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[Calgary Flames]

Instant Reaction: Flames sweep back to back with win in Vancouver

Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!

The Calgary Flames, for the first time this season, have themselves a winning streak on their hands. Playing their second game in as many nights, with travel, the Flames got off to a slow start but found their game – and the net – pretty quickly against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Flames gave up the first goal of the game, then responded with five goals in a 5-2 road victory over the Canucks. They’ve won three consecutive games for the first time this season.

The rundown​

Just 1:05 into the game, the Canucks scored. Jake DeBrusk made a nice play to send the Canucks in on an odd-man rush, with Filip Hronek jumping into the rush as the puck carrier. He opted the shoot, waiting out a sliding Kevin Bahl and then beating Dustin Wolf top corner to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead.

The Canucks score on their first shot of the game.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/VHPJ0Ig2kO

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 24, 2025

The Flames were on the heels for a good chunk of the first period, but Wolf was sharp. Eventually, the Flames got some looks and began to find ways to cash in.

Midway through the period, Matt Coronato made a nice play to hold the puck in at the offensive blueline, then passed to the open wing for Rasmus Andersson. Andersson swung wide and threw the puck towards the slot, where Morgan Frost deflected the puck past Kevin Lankinen to tie the game at 1-1.

FLAMES GOAL

Rasmus Andersson picks up another point on this Morgan Frost goal!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/R4uxhL1c6e

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 24, 2025

Just 35 seconds later, the Flames took the lead off a nice play. Blake Coleman chucked the puck towards the net from the wing. Lankinen looked ready to play a simple sliding puck, but Mikael Backlund took a one-handed whack at the puck and Connor Zary zoomed in and deposited the rebound to make it a 2-1 lead for the Flames.

FLAMES GOAL

Connor Zary scores his first goal since the season opener! it's great to see him get back on the score sheet!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/BA0ybIMOg5

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 24, 2025

First period shots were 13-7 Canucks. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 12-9 Canucks and high-danger scoring chances were 5-5.

Midway through the second, the Flames added to their lead. With Joel Farabee jostling for position in front of the Canucks net, Kevin Bahl’s point shot glanced off Tom Willander and past Lankinen to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.

FLAMES GOAL

Kevin Bahl banks the puck off Tom Willander's skate and in! It's 3-1 Calgary!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/FaCUtgFaV3

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 24, 2025

Later in the period, the Flames scored again. This time, Andersson fired a point shot on the Canucks net. Lankinen made the initial shot but Yegor Sharangovich, left largely alone in front, batted in the rebound to give the Flames a 4-1 lead.

FLAMES GOAL

Yegor Sharangovich gets on the board! It's 4-1 Calgary!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/WLh2akOHWr

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 24, 2025

Second period shots were 11-6 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 5-1 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 3-0 Flames.

The Canucks pressed for chunks of the third period, but the Flames did a pretty savvy job not taking on too much water.

With Jonathan Huberdeau in the penalty box for hooking, two goals were scored: one for each team on the same power play.

The Flames made it 5-1 with a shorthanded goal, as Coleman used his stick to deflect a Backlund pass past Lankinen.

FLAMES GOAL

Blake Coleman scores a short handed goal! That's the 300th point of Coleman's career!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/kJNy1OxLKA

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 24, 2025

Immediately afterwards, though, the Canucks got a power play goal back. Quinn Hughes went end-to-end, with Wolf stopping his initial shot but Hughes driving the net to get his own rebound. That cut the Flames’ lead to 5-2.

CANUCKS GOAL

Quinn Hughes gets that Coleman goal right back to make it a 5-2 game.

: Sportsnet | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/kC2s6zQhhf

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) November 24, 2025

The Canucks pulled Lankinen for an extra attacker with a couple minutes left in regulation, and then got a two-man advantage after Coleman was called for a minor. Farabee hit the post while firing on the empty net. But neither side was able to take advantage, and the game ended as a 5-2 Flames win.

Third period shots were 11-3 Canucks. 5v5 scoring chances were 6-3 Canucks and high-danger scoring chances were 2-1 Flames.

Why the Flames won​

The Flames looked a bit disorganized early in the game and looked a bit on their heels for a chunk of the first period. But they really seemed to find their game quickly, and they were really effective and organized at five-on-five. Their special teams weren’t anything special – their penalty kill was better than their power play – but this was the type of game where the Flames just rolled their lines, did their thing, and took advantage of the opportunities that were presented to them.

Red Warrior​

Andersson set up three different Flames goals with really smart plays. He’s been playing great hockey lately and he was rewarded for it frequently against Vancouver.

But a lot of Flames had pretty good outings in this one. In addition to Andersson, Coleman, Kadri and Backlund each had multi-point outings.

Turning point​

The Flames scored twice in a 35-second span to grab the lead in the first period. They never looked back.

This and that​

Dustin Wolf started in net for the Flames in the back half of the back-to-back. Ryan Lomberg came into the lineup, bumping Sam Morton to the sidelines.

Matt Coronato wore a protective face shield – a “bubble” in the common parlance – following an injury on a hit from Mikko Rantanen on Saturday night. Rantanen received a one game suspension for having two physical infraction game misconducts in a 41-game span.

After Burner​

Join Mike Gould and Kent Wilson right after the game for After Burner!

Up next​

The Flames (8-13-3) continue their road trip on Wednesday night when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi​

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/instant-reaction-flames-sweep-back-to-back-with-win-in-vancouver

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames defender Rasmus Andersson named NHL’s first star of the week

Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson has been named the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the week ending Nov. 23, the league announced on Monday morning.

Rasmus Andersson, Zach Werenski and Macklin Celebrini have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 23.

3 Stars of the Week presented by @GEICO#NHLStats: https://t.co/fnpVBW2vaX pic.twitter.com/DtCdblyeLM

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) November 24, 2025

Andersson is the first Flame to land on the league’s weekly three-stars list since Nazem Kadri was named third star in the final week of the 2023-24 season. He’s joined on this week’s list by Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenceman Zach Werenski and San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini.

Considering Andersson’s fantastic week, it’s not surprising to see him recognized atop the NHL. Over last week’s four games, the Swedish blue liner had two goals and seven assists for a total of nine points, averaging an impressive 25 minutes a night. Benefiting from his offensive contributions, Calgary are now on a three-game winning streak, and Andersson now boasts points in his last five.

Amidst a tough start to the season, Andersson has been a crucial piece for the Flames. In total so far this season, he has five goals and 16 points in 24 games played, leading the team with 24:25 minute played per night. Serving in his fourth season as the team’s alternate captain, he continues to lead by example on both ends of the ice.

As the Flames potentially explore trading key players to bolster their prospect pool and draft assets moving forward, Andersson is one name that has continued to come up time and again. Just last week, The Leafs Nation’s Jay Rosehill shared on Leafs Morning Take that the Toronto Maple Leafs are “actively pursuing” Andersson. Toronto is certainly a team that could benefit from a strong offensive presence on their blue line, as their season has got off to a disastrous start considering their expectations. If an Andersson trade truly is inevitable, his recent strong play is music to Flames fans ears, as he continues to bolster his trade value in a market starved for available and reliable two-way defenders like him.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-defender-rasmus-andersson-named-nhls-first-star-of-the-week

 

[Calgary Flames]

FlamesNation Mailbag: Thinking about the big picture

Alright gang, we usually don’t assign homework before you read a mailbag column, but a lot of stuff has gone on that is reflected in the mailbag questions we’ve received and we want to make sure nobody feels lost.

On Wednesday, Sportsnet’s Brendan Parker interviewed Flames president of hockey operations Don Maloney in the first intermission of the Flames’ game in Buffalo. Watch the full interview here.

On Friday, Sportsnet’s Eric Francis interviewed Maloney in what was published as a two-part column on Friday and Saturday. Part one is here and part two is here.

Alright, we’re all caught up, let’s dive in.

– As a %, what's your confidence that Conroy will be given an extension?

– Why do you think Conroy did not do the interviews – according to Francis, requests for him were turned down. Could there be another hidden motive? (Maloney being the fall guy so that CC openly rebuild)

— m (@miletwt) November 23, 2025

In terms of Craig Conroy receiving a contract extension, my confidence level is at 95%. While he hasn’t been without his missteps – his long-term extension for Yegor Sharangovich isn’t aging well, for example – I really think he navigated the 2023-24 minefield incredibly well given all the expiring veteran controls and the Flames’ drafting and developing has looked quite promising under Conroy. I think he gets more time to unpack his vision.

In terms of how things unfolded this week, I won’t speak for my media colleagues. Thankfully, Francis noted on Friday’s Flames Talk how things came together for the two interviews.

“Before they went on this road trip and before Parker did the interview, I had asked the Flames if I could talk to Don and we had agreed that when they got back from the trip that I would talk to him. In the meantime, I know Parker asked to speak to Craig Conroy and they said ‘well no, Don Maloney would be open to doing it too.’ So they put Don on and then we saw the interview.”

Maloney is the head of hockey operations, the bridge between ownership and management, and it makes sense for him to do media from time to time. I really don’t think there’s any conspiracy afoot.

I think this will be the Maloney Mailbag this week! He seems to think a rebuild is all or nothing, when they really only need to make a few key moves his season to set themselves up nicely. How would you sell a re-whatever to him, in terms of trades, etc?

— John Ludwick (@jludwick66) November 23, 2025

Disclaimer: So, Elliotte Friedman has a maxim he uses: “everybody lies.” He usually trots this out during the trade deadline and NHL draft periods, because especially during those time periods, it doesn’t do any of the teams any good to have their business out in the open. So expecting anyone from hockey operations – even Craig Conroy, who’s naturally very friendly and chatty and out-going – to be forthcoming with their true plans in a November interview while the team is in 32nd place is not realistic.

That all being said: I do think the Flames have a hesitance to blow it up completely. I’ve mentioned this before in prior mailbags, but the 1990s flat-out sucked to be a Flames fan. The team was bad, the Saddledome was empty, and the team was very close to relocating or folding. You do not have an annual “please save the team” ticket drive if things are going well. Things are going much better for the Flames these days, but I think your first few years of owning a team being a white-knuckle ride to keep things afloat leaves some scar tissue and impacts your decision-making. I don’t know how it couldn’t.

For this season, if you accept the premise that the Flames have some good players that they like… well, they need to make some decisions on which players they feel won’t be part of their long-term plan and set prices for them. You don’t rush anybody out the door necessarily, but you make your prices known for assets and then make moves if those prices are met. Aside from Rasmus Andersson, there’s no immediate time pressure to move players, so I think they just need to be really honest about what a strong Flames team would look like in 2027 or 2028 and then make some moves to shape the team towards that vision.

How do the Flames move away from the Maloney PR disaster?

— Kevin Olenick (@kevole) November 23, 2025

I think they just… live their lives, guys. There’s a lot of hockey left to be played and if the Flames play an entertaining style of game and make moves that support their purported future focus, I think the world will keep on spinning.

Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/BlueSky at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan.Pike [at] BetterCollective.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flamesnation-mailbag-thinking-about-the-big-picture

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames assign forward Sam Morton back to the AHL’s Wranglers

Ahead of the American portion of the club’s five game road trip, the Calgary Flames have made a roster move. On Tuesday morning, the Flames announced that they’ve assigned centre Sam Morton back to the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers.

The 26-year-old Morton was recalled by the Flames back on Nov. 17, along with Dryden Hunt, as part of a series of transactions that also saw Sam Honzek placed on the injury reserve list and Rory Kerins assigned to the Wranglers. The following day, the Flames claimed John Beecher off waivers from the Boston Bruins.

Even with the 24-year-old Beecher probably slotted in ahead of him based on his youth and more extensive NHL experience, Morton impressed during his call-up. He played in three games, all of them centring the fourth line and playing on the penalty kill, and while he didn’t hit the scoresheet with any points, he went 16-for-24 in the face-off dot (a 67% win percentage) and was a perfect 4-for-4 on face-offs on the penalty kill. (His performance in Chicago, just hours after Beecher was claimed off waivers to ostensibly replace him on the roster, was simply excellent.)

Morton was a healthy scratch for the Flames’ 5-2 win over Vancouver on Sunday, bumped to the press box (a) so that Ryan Lomberg could get back in and (b) so that Beecher could play centre after two games on the wing. Considering how highly the Flames value Lomberg’s energy on the fourth line, and Beecher’s youth, Morton’s options were likely sitting idle in the press box or rejoining the Wranglers on their current road trip.

The Flames obviously opted to keep Morton active in the AHL. (Hunt remains on the NHL roster as their 13th forward.) Morton was on the NHL roster for eight days and played three games, so the Flames retain a ton of flexibility with his waiver status for the rest of the season. Considering how impressive Morton was, it seems likely that we’ll see him with the big club again this season.

The Flames now have 22 players on their active roster: two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. They’re back in action on Wednesday night in Tampa Bay.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-assign-forward-sam-morton-back-to-the-ahls-wranglers

 

[Calgary Flames]

5 standouts from the USA’s Game 1 win at the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge

For the United States National Development Program’s Under-18 Team, it was sweet revenge. For the Canadian Hockey League’s all-star team, it was a missed opportunity. Tuesday night’s opening game of the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge represented very different things for the two groups. The USNDP skated to a 4-2 victory over the CHL at the Scotiabank Saddledome in the first game of a two-game set showcasing 2026 NHL Draft eligible players.

On paper, the USNDP were a team with lower high-end skill, but with ample experience playing together – and motivation after watching their counterparts get swept by the CHL in this event last year. Meanwhile, the CHL featured several prospective first-rounders, but only a handful of players with much experience playing together.

On the ice, the game unfolded in the way many expected. The USNDP played a structured checking game and relied on pace and familiarity, while the CHL really got going in the second half of the game when individual players started to make plays. Ultimately, the USNDP’s team play was too much for the CHL to overcome.

The USNDP received goals from Dayne Beuker, Sammy Nelson, Wyatt Cullen and Jamie Glance. The CHL got goals from Soo defender Chase Reid and Spokane forward Mathis Preston.

Here are five players that stood out in Game 1.

Harrison Boettiger, CHL (Kelowna)

The CHL’s netminder only faced 25 shots, but he faced a lot of high-quality looks. This was especially true in the first half of the game, where the CHL defenders were a bit leaky and scrambly in their half of the ice. Boettiger had to be sharp to keep the game close and give the CHL a chance to find their footing.

Caleb Malhotra, CHL (Brantford)

The CHL’s captain (and the son of longtime NHLer Manny Malhotra) was easily their most noticeable skater. He used his pace and physicality well and did a lot as he tried to spark his team. He made a nice deception play on Chase Reid’s goal, feinting a shot and then dishing to Reid instead. He was also 9-for-16 at the face-off dot.

Brady Knowling, USNDP

The USDNP’s netminder was busy, facing 44 shots. While his CHL counterpart arguably faced more high-quality chances, Knowling was consistently sharp and did a great job swallowing up pucks and controlling rebounds. He was busy, but he never seemed scrambly or overwhelmed.

Wyatt Cullen, USNDP

Matt Cullen’s son was a big highlight, playing on the Americans’ first line. He scored a goal, but he was also did a nice job playing with pace and making smart plays in all three zones.

Victor Plante, USNDP

Derek Plante’s son was a forechecking machine for the USNDP, and he was consistently noticeable using his size, speed and tenacity to pressure the CHL players into making poor decisions with the puck. He created a bunch of scoring chances, too.

The CHL and USNDP rematch on Wednesday night in Lethbridge. Game time is 6 p.m. MT on TSN.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/5-standouts-from-the-usas-game-1-win-at-the-chl-usa-prospects-challenge

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames nearing an extension with general manager Craig Conroy: Friedman

If rumours are to be believed, it appears that the Calgary Flames are close to extending general manager Craig Conroy.

During the first period of the Wednesday evening game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the two parties are close to signing an extension.

Hearing tonight that the Calgary Flames and GM Craig Conroy are making progress on a contract extension.

Been a lot of conversation about this locally the last few days…not sure when it will be finalized, but we are headed to that conclusion.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 27, 2025

This report comes on the heels of Don Maloney leaving some ambiguity in the air when asked about Conroy’s future earlier this week. Essentially, the Flames’ President of Hockey Operations deflected Sportsnet’s questions about why Conroy hadn’t been extended.

Don Maloney addresses why Craig Conroy doesn't have a contract in place for next season and beyond.

To no one's surprise, he didn't want to comment on it.

I really do wonder about Conroy's future. Is he happy working for Maloney and this ownership group? Are his hands tied? pic.twitter.com/YPVOpiQJth

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 22, 2025

Conroy spent much of his playing career with the Flames, joining the team for two separate stints, with the team coming a couple of goals shy of winning the Stanley Cup. The Potsdam, New York native returned after a brief stint with the Los Angeles Kings, ending his playing career with the Flames.

Since then, Conroy has remained in the organization, being promoted to the team’s assistant general manager in 2014, before taking over the GM role at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season when Brad Treliving joined the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Conroy has done well as the Flames’ general manager. His first trade saw him move Tyler Toffoli for Yegor Sharangovich and the pick used to select Aydar Suniev. The first trade deadline deal of his career expanded the Curtis Glencross trade tree, as he sent Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for Andrei Kuzmenko (later turned into Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee), Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, and two picks, one used to select Matvei Gridin.

In his tenure with the Flames, Conroy’s draft has been strong as well. Gridin is one of a handful of interesting prospects selected since Conroy took over. Zayne Parekh, Suniev, Samuel Honzek, Cole Reschny, and Cullen Potter are just a few of quite several players to keep an eye on.

Simply put, extending Conroy is a must for the Flames, and it’s good to see that it’s close.

---

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-nearing-an-extension-with-general-manager-craig-conroy-friedman

 

[Calgary Flames]

Instant Reaction: Flames winning streak crashes against Lightning

Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!

The Calgary Flames went into Tampa Bay on Wednesday night hoping to extend their winning streak. However, they had a tough start to the game and just couldn’t work their way back from it. The Flames allowed four goals in the first 10:01 of regulation en route to a 5-1 loss to the Lightning.

The rundown​

The Flames had a good first shift in the Lightning zone to start the game. Matt Coronato put the puck to the slot… and Jonathan Huberdeau was stopped by Andrei Vasilevskiy. Play went the other way and Brandon Hagel beat Dustin Wolf with a wrist shot off the rush to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

Jonathan Huberdeau is stopped at one end. Brandon Hagel scores at the other.

1-0 Tampa

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/WcBv19lBpK

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 27, 2025

Seconds later, the Lightning got an insurance marker. They passed the puck to the point where Charle-Edouard D’Astous fired a point shot. It looked like the puck may have glanced off Kevin Bahl, battling out front with Gage Goncalves, but either way the shot beat Wolf to give the home side a 2-0 lead.

Charles-Édouard D'Astous' point shot finds it's way to the back of the net.

2-0 Tampa

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/iira7UPm0Y

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 27, 2025

Slightly later, Tampa scored a weird one. Zemgus Girgensons chucked the puck towards the front of the net, likely trying to set up a scoring chance for teammate Declan Carlile. Instead, Bahl, trying to block the past, inadvertently deflected it past Wolf to make it a 3-0 lead for Tampa Bay.

The puck goes in off Kevin Bahl's stick and in. 3-0 Tampa.

Devin Cooley is coming into this game.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/cUaKYhiK26

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 27, 2025

The third goal spelled the end of Wolf’s evening, with Devin Cooley entering the game in relief.

Shortly after Cooley joined the game, the Lightning made it 4-0, as a shot from Carlile trickled under Cooley’s arm and dribbled into the net.

4-0 Tampa.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/jftyGWcIE1

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 27, 2025

First period shots were 10-5 Lightning. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 10-1 Lightning and high-danger scoring chances were 2-1 Lightning.

Midway through the second period Nick Paul scored on Cooley, but the goal was thrown out after a coach’s challenge due to Paul cutting through the crease and toppling Cooley over immediately before the goal.

Tampa gets their 5th goal called off due to goalie interference.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/Qq2io1EPbX

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 27, 2025

Second period shots were 9-9. 5v5 scoring chances were 8-5 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 4-3 Flames.

The Flames spoiled Vasilevskiy’s shutout bid early in the third period, with Joel Farabee beating him on a shorthanded rush to cut the lead to 4-1.

FLAMES GOAL

Joel Farabee walks down the wing and beats Andrei Vasilevskiy with a nice shot.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/UuBXgMdZWe

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 27, 2025

The Flames kept pressing, but couldn’t get another goal. Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov broke out into the Flames end after a face-off win in their zone, with Kucherov scoring on the two-on-one to give Tampa Bay a 5-1 lead.

The Lightning held on for the win.

Third period shots were 9-4 Flames.

Why the Flames lost​

The Flames had a rough first 10 minutes of this game. They were equal parts unlucky, out-skilled and out-muscled in their own end. They really found their game in the second period and avoided this game becoming a trouncing, but they just weren’t sharp enough early to keep this game close.

Red Warrior​

Joel Farabee and Nazem Kadri were both consistently noticeable in the offensive zone, and Farabee had the Flames’ lone goal. We’ll give the nod to them jointly.

Turning point​

The Lightning scored twice before the first 90 seconds of this hockey game had elapsed.

This and that​

Wolf played just 5:52 of this game, making this (by far) the shortest outing he’s had in high-level hockey.

John Beecher registered an assist on Farabee’s goal, giving him his first point with the Flames.

After Burner​

Join Ryan Pinder and Robert Munnich right after the game for After Burner!

Up next​

The Flames (8-14-3) continue their road trip on Friday afternoon against the Florida Panthers.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi​

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/instant-reaction-flames-winning-streak-crashes-against-lightning

 

[Calgary Flames]

Throwback Thursday: Looking at the Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk trades with the Panthers

Since the start of the 2020s, the Calgary Flames have made some not-so-great trades.

Two of the not-so-great trades came with the team the Flames play on Friday, the Florida Panthers. Neither the Sam Bennett nor the Matthew Tkachuk trades worked out for the Flames, but there is a silver lining. In this edition of Throwback Thursday, we’ll take a look at those two trades as well as the ramifications of them.

The first of the two trades was the Bennett trade on Apr. 12, 2021. By this point in the season, the Flames were nine points out of the final playoff spot with two additional games played over the Montréal Canadiens, forcing them to sell ahead of the 2021 trade deadline.

Bennett was drafted fourth overall by the Flames in 2014, but it just didn’t work out in Alberta. His rookie season in 2015-16 saw him score 18 goals and 36 points in 77 games, but he never topped 15 goals or 30 points again in his Flames tenure. Giving him a fresh start, the Flames traded him to the Panthers for Emil Heineman and a 2022 second-round pick.

That second was traded to acquire Calle Jankrok from the Seattle Kraken, while Heineman was traded before the following trade deadline to the Canadiens for Tyler Toffoli. Eventually, the Flames traded Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich and the pick used to select Aydar Suniev. The trade itself wasn’t great for what Bennett turned out to become (more on that in a bit), but the trade tree itself was okay.

Bennett’s first full season with the Panthers saw him score 28 goals and 49 points. Since the trade, he hasn’t finished with 40 points, and has scored 20 or more goals three times. He’s coming off a career year in 2024-25, scoring 25 goals and 51 points.

Toffoli was acquired before the 2022 trade deadline and helped the Flames finish the 2021-22 season strong, as their 50-21-11 record was the best in the Pacific Division. Unfortunately, that team crumbled during the off-season. The late-great Johnny Gaudreau signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tkachuk found himself on the Panthers.

At the time, Tkachuk was a restricted free agent and informed the Flames he wasn’t going to sign a long-term extension. A short time later, the Flames traded him and a 2025 fourth to the Panthers for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 first.

At the time, it looked like they got good value out of a crappy situation. Huberdeau was coming off a 30-goal, 115-point season en route to being the leading scorer for a Presidents’ Trophy-winning Panthers team in 2021-22. Weegar was and still is a top-pairing defenceman, scoring 20 goals and 52 points in just his second season with the Flames. Additionally, that first-round pick turned into prospect Cullen Potter.

Unfortunately, Huberdeau’s play has tailed off since joining the Flames, which makes this trade not-so-great in revisionist terms. Later that summer, the Flames attached a first-round pick to trade Sean Monahan and his salary, using that space to sign Nazem Kadri. On the other hand, Tkachuk was the final piece needed to make the Panthers contenders.

The Panthers just barely snuck into the 2023 post-season, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to the Boston Bruins, and winning Game 7 in overtime. They went to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

But that was a vital experience for the Panthers, as they went on to win the next two Stanley Cups. In the Panthers’ three trips to the postseason, Tkachuk has 25 goals and 69 points in 67 games. Bennett has also found success in those runs, scoring 27 goals and 24 points. Last postseason, he scored 15 goals and 22 points in 23 games, en route to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

So what’s the silver lining for the Flames? There’s a strong probability that had they not made these two trades, the Panthers wouldn’t have become the dynasty they are. In the past two Stanley Cup Finals, the Panthers have vanquished the Flames’ eternal rival, the Edmonton Oilers.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/throwb...-and-matthew-tkachuk-trades-with-the-panthers

 

[Calgary Flames]

Digesting Don Maloney’s controversial comments (part two)

If you somehow missed it, Calgary Flames president of hockey ops Don Maloney set the team’s fanbase ablaze with his against-the-grain comments about the organization’s plan to move forward after a historically bad start to the season.

Maloney did a rare five-minute interview with Brendan Parker during the first intermission of the Flames duel with the Sabres in Buffalo on Nov. 19. The team’s president was then given an even larger forum to share his thoughts days later, in a 45-minute one-on-one with Eric Francis.

His chat with Francis was published as a two-part Q&A on Sportsnet’s website. (Part one can be found here, and part two here)

We’ve already analyzed part one of Eric Francis’ two-part Q&A with Maloney, in which he made it clear that there is no appetite to take the roster ‘down to the studs’ in an effort to lean into what is already a lost season. He also pushed back on the idea that selecting at the top of the draft is a proven way to acquire game-changing players, while emphasizing the need to continue fostering a winning culture in Calgary.

In part two, Maloney speaks on Craig Conroy’s work as general manager, trading veteran players, and his preferred word to use instead of ‘rebuild’.

To open part two of the Q&A, Maloney was asked to assess the job that general manager Craig Conroy has done:

“I think Craig has been excellent at creating an environment, a culture here of being proud to play in Calgary. I think his biggest strength is his relationship with the players, which is excellent. He cares, and they know he cares. I think the first year was very difficult with the number of good players we had at the end of their contracts. A couple of those guys would probably help us right about now, but we got through that. I think Year 2 was very strong. But again, you want to keep the pressure on each other and why we say we want to be a playoff team. We don’t want to go into the season saying, ‘We want to draft in the top five.’ I don’t want to, in any way, shape or form, be associated with that, because then, why are we doing this? Just to fantasize we’re going to get a star player?”

It’s interesting that he mentions how the guys who were shipped out in the 2023-24 season could “probably help us out right now”. I may be reading into it too much, but it gives off the vibe that he would’ve preferred a different approach with those players, who were all pending UFAs. Otherwise, why mention it?

Those trades netted the Flames countless assets that have bolstered the team’s prospect pipeline and pool of draft picks. It was a no-brainer for Conroy to move off those veterans who, for the most part, had notified management that they weren’t willing to extend in Calgary.

The latter part of that answer exemplifies the disconnect between Maloney’s opinion and that of many fans, who have long been clamouring for the opportunity to “fantasize” about a star player picked at the top of the draft.

The conversation then shifts to the youngsters, and Maloney was asked what the plan is for Matvei Gridin, who started the year with the Flames and now resides with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers:

“He is in a great spot, and he is a talent. Yeah, he can go down there, turn pucks over, and nobody’s paying attention to him. He’s one of the leading rookie scorers down there. He’s still producing. If you bring him up, he has to play in the top nine. Grid is going to be a terrific player for us down the road, but that might not be until February or March, depending on how he goes and where the team’s at. We have to be more patient. Maybe some people like the idea of throwing all these young players into the league, but then you run into confidence issues. These young guys are used to scoring at every level, then all of a sudden they haven’t touched the puck in two weeks, and they lose their game and their belief. The Celebrinis are the exceptions. Look at even (Connor) Bedard a year ago…and now he’s back to the level he should be.”

An interesting note: A year ago, Bedard finished with as many points (67) as Nazem Kadri, who led the Flames in scoring.

Maloney was then asked if Zayne Parekh’s season is an example of why they shouldn’t rush players into the NHL:

“Zayne is a perfect example. We got a glimpse of him last April, when he came in at the end of the year, and in Game 82 he was terrific. He was dynamic, his skating, his flow, his passing, his getting up ice. It was one game, so I’m guilty of it too. In my mind, I said at the very least he’ll help our power play. But fast forward three or four months later, he has some health issues training, comes into camp and has been playing catch up. And then he loses his confidence, and now he’s just trying to keep his head above water. He’s just not anywhere near the player that we think he will be. Not everybody’s a star overnight. Physically, mentally and emotionally, when he hit this sort of wall he was trying to just figure out, ‘How do I survive in this league, let alone prosper?’ In an impatient world, everybody wants people here now and (to) get them in the lineup and let them fail and grow. We don’t think that’s the right route. We think we need to put them in places to succeed.”

The Flames are rather hesitant to give young players a shot with the big club, their philosophy differs from most other organizations in that regard. It’s clear that the only reason Parekh began the season in the majors was his ineligibility to play in the AHL, as per the CHL-NHL Transfer Agreement.

Despite playing sheltered minutes, Parekh was not necessarily put in a position to succeed over the course of his 11-game NHL stint. He never had a consistent defensive partner, playing with a mixture of Jake Bean, Brayden Pachal, Joel Hanley and Kevin Bahl.

Gridin and Parekh are still teenagers, so the hesitancy there is understandable, but the same can’t be said for older prospects that have already proven themselves in the minors, like Rory Kerins and William Stromgren, who are 23 and 22 years old respectively.

Maloney’s stated concern with trading veterans is that the team’s youth is not yet ready to be passed the proverbial ‘torch’ from Calgary’s current leadership group. Patience is a virtue in most cases, but at some point, you have to rip the band-aid off and let these players learn and grow at the highest level.

Shifting focus to the Rasmus Andersson trade front, Maloney was asked how the 29-year-old defenceman has handled the situation, knowing that he’ll likely be traded:

“I really do admire how, from Day 1, it has not bothered him. He’s here just to help us win, and that’s been his focus. I do admire it. He’s probably been our best defenceman, or certainly over the last three weeks he’s playing great hockey right now, which is great for him, great for us. Since the 4 Nations and the world championships there’s been growth in him. At some point, if we can’t find something that works for him, and us, then we’ll have to look at alternatives. We know that, but we’re not racing out to do anything, unless it’s something that says, ‘OK, this is something — someone wants to step up.’ And it’s not draft picks, because with anybody who wants Rasmus, in all reality, their draft pick would be in the 20s to 32nd. It’d be different if you said yeah, you’re guaranteed a top-three or top-five pick.“

Maloney’s keeping his cards close to his chest, reiterating that they want to sign Andersson, and I believe him. They’ve remained firm on their messaging, as though to let interested buyers know that they’ll really have to pay up to pry him loose.

In terms of how Andersson feels about all this, is it possible that he is remarkably comfortable because he has complete control over the situation? If he wants to remain in Calgary, he knows there is an extension waiting for him, maybe not at the exact term or dollar amount he’s seeking, but nonetheless, it’s on the table. If he wants to be moved, they’ll move him, and he’ll essentially control where he ends up. So it’s no surprise, at least to me, that he seems totally cool with the whole thing.

When asked what word he’d use to describe what the organization is doing right now instead of “rebuild,” Maloney picked “retool”:

“I think a retooling is more accurate, but that was started two years ago when we traded all those really good NHL players. There’s a new mindset going forward. You think of the last few years when Tre (Brad Treliving) and Darryl (Sutter) were here, we were going for it. We gave up picks and we acquired players, and unfortunately we didn’t have the playoff success that you would like. We’re in a different phase now, but we still think we can be a competitive team. We can fight for playoff spots as we grow the franchise.”

I find the whole debate over the terminology silly. Former CSEC president and CEO John Bean once went as far as to say, “I’m not ever allowed to use the word rebuild” at a press conference in 2023. Does it really matter what word they use? Will it really create a palpable difference in fan interest?

I suppose the executives understand the ramifications of certain terminology better than I do. Still, it was bizarre to watch Maloney stumble over his words in an attempt to backtrack after saying the wrong word during his live interview with Brendan Parker.

The last bit of that response sums up the interview in its entirety. He seems determined to remain in the playoff mix while simultaneously building towards the future. This is an incredibly difficult line to walk. How competitive can you be when you’re trying to plan for the future, especially when most of the teams that truly have Stanley Cup aspirations have, conversely, leveraged much of the future to improve their current roster? It’s a near-impossible feat in a league where you’re either in or you’re out.

On the other hand, how do you expect to build towards the future if your goal is to always remain competitive? The growing pains that are inherent with a rebuild, retool, re-whatever are not conducive to winning in the now. The Flames have reached the playoffs in consecutive years just once since 2009, and it’s this line of thinking that has contributed to that.

There is no secret shortcut. There is just one tried and true path to the ultimate prize.

This interview, as a whole, leaves a lot open for interpretation. You can choose to interpret the things that he said in any way you’d like. You can also interpret whether or not he’s being totally truthful in his answers. Maloney didn’t necessarily say a lot while saying nothing at all, like some executives have learned to do masterfully, but he also leaves a lot of topics open for debate.

If one things for certain, he didn’t do much in the way of putting fans at ease. He never articulated a clear vision for the team moving forward, outside of saying “We prefer a Dallas (Stars) model,” or “We’re hoping to have a little pop in momentum going into the new building.”

We don’t often hear from Maloney, and with the way this has gone over, it may be a while before we hear from him again.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/digesting-don-maloneys-controversial-comments-part-two

 

[Calgary Flames]

Instant Reaction: Flames rally back to tame Panthers

Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!

On Wednesday night in Tampa Bay, the Calgary Flames allowed four goals before they found their footing. On Friday afternoon in Sunrise, Florida, the Flames allowed two goals before they found their footing. The speed of their adjustment made all the difference, as the Flames played a pretty strong game (despite allowing two goals on the first two shots) and bounced back from a disappointing earlier result.

The Flames beat the Panthers by a 5-3 score.

The rundown​

The Panthers took advantage of a couple bloopers by the Flames early in the first period to grab an early lead.

First, Jonathan Huberdeau attempted to make a breakout pass from just inside the Flames blueline. Unfortunately, his pass didn’t have a lot of mustard on it, and Jesper Boqvist yoinked the errant pass. A couple passes later and Evan Rodrigues deked around Devin Cooley to give the Panthers a 1-0 edge.

Huberdeau turns the puck over and it ends up in the back of the Flames net. 1-0 FLA

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/voHtW48c5d

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

A little later, the Flames got caught on a bad line change, leaving Rasmus Andersson all alone to defend an odd-man rush against A.J. Greer and Sam Bennett. It didn’t go well, and Bennett fired the puck past Cooley to go up 2-0.

Two shots, two goals for the Florida Panthers.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/fPFEpQCXfD

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

But a little later, the Flames got on the board. Blueliner Yan Kuznetsov skated into the Panthers zone and, using a defender as a screen, fired the puck past Daniil Tarasov to cut the Florida lead to 2-1.

FLAMES GOAL

Yan Kuznetsov scores his first NHL goal! You love to see it!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/Qmz0TJcT6m

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

Awhile later, the Flames tied things up. Mikael Backlund made a smart read from below the goal line, throwing the puck to the point for MacKenzie Weegar. Weegar’s low point shot through traffic beat Tarasov to make it a 2-2 game.

FLAMES GOAL

MacKenzie Weegar ties things up with his first goal of the season!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/7iyy0VdOnD

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

First period shots were 19-14 Panthers. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 15-8 Panthers and high-danger scoring chances were 10-5 Panthers.

Late in the first period, the Panthers took two minor penalties on the same sequence, which gave the Flames a five-on-three power play that carried over into the second period. The Flames cashed in on that advantage, as a Rasmus Andersson shot was stopped by Tarasov, but Morgan Frost deposited the rebound into the Florida net to give Calgary a 3-2 lead.

FLAMES GOAL

Morgan Frost scores on the power play! Calgary takes their first lead of the game!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/8hWHZk4V3V

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

Later in the period, the Flames scored again off a pretty similar play. This time, Andersson’s shot was deflected by Nazem Kadri in front of Tarasov’s net. That deflection beat the Florida netminder to give Calgary a 4-2 advantage.

FLAMES GOAL

Nazem Kadri tips home a Rasmus Andersson point! It's 4-2 Calgary!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/UkVznshwJL

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

Second period shots were 10-8 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 8-5 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 3-0 Flames.

The Panthers pressed in the third period, obviously aware that they were down two goals on home ice. They got a few good looks and eventually managed to trim Calgary’s lead.

The Panthers entered the Flames zone with speed and numbers, with Brad Marchand entering as the trailer, receiving a pass in the slot from Sam Reinhart, and firing the puck past Cooley. That cut the Flames’ edge to 4-3.

Brad Marchand makes this a one goal game. He has 27 points in 23 games this season.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/ga9ji2cOsF

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

The Panthers pulled Tarasov for the extra attacker and pressed late, but Yegor Sharangovich made a great defensive play around the blue paint, and then Joel Farabee scored an empty-netter to give the Flames a 5-3 lead. That was enough for the two points.

Third period shots were 12-10 Panthers.

Why the Flames won​

The Flames were kinda tentative and slow in the first few minutes of the first period. But give them credit: they woke up pretty quickly and the details that were wholly absent in the first few minutes were fully present for much of the rest of the game. The Flames made life really easy for Florida early on. After that point, they made life tough for them, and they ended up getting rewarded for their efforts.

Red Warrior​

Nazem Kadri had a goal, won over 60% of his draws, and led the Flames in shots on goal. He had a three point game, and his line was flat-out excellent.

Turning point​

We’re gonna cop out and say “the second period.” The Flames were superb at bottling up the Panthers in the middle frame and making them play the game on their terms. They also out-scored them, taking the lead. It was a really strong 20 minutes of Flames hockey.

This and that​

This was Devin Cooley’s sixth start of the season. Otherwise, the Flames made zero lineup changes.

Yan Kuznetsov’s goal was the first of his NHL career. Joel Farabee’s goal was the 100th of his NHL career.

Blake Coleman celebrated his birthday on Friday. He turned 34.

After Burner​

Join Mike Gould and myself right after the game for After Burner!

Up next​

The Flames (9-14-3) continue their road trip on Sunday afternoon against the Carolina Hurricanes.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi​

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/instant-reaction-flames-rally-back-to-tame-panthers

 

[Calgary Flames]

NHL Notebook: Canadiens extend Mike Matheson

The Montréal Canadiens have made a litany of moves.

On Friday morning, the team announced that it had signed defenceman Mike Matheson to a five-year extension with an annual cap hit of $6 million.

Matheson found his way to the Canadiens during the summer of 2022, and the Canadiens acquired him and a 2023 fourth-round pick in exchange for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling. He immediately began to put up career-best seasons, scoring eight goals and 34 points in 48 games during the 2022-23 season.

The following year, Matheson matched his career high in goals, 11, while picking up 51 assists for 62 points. His production halved in 2024-25, scoring six goals and 31 points in 80 games, but he’s scored four goals and 14 points in 22 games this season.

On Nov. 23, it was reported that the Original Six team signed forward Alexandre Texier to a one-year deal after his contract was terminated by the St. Louis Blues. Four days later, it was reported that the Canadiens re-claimed Sammy Blais off waivers.

Texier, born in Grenoble, France, was drafted 45th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017. His rookie season was in 2019-20, where he scored six goals and 13 points, followed by four goals and 15 points in 49 games during the 2020-21 season. The left wing reached the double-digit goal mark for the first time in 2021-22, scoring 11 goals and 20 points in 36 games before spending the entire 2022-23 season in Switzerland.

In Texier’s final season with the Blue Jackets, he scored a career-high 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games, signing with the Blues in the off-season. The 2024-25 season saw him score six goals and 11 points in 31 games, while playing just eight games before his contract termination.

Blais is also a former Blue, winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2019. After parts of four seasons with the team, he was traded to the Rangers. He played parts of two seasons with the Rangers before being traded back to the Blues ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.

Blais spent all of the 2024-25 season with the Calder Cup-winning Abbotsford Canucks, scoring 14 goals and 40 points in 51 regular season games, with six goals and 19 points in 23 post-season games. In the off-season, he signed with the Canadiens, but was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he scored a goal and three points in eight games.

Alexander Romanov out five to six months​

The New York Islanders will be without one of their defencemen, as last Sunday, the team announced that Alex Romanov will be out for 5-6 months due to shoulder surgery.

#Isles Injury Update: Alex Romanov is out 5-6 months. He will have shoulder surgery.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 23, 2025

The injury occurred late in the Islanders’ 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Nov. 18 as Mikko Rantanen dangerously boarded the defender and received a five-minute major. Two games later, Rantanen received another five-minute major for boarding, this time the infraction came against Calgary Flames’ forward Matt Coronato.

Because Rantanen received two five-minute majors in the same week, he was automatically suspended for a game, missing the Stars’ 8-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Romanov, 25, has reached the 20-point mark over the last three seasons, including scoring a career-high seven goals with the Islanders in 2023-24.

Alexandar Georgiev signs two-year deal in KHL​

The first Bulgarian-born National Hockey League player has departed the NHL, as Alexandar Georgiev has signed a two-year deal with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Spartak Moscow.

This will be the first time the 29-year-old netminder has played in the KHL, but he played his youth hockey in Russia before moving to Finland to play for TPS. He joined the New York Rangers for the 2017-18 season and had several successful seasons there as the team’s backup.

Georgiev was traded to the Colorado Avalanche ahead of the 2022-23 season and posted a .919 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 62 games. His play took a hit the following season, owning an .897 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average in 63 games.

The netminder declined from 2022-23 to 2023-24, but his play fell off a cliff in 2024-25. In 18 games with the Avalanche, the 29-year-old posted an .874 save percentage and 3.38 goals against average in 18 games before being traded to the San Jose Sharks in the package that brought Mackenzie Blackwood to the Avalanche. Georgiev wasn’t much better with the Sharks.

Before the season, Georgiev signed with the Buffalo Sabres, but played just two games with the American Hockey League team before his contract was terminated.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Sponsored by bet365:

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/nhl-notebook-canadiens-extend-mike-matheson

 

[Calgary Flames]

Yan Kuznetsov has brought stability to MacKenzie Weegar and the entire Flames blueline

It was a tough start to the season for everyone on the Calgary Flames roster. For MacKenzie Weegar, the season began with hopes of earning a spot on Canada’s Olympic roster. After the tough start, he now finds himself on the outside looking in, with injuries to others potentially his only realistic path to Italy in February.

It’s been a season of uncharacteristic mistakes and a lack of offence from Weegar. He finally scored his first goal of the season against the Florida Panthers, snapping a goalless stretch in which he had 51 shots through his first 25 games. Weegar remains an exceptional defender and a veteran leader for the Flames, and while he can’t be thrilled with the way his season has unfolded, the struggles aren’t entirely on his shoulders.

FLAMES GOAL

MacKenzie Weegar ties things up with his first goal of the season!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/7iyy0VdOnD

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

Since the Flames traded Chris Tanev two years ago, Weegar hasn’t had a steady defensive partner. Last season, he rotated through Daniil Miromanov, Tyson Barrie and Jake Bean before settling in with Joel Hanley down the stretch. This year has been more of the same. Through just 25 games, he has already played with several partners. He opened the season with Hanley, but after a rough start the pairings were shuffled. Since then, he has skated with Bean, Brayden Pachal, Zayne Parekh and, most recently, Yan Kuznetsov — his longest stint with any player so far.

Kuznetsov, who appeared in one game for the Flames in 2023-24, had to wait a couple of seasons for another NHL opportunity. In his first true run with the club, he has been impressive. He scored his first NHL goal on a wicked wrist shot past fellow Russian Daniil Tarasov and has added a couple of assists. But beyond the points — which aren’t his primary focus — he’s looked comfortable at the NHL level, making smart plays with the puck, defending responsibly, chapping in on the penalty kill and contributing to offensive pressure.

FLAMES GOAL

Yan Kuznetsov scores his first NHL goal! You love to see it!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/Qmz0TJcT6m

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 28, 2025

Most importantly, he has helped bring out the version of MacKenzie Weegar that Flames fans know and expect. For the first time this season, Weegar has a regular partner instead of arriving at the rink unsure who he’ll line up with. Chemistry matters, and the improvement has been obvious. It’s easy to say Weegar can play with anyone. Weegar plays at an exceptional level on both the left and right side but clearly the revolving door of defensive partners hasn’t been working.

For Weegar, this feels like a turning point. With comfort and familiarity now in place, he can play with more confidence. The last week or two he’s played his best hockey of the season and the expectation is that he will continue to elevate his game going forward. The Olympic roster remains a long shot, but if he continues to elevate his game over the next month, he could at least keep his name in the minds of the Team Canada decision makers should an opportunity open up.

It’s always encouraging when a young player is given a chance in the NHL and runs with it. It’s also impressive for them to have a quiet yet substantial impact on the team in such a brief stretch. With Kuznetsov’s strong play and the stability he has provided throughout the Flames’ blue line, he shouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Hopefully this pairing is not just a short term success story. Kuznetsov has more than earned his place in the lineup along side Weegar and I’m sure Weegar doesn’t want to lose this newfound partner anytime soon.

How would you rate the play of Kuznetsov and Weegar in their time as a defensive paring? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/yan-ku...ckenzie-weegar-and-the-entire-flames-blueline