The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are set to face off in the 2025-26 season, marking the 11th time the Canucks have opened their regular season at home against their division rival. The first game is scheduled for October 9 at Rogers Arena. Last season, the Flames narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing just one point behind the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Flames' Season Overview
The Calgary Flames' 2024-25 season was marked by their near playoff berth, only missing out due to having fewer regulation wins than the St. Louis Blues. Despite being projected as one of the league's worst teams, they proved to be a relentless and hard-working group under head coach Ryan Huska. Dustin Wolf's performance in goal was a major factor in their success, earning him a Calder Trophy nomination.
Key Players and Roster Composition
The Flames have a mix of offensive and checking forwards. Offensive-minded players include Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, Yegor Sharangovich, Connor Zary, Morgan Frost, and Matt Coronato. Players in checking roles include Martin Pospisil, Joel Farabee, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, and Ryan Lomberg.
On defense, MacKenzie Weegar, Kevin Bahl, and Brayden Pachal are likely to play significant roles. Dustin Wolf is the team's undisputed top goaltender.
Several young players are also looking to make an impact, including Ilya Solovyov, Hunter Brzustewicz and Zayne Parekh. The Flames have been actively working to secure their key players, with contract extensions for Coronato, Adam Klapka, Morgan Frost, Rory Kerins, Kevin Bahl, Yan Kuznetsov, and Jeremie Poirier. However, negotiations with Connor Zary are ongoing.
Areas for Improvement
Several players are looking to improve their performance in the 2025-26 season. Joel Farabee described his previous season as an "embarrassment" and both he and Morgan Frost are expected to contribute more offensively now that they are more settled in Calgary. Jonathan Huberdeau is also aiming for a bounce-back season.
Canucks' Perspective
The Canucks are aiming to snag four points from their division rival early in the season, with their first two games against the Flames taking place in Vancouver. Last season, the Canucks lost their home opener against the Flames after giving up a 4-1 lead, ultimately losing 6-5 in overtime. The Canucks won the season series 2-1-1, but each game was closely contested.
The Canucks' success in the 2025-26 season hinges on key players such as Elias Pettersson rebounding and playing to their full potential. Quinn Hughes remains a top defenseman, and Thatcher Demko is expected to perform at an elite level.
Vancouver's schedule includes two eight-game homestands and 14 sets of back-to-back games. The team will also have a six-game road trip in January. The schedule will pause from February 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Roster and Cap Situation for Canucks
The Canucks have a good portion of their roster set with 15 veteran NHL players signed. Key players include Elias Pettersson, Jake DeBrusk, Conor Garland, Filip Chytil, Dakota Joshua, Nils Hoglander, Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, and Thatcher Demko.
The Canucks' management is focused on making small-scale changes to improve the roster while managing a tight budget.
Overall Outlook
The Calgary Flames are expected to be a competitive team in the 2025-26 season, driven by strong goaltending from Dustin Wolf and a cohesive, hard-working team. The Canucks will need to be at their best to secure wins against their division rival. The opening game on October 9 will be a crucial test for both teams.
