Flames' Offseason: Draft, Roster Moves, and Opening Night

On April 20th, the Calgary Flames wrapped up their 2025-26 season without a play-out spot,

but they're ramping up the youth push by shipping out some vets.

Now it's off-season mode, with eyes on the NHL draft lottery May 5th,

and the draft itself end of June. Fans hit up the mailbag with questions on contracts,

prospects, and roster moves. Salary caps climbing fast after years of flatlining,

so entry-level deals like Hurting's 990,000 AAV make sense league minimum,

hits 850,000 next year, heading to 1 million by 2029-30.

Meanwhile, guys like Tyson Gross from the Wranglers could snag full-time spots,

bringing size, speed, and pace to fix that clunky fourth line.

Draft Talks hot, Flames hold fourth overall, so best player available rules,

snag forwards Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg if they slide, or top demon,

like Albert Smith's or Carson Carels. On defense, expect to keep RFA Gavin White for steady death,

but UFA Nick Sysek might chase NHL Ice elsewhere. Conor's areas got talent but injury and

consistency roles might need a top-9 shot or fresh eyes in a trade. Yegor Sharon Govich

tops the step-up list too. For young wings, Brennan-Offman sticks, Parker Bell's versatile,

but Lucas Sionna could get squeezed with new AHL blood coming. Opening night October 5th,

2027 at Scotia Place versus Edmonton, centers are Mikel Backlin, facing McDavid, Morgan Frost,

Tyson Gross, and Cole Rushney. About 7 to 10 players usually chill in Calgary through summer

for family and stampede vibes, keeping the hockey pulse alive till training camp.

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