The Calgary Flames are next up in The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings.
As we count down the NHL teams based on who improved, stayed the same or got worse this off-season, we’re analyzing additions and departures, including any hirings and firings.
Catch up on the full rankings to date after seeing why the Flames are ranked 28th.
Additions
Ivan Prosvetov (G), Nick Cicek (D)
The Breakdown: The Flames finished tied with the St. Louis Blues for the final Stanley Cup wild-card berth this past season, but the tiebreakers did not work in Calgary’s favor, so they missed out on the playoffs for the third straight season and the fourth time in the past five years.
Judging by the distinct lack of additions Calgary GM Craig Conroy made to this point, you’d have to believe this team is capable of doing more with less – or more with the same. And we don’t share that opinion. Most, if not all, of the Pacific Division teams made notable moves this summer, but Calgary can’t say the same thing.
When the Flames’ additions were Cicek, a depth defenseman who hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, and Prosvetov, a potential backup goalie who played in the KHL this past season and mainly in the AHL before that, there’s simply not enough there to say there’s an improvement.
Departures
Anthony Mantha (RW), Kevin Rooney (C), Dan Vladar (G), Tyson Barrie (D)
The Breakdown: Losing Mantha isn’t a big deal, as the veteran winger posted only four goals and seven points in 13 games before getting injured. Similarly, Rooney put up only five goals and 10 points in 70 games with the Flames, and Vladar had an .898 SP in 30 appearances. Barrie played 24 games between the Flames and AHL Wranglers combined.
Of the departures, Vladar’s may hurt the most, since he eased the workload for rookie Dustin Wolf and provided some veteran experience. Calgary now has Wolf as the sophomore No. 1 and either Devin Cooley or Prosvetov as his backup.
Conroy will lean on Flames youngsters to improve rather than adding experienced hands to secure a playoff spot. Conroy didn’t lose much off the main roster, but the lack of meaningful additions stands out more than Calgary’s departures.
The Bottom Line
The lack of notable moves by Conroy tells us one of two things: either he expects his team to squeeze out a few more standings points and secure a wild-card berth, or he’s got big moves to make in terms of trading veterans – mostly likely defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
Andersson enters the final year of his contract before he becomes a UFA next summer. He is a terrific bargain at just a $4.55-million cap hit, making him an easy fit into a true Cup contender’s salary structure. Center Nazem Kadri has also come up in trade speculation but not reports. He’s still got four years left on his contract, and the Flames have him as their No. 1 center.
In any case, if Conroy stands pat with the roster he has in late July, the Flames don’t have the quality depth to hang with the powerhouses in the relatively weak Pacific. Gambling on his youngsters is certainly a tactic, but it’s not guaranteed to pay off with positive results. If it doesn’t, the Flames could once again be in the mushy middle of the league – not good enough to be a playoff team and not terrible enough to land a difference-making young player at the top of the next draft.
It’s easy to see, then, why Flames fans would be frustrated with Calgary’s current competitive philosophy. They nearly lucked into a playoff spot last season, but they likely would’ve been post-season roadkill even if they did beat out the Blues for the final wild-card berth. This year could go south for them if Wolf doesn’t stand on his head and steal games the way he did in 2024-25.
From our perspective, the lack of moves Calgary made – a baffling choice, given they still have $15.4 million in cap space – means a step back could be coming for the franchise. The only positive route from that is taking an even bigger step back than expected and getting a high draft pick.
Summer Splash Rankings
28. Calgary Flames
30. Winnipeg Jets
32. Buffalo Sabres
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