4 Flames with the Most to Prove in 2026-27

Though there isn’t much pressure on the Calgary Flames as a team this season, there are several individuals who need to step things up. While the team struggling in 2025-26 didn’t come as a surprise, the play of some of their expected top players certainly did.

In some cases, these were young players who are suddenly having some doubters when it comes to their potential. On the flip side, there are some veterans who simply were not good enough, and will need a bounce-back in order to regain support from the fan base. With that said, here are the four players on the Flames’ roster with the most to prove this coming season.

Dustin Wolf

After finishing second in Calder Trophy voting in what was an incredible 2024-25 season, Dustin Wolf’s numbers took a hit in 2025-26. While he did make a career-high 57 appearances, his 2.99 goals against average (GAA) paired with his .899 save percentage (SV%) were very pedestrian.

While Wolf has faced plenty of adversity throughout his hockey career, this is the first time he’s truly regressed from one season to the next. The 25-year-old dominated the Western Hockey League (WHL) before tearing it up in the American Hockey League (AHL) for three seasons.

Wolf’s track record and phenomenal rookie season suggest a bounce-back is in store. There is little to no concern surrounding his future with Flames fans, though that could quickly change if he has a similar performance in 2026-27 to what he did last season. It is going to be important for him to step things up to show that he’s worth the seven-year, $52.5 million deal he signed last September.

Connor Zary

After some trade buzz earlier in the offseason, it seems as though Connor Zary will be a member of the Flames by the time the 2026-27 campaign gets underway. If he isn’t able to take a big stride forward, however, all signs point to it being his last season in Calgary.

After a solid rookie season, Zary has struggled with both injuries and consistency. The 2025-26 season was particularly frustrating for the 24-year-old, as he scored only 12 goals and 25 points in 74 games. It was a difficult pill to swallow for a fan base who believed he could become a regular 50 to 60-point scorer.

In Zary’s defence, he was moved all around the lineup last season by head coach Ryan Huska, making it difficult for him to ever get in a groove. Still, he needs to find a way to be more impactful at both ends of the ice if he hopes to be considered a part of the Flames’ long-term future.

Yegor Sharangovich

When the Flames acquired Yegor Sharangovich from the New Jersey Devils, it was said they were getting a highly-skilled player who had a tendency to be extremely inconsistent. That’s certainly been the case through his first three seasons in Calgary.

Everything went right for Sharangovich in 2023-24, as he put up career highs with 31 goals and 59 points. The strong offensive production hid other parts of his game that were lacking, and those have really come to the forefront following two straight disappointing seasons.

Sharangovich, who struggles defensively, put up just 15 goals and 29 points this past season. While it’s not fair to call him a lazy player, he lacks any sort of edge in his game to make him impactful when he’s not finding the back of the net. He needs to show more bite this coming season to get back into the good graces of Flames fans in 2026-27.

Simon Nemec

Simon Nemec still has a long way to go to prove he was worth being selected second overall back in 2022, but it’s clear that general manager (GM) Craig Conroy believes he will wind up doing so. Shortly after acquiring him in a blockbuster deal earlier this offseason, the Flames signed the 22-year-old blueliner to a five-year, $36.25 million extension.

Now, it’s up to Nemec to prove he’s worth his $7.25 million cap hit. He’ll have a great opportunity to do so, as he’s set to play top-pairing minutes with the Flames right off the hop, and will likely be placed on the top power play unit as well.

Exciting Season for Different Reasons

Oftentimes when a season gets underway, fan bases are excited to see their team rack up wins and battle for a playoff spot. That likely won’t be the case for Flames fans this season, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t reason for excitement. This is a team that boasts several, young talented players, including three on this list, who will hopefully take big steps in the right direction as they continue their development.