The 2025-26 NHL season has not been friendly to the Calgary Flames. They’ve moved out several of their core players, their GM had his hands tied by ownership over making more trades, and now, the Flames enter the summer trying to balance resetting their roster, while keeping in mind they open a new arena in a couple years.
GM Craig Conroy made a couple of significant moves, dealing Mackenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, and expect to see a few more moves heading into the draft in June. Here’s three Flames who aren’t expected back next season:
Jonathan Huberdeau
While Conroy could pull off another big trade in the offseason, Huberdeau is likely heading to a buy out. So far this season through 50 games, the veteran winger has recorded just 25 points, and is making $10.5 million AAV. Enough is enough, the math is not mathing for Huberdeau’s Flames tenure. If the Flames don’t want to retain a massive chunk of Huberdeau’s contract through the 2031 season, they could buy him out and pay $10.3 million the first two years, $7.8 year three, $10.3 year four, and drops down to $5.8 million, than $800,000 for two more. Needless to say, this contract is likely the worst in the NHL.
Victor Olofsson
Olofsson had a tough go this season being moved in then Kadri deal, going from a Cup contending in Colorado, to the basement of the Western Conference with the Flames. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and isn’t expected to want to hang around Calgary any longer than needed. Olofsson’s posted one goal and one assist in seven games so far as a Flame.
Blake Coleman
It was surprising to see Coleman stay in Calgary post trade deadline, as there was plenty of interest in the versatile former Cup winner, but Conroy stayed strong to his high demands. Come the NHL Draft, look for Conroy to go back out to market and try to land a pick for Coleman late in the first first round.
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