Top Oilers' analyst reveals Calgary Flames ownership has big decision to make
Photo credit: Imagn Images
In an episode of Spittin' Chiclets, analyst Bob Stauffer commented on why he believes the Calgary Flames may attempt a complete team rebuild, and why.
It's gotta come from ownership, you know, [a rebuild] otherwise it doesn't work. In Calgary's case, like, Dustin Wolf; they had a -13 goal differential and finished with as many points [96] last year as St. Louis. They were 2 points behind Florida.
That kid camouflaged a lot of problems Calgary had last year. Dustin Wolf was tremendous in goal. If they get average goaltending, they're an 82-85 point team.
And it could go the other way on them because they can't score and they don't seem to have a lot of pace up front. So, I think there might have to be a hard decision.
- Bob Stauffer
That kid camouflaged a lot of problems Calgary had last year. Dustin Wolf was tremendous in goal. If they get average goaltending, they're an 82-85 point team.
And it could go the other way on them because they can't score and they don't seem to have a lot of pace up front. So, I think there might have to be a hard decision.
- Bob Stauffer
Possibility of missing playoffs 4th-staright year
It seems that between Calgary and Edmonton, each team has what the other needs: Calgary scoring and Edmonton goaltending.
Without that elite scoring on a Calgary team, many analysts believe they should continue a full roster rebuild to become what Edmonton already is, a sustainable contender, rather than trying to compete for the playoffs in the current "middle ground".
Calgary has missed the postseason in 4 of its last 5 campaigns; and while the team didn't qualify for the playoffs last year, they finished just one point shy of a wild-card spot, exceeding expectations set at the beginning of the season.
The Flames have been proactive in managing their cap situation, having around $11.3 million in cap space after signing their restricted free agents. Their highest contract currently is Jonathan Huberdeau's at $10.5M annually, as per PuckPedia.
Calgary's prospect pool is highly regarded, ranking among the best in the league, according to some analysts. Prospects like Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, and Zayne Parekh are seen as key pieces for the future.
Wolf signed a 7-year deal with Calgary this offseason, at a cap hit of $7.5M. Considering his value to the club, it could be considered a steal. In the opinion of many, he is now the center-piece of the team.
The Flames' strategy appears to be a patient rebuild focused on developing their young talent and making smart additions to complement the existing core. They have shown a willingness to trade veteran players for picks and prospects.
While they narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024-25, they are projected by some to regress in 2025-26, possibly placing the Flames in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes for the 1st overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft.
TRENDING NOW
