodewyk (RPI). Additionally, captain Axel Hurtig has finished his junior eligibility and starts his pro career in the Calgary Flames system, import forward Jakub Seidl headed back to Czechia, and forward Ty Meunier was traded to Swift Current.
As of this writing, if you’re keeping track, one member of the 2025-26 leadership group – alternate captain Hunter Aura – is returning, and one of the team’s four leading scorers – forward Andrei Molgachev. So, as with last season, the fascinating part will be seeing which players take a step forward and how the newcomers grow upon their arrivals.
Speaking of newcomers, as of right now, there will be (at least) six new faces:
- Forward Brennan Brown, acquired from Swift Current.
- Forward Carter Sanderson, a University of North Dakota commit and Penguins prospect, joining after two seasons with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks.
- Forward Grady Anaka, an Edmonton area kid who spent the last few years in playing in Colorado.
- Forward Artyom Katsuro, a 2026 import draft choice, joining from the CSKA Moskva system.
- Defenceman Jakob Leander, a 2026 import draft choice and Flames prospect, joining from the HV71 system.
- Defenceman Tate Batchelor, a Minnesota high school standout.
Sanderson and Leander join Ottawa prospect Blake Vanek as the club’s NHL-drafted prospects. The most exciting 2027 draft-eligible players look to be goalie Eric Tu and defender Calder Hamilton. All three of their import slots look to be spoken for, but the only 2006-born player on the announced training camp roster is forward Charlie Kresl, a UMass Lowell commit whose arrival in college appears to have been pushed back. (He would be the seventh new face on the team.) That means they have some open over-age spots to work with.
In other words, we wouldn’t be shocked if the Hitmen use their roster flexibility to make a few more tweaks before the games start counting in mid September to help strengthen their lineup.
Between the presence of a Flames prospect on their roster and the Hitmen being a pretty fascinating hockey team overall, we’ll be providing regular updates throughout the season.
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Calgary FlamesTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$89,116,666
$70,041,666
Projected Cap Space
$14,883,334
$43,458,334
Current Cap Space
$14,883,334
$43,458,334
Active Players
23/23
16/23
Draft Picks
Round
'26
'27
1
2
1
2
3
2
3
1
2