The Calgary Flames date back to 1972 when they were started as the Atlanta Flames. On the ice, the Flames were a success, reaching the playoffs in six of their eight seasons in Atlanta. Financially, however, they struggled due to poor attendance, and in 1980, they were sold and relocated to Calgary. Following the move, they maintained their on-ice success by qualifying for the postseason in their first 11 years in Calgary, which included winning the 1989 Stanley Cup as well as a trip to the 1986 Stanley Cup Final. Since winning the 1989 Stanley Cup, the team has reached one more Stanley Cup Final—in 2004, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Last week, there was a ranking of the top five overrated general managers (GMs) in the NHL. With the help of multiple writers here at The Hockey Writers, an opinion-based list was possible. Now, it’s time to look at the other end of the spectrum and dive into the underrated GMs in the league. Related: 5 Most Overrated NHL General Managers for 2025-26 Like the overrated list, this ranking requires a lot of subjectivity. It’s about the public perception of a GM compared to the results, and once a GM has significant success, they aren’t underrated anymore (which happened to…
On Aug. 29, 2024, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were fatally hit by a suspected drunk driver. The two were riding bikes on a road in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, the night before their sister’s wedding. Both were slotted to be groomsmen for their sister on her special day. While the devastating and unimaginable reality was dealt to the Gaudreau family and NHL community, “Johnny Hockey,” put New Jersey on the map with the capability of developing NHL-level talent. Gaudreau’s Connection to the Garden State Gaudreau grew up in Salem, New Jersey, a small town…
One year later, it still doesn’t feel real. It was on August 29, 2024 that the very foundation of the hockey world was shook to the core. On that day, the hockey world lost two of its brightest lights. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were tragically killed while riding their bikes by a suspected drunk driver. They were home in New Jersey at the time to be a part of their sister’s wedding the next day. The suspected drunk driver, Sean Higgins, was arrested as he was behind the wheel of a Jeep Grand Cherokee that struck the brothers. He failed…
The 2025-26 NHL season begins with its media showcases, including the National Hockey League Player’s Association (NHLPA) Rookie Showcase in Washington, DC. For the Calgary Flames, this year’s Rookie Showcase invitee is Zayne Parekh. The Flames had no invitee last season. Parekh was picked ninth overall in 2024 from the…
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, yesterday was a big day for fans of the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. First, it was confirmed that Rasmus Andersson is being traded, thanks to a statement from the team captain. Then, Connor McDavid spoke to the media about his contract situation in Edmonton….
Yesterday in Hockey History: Aug. 27 Tomorrow in Hockey History: Aug. 29 This date has seen many of the greatest players in National Hockey League history take their place in the Hall of Fame. Plus, a very popular player called it a career shortly after winning the ultimate prize, and…
The Calgary Flames are entering a season where, for the second-straight year, seemingly nobody knows what to expect from them. Some have pegged them to come back down to earth after an unexpectedly impressive 2024-25 season, while others believe they will continue to improve and think they will be a…
Calgary Flames fans were dealt a big blow on Tuesday morning, as it was announced that Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie will be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs as their TV host for the 2025-26 season and beyond. Leslie had previously spent the past seven seasons with Sportsnet as the game-day host…
Yesterday in Hockey History: Aug. 25 Tomorrow in Hockey History: Aug. 27 Aug. 26 is a date that is loaded with big names in NHL history. The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted three different classes. A legendary defenseman signed the biggest contract ever and one of the game’s greatest goalscorers…
In this week’s edition of Calgary Flames News & Rumours, Dustin Wolf, who has just one season remaining on his contract, spoke about what he expects from himself heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Meanwhile, restricted free agent (RFA) Connor Zary and the Flames continue to remain far apart on contract…
If you were to ask Calgary Flames fans how general manager (GM) Craig Conroy has done since taking over the role after the 2022-23 season, you’d have a wide range of answers. There are some who love the approach Conroy is taking, which is keeping the team competitive while giving…
Earlier today, news broke that Tyson Barrie has announced his retirement from the NHL. The news first surfaced in a video from DNVR Avalanche on X when Barrie himself shared it. From there, word spread quickly and it became official. At the age of 34, Barrie is retiring from the…
In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we look at how the Seattle Kraken will be looking for a “king’s ransom” if another team wants to acquire Jared McCann. Elsewhere, there have been some updates on the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, and how that could look. Finally, there have been some…
The Calgary Flames are in a difficult spot as a team – they’re in the mushy middle, neither rebuilding nor tearing it all down, and waiting to see where the next season takes them. Whatever happens this season will likely determine their choices for the future, so here are three…
The Calgary Flames are one of the more interesting teams heading into the 2025-26 season that seemingly nobody is talking about. Even after a 2024-25 season in which they massively exceeded expectations, the general consensus amongst the hockey world seems to suggest they will miss the playoffs again this coming…
In this week’s edition of Calgary Flames News & Rumours, Dustin Wolf continues to fly under the radar as he was left off USA’s 2026 Winter Olympic orientation camp roster. Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri is still hoping to appear in the Olympics despite being left off of Canada’s orientation camp roster….
In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we look at Patrik Laine and how his career almost came to an end before a strong bounce-back into the league. Elsewhere, Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames spoke about not being invited to Team Canada’s invitees list for the 2026 Milan Olympics. Finally, after…
Not every moment in hockey comes with a spotlight or a big headline. Sometimes, the most critical things happen quietly—and that’s precisely how Reggie Lemelin’s story began. If he hadn’t signed that first NHL contract with the Atlanta Flames, the Calgary Flames might’ve missed out on one of their most…
The Calgary Flames have had a very quiet offseason so far, but that could change at the drop of a hat. It’s no hidden secret that general manager (GM) Craig Conroy has been, and is continuing to, search for a young, NHL-ready centreman who fits into the Flames’ retooling timeline….
