Conroy walks back Huberdeau 'setback' talk, says winger will miss camp opening

Jonathan Huberdeau will not open training camp with the Calgary Flames, and general manager Craig Conroy wants to be clear about why.

After telling QR770 host Jock Wilson on September 1, 2026 that Huberdeau "had a little bit of a setback, maybe two weeks ago, with his skating," Conroy told Sportsnet.ca on September 4 that the phrasing was wrong.

"It was a poor choice of words on my part," Conroy said. "It's not that there was a setback. It was more the hope in me that he was going to be ready for camp. What I meant was it was a setback that he won't probably be ready for the first day of camp."

Huberdeau had hip resurfacing surgery in March. Conroy said the standard recovery window runs between seven and nine months, and the club had been hoping for the early end of it. The 33-year-old is skating regularly with teammates; Conroy said he would likely start camp working on his own with coaches. No return date is being set. On September 10, Huberdeau said he would not be ready for the start of the regular season.

"Yes, he's feeling good and is without the pain that he used to have at all times, so that's the best part," Conroy said. "We believe it's just a matter of when, not if."

Huberdeau has five years left on a contract paying $10.5 million annually.

The Flames are also bringing Alex Nylander to camp on a professional tryout. The 28-year-old, born in Calgary while his father Michael played for the Flames, put up 24 goals and 53 points in 65 games for the Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies last season.

Camp itself looks different this year. Calgary's veterans report Sept. 16; prospects camp began Sept. 11 and runs through Sept. 15, the exhibition slate is down to four games, and a new rule bars players with more than 100 NHL games from appearing in more than two of them.

"It doesn't bother me for the vets, but I feel for the young guys, because they're the ones battling to try to make the team," Conroy said.

The regular season opens Sept. 29, roughly a week earlier than usual to accommodate an 84-game schedule.

Calgary has also settled on its full-time emergency backup goaltender under the league's new rules: 35-year-old Dusty Nickel, a construction company owner and longtime practice fill-in, will travel with the team.