How much is this phoney winning streak going to influence management’s mindest of where the organization is on the rebuild timeline? I’m worried they’ll try and chase the playoffs next year with short sighted signings only to generate a typical Flames mid round draft pick.
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FlamesNation Mailbag: Starting the final road trip of the season
Photo credit: Mike Gould
The Calgary Flames have nine games remaining on their 2025-26 regular season schedule. They sit fourth from the bottom in the NHL’s overall standings. They have a bunch of games left, primarily on the road, against some really tough opponents.
As we prepare for their six game road trip to kick off Monday night in Denver, let’s check in with the mailbag!
Based on everything I’ve heard Craig Conroy say publicly and everything that’s been relayed to me privately, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. On Flames Talk, Pat Steinberg’s consistently discussed a 3-to-5 year rebuild window, and that’s consistent with my thinking too. They’re aware of how damaging shortcuts and half-measures can be.
Should the Flames tear it down to the studs and rebuild for next season!
You could argue that moving Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri in-season for futures is tearing it down to the studs, or a close facsimile. And there’s a pretty significant chance that Blake Coleman could be moved over the summer, too. I would say it’s already happening.
How many more years do we get to watch backlund in a flames uniform? And who would be your top candidates for the next captain of the flames Cal Radke from red deer Alberta
Thanks for the question, Cal! I would suggest that Mikael Backlund will (a) play NHL hockey, (b) play for the Flames and (c) be the Flames’ captain for as long as he feels like doing so. He’s under contract for two more seasons, so I suspect he plays at least that many more seasons.
As far as contenders to succeed him, perhaps one of the current alternates like Kevin Bahl, Joel Farabee or Zach Whitecloud… depending on who ends up sticking around long-term.
Which Flames free agents get resigned?
The Flames’ NHL-level unrestricted free agents this summer are Ryan Lomberg, Jake Bean and Victor Olofsson. Right now, I’m leaning towards keeping Lomberg…. maybe… but probably nobody else.
How would you rank our new additions
Ryan Strome has been excellent. Olli Maatta has been very good. Victor Olofsson has been good. That’s probably order from best to least best.
Frost Coleman and Strome are the only 3 big names (lol) eligible for contract extensions in Calgary this summer. Do you think any of them get extensions? If so could you rank them by likelihood?
I don’t think any of the three of them get contract extensions this summer.
Sort of random question, but who are the #Flames looking at in terms of NHL organizations that have done successful rebuilds? MTL has done it right, took ~ three years, but they are on a strong path now.
Dallas is an example I’ve seen consistently mentioned. Montreal, too.
Ryan put yourself in the middle of the Vegas situation. Do you think Ras wants to resign and do you think Vegas would want to resign the player? Something has seemed off for both sides since the trade. Thanks!
I think Rasmus Andersson would like to do a contract with Vegas. But Vegas’ cap situation is tight right now and so it feels like something they can’t really get into until the spring. And that’s probably a good idea, because it gives player and team more information about the fit in the market and the potential trade-offs of going long-term or doing a short-term deal. He’s a really good player, but there’s always a question of what other things you can’t do cap-wise if you lock him in at his preferred dollar amount or contract length.
Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/BlueSky at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan.Pike [at] BetterCollective.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
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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