Flames Bet on Youth With Nemec, Middleton Additions

The Flames committed to the long game this summer. After finishing 34-39-9 and seventh in the Pacific, general manager Craig Conroy traded veterans Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta to Minnesota for defenseman Jake Middleton and a haul of picks, then flipped more draft capital to New Jersey for 22-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec. The moves cost offense in the short term but added two young blue-liners with upside and kept Calgary stocked with future assets. It's a patient rebuild, not a quick fix.

Last season in review

The numbers tell a blunt story. Calgary scored 212 goals, fewest in the NHL at 2.54 per game, and allowed 259. Matt Coronato led the team with 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists), followed by Mikael Backlund and Morgan Frost at 43 apiece. Frost chipped in 22 goals, but no one else cracked 20. Dustin Wolf posted a .899 save percentage in 55 games, going 23-29-3 behind a leaky defense. According to nhl.com, the Flames ranked 32nd in speed bursts over 20 mph, 31st in max skating speed, and bottom three in midrange and high-danger goals. They did rank 10th in goals off the rush, led by Coronato, Frost, and Joel Farabee, but that was the lone bright spot in an offense that couldn't sustain pressure.

Ins and outs

• In: Simon Nemec, D (acquired from New Jersey on June 23 for conditional first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a second-rounder in 2026, and defenseman Etienne Morin; signed five-year contract July 6)
• In: Maxim Tsyplakov, F (acquired from New Jersey on June 23 in same trade)
• In: Jake Middleton, D (acquired from Minnesota on July 2 along with third-round pick in 2027, fourth-rounder in 2028, and second-rounder in 2029 for Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta)
• Out: Blake Coleman, F (traded to Minnesota on July 2)
• Out: Olli Maatta, D (traded to Minnesota on July 2)
• Out: Ryan Lomberg, F (signed two-year contract with Columbus on July 1)
• Out: Viktor Arvidsson, F (departed after trade-deadline deal to Colorado last season)

The big question

Where does the offense come from? Coleman's 20 goals are gone, and Calgary already finished last in scoring. The Flames are counting on internal growth from Coronato, Farabee, and Yegor Sharangovich, plus a healthy return from Jonathan Huberdeau, who had hip surgery in March. If those bets don't pay off, this could be another long winter.

X-factor

Simon Nemec. The second overall pick in 2022 had 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games for New Jersey last season and now steps into expanded minutes after the departures of MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson. Per nhl.com, Nemec is a breakout candidate who can quarterback a power play and move the puck in transition. If he takes a leap alongside rookie Zayne Parekh, Calgary's defense could surprise. If he stalls, the blue line stays thin.

Bold prediction

The Flames finish outside the playoffs again but closer to .500, and Nemec cracks 40 points while logging top-pair minutes. Wolf's save percentage climbs above .910 with better structure in front of him.

The outlook

Calgary is playing the 2026-27 season as a bridge year. The defense got younger and deeper, the draft cupboard is full, and Conroy has flexibility to add at the deadline if the kids click. But this roster, as currently constructed, is not a playoff team. The Flames are asking a lot of unproven players to carry the load while they wait for the next wave. Patience is the plan. Whether the fanbase buys in is another question.