Dustin Wolf's workload, scoring woes and rookies developing: 10 observations from the Flames' first 10 games
The Calgary Flames are off to a rough start in the 2025-26 NHL season, with a 2-7-1 record that has them sitting at the bottom of the league standings. Scoring has been a major issue for the team, as they have the fewest goals in the NHL so far. Despite these struggles, there are some positives to take away from the first 10 games of the season.
One standout player for the Flames has been goaltender Dustin Wolf, who has played in nine of the team’s first 10 games. While his numbers are down compared to last year, Wolf has shown signs of returning to form in his recent starts. However, the Flames will need to give him some rest and look to backup goalie Devin Cooley for more appearances moving forward.
Veteran players like Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, and Mikael Backlund have been leading the way offensively for the Flames. Kadri, in particular, has been a consistent point producer for the team. The challenge now is for the younger players on the team to start contributing more on the scoresheet.
On the defensive side, the pairing of Kevin Bahl and Rasmus Andersson has shown improvement compared to last season. Andersson, in particular, has bounced back from a tough year and is playing better this season. However, the rest of the defense has struggled, with MacKenzie Weegar in particular having a tough start to the season.
Young prospect Zayne Parekh has been adjusting to the NHL game and showing progress in his development. Meanwhile, forward Matvei Gridin has been excelling in the AHL and could soon find his way back into the Flames’ lineup.
The absence of Martin Pospisil has been felt by the team, as they miss his physical play and forechecking ability. The Flames also need to improve their special teams, with the power-play and penalty kill units both needing to step up.
While the Flames’ playoff hopes may seem dim at this point, there are signs of progress in their recent games. With plenty of hockey left to be played, there is still hope for the team to turn things around and make a push for the postseason.
