SportsHockeyFlames

Which Calgary Flames players are the best in shootouts?

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Mar 13 2025, 9:44 pm
Which Calgary Flames players are the best in shootouts?
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images

Ryan Huska is taking some heat after the Calgary Flames’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks last night.

Some were left puzzled and frustrated by the options Huska elected to go with in the four-round shootout. Jonathan Huberdeau was able to score the Flames’ lone goal, while Morgan Frost, Rasmus Andersson, and Yegor Sharangovich were all denied by Kevin Lankinen.

Fans questioned why Sharangovich (whose season-long struggles have been well documented) and Andersson would go ahead of another option in Nazem Kadri, who scored a highlight-reel breakaway goal earlier in the night.

As it turns out, however, Kadri hasn’t been very good in shootouts throughout his career, which likely played a part in Huska’s decision-making last night. Here’s a look at how the Flames’ top offensive performers have fared in shootouts throughout their NHL career, from best to worst.

1. Rasmus Andersson

  • Career: 4-for-8 (50%)
  • 2024-25: 2-for-3 (66.7%)

As it turns out, Andersson has been the best shootout performer amongst their top stars in his career to date. Albeit in a small sample size, he’s scored four shootout tallies in his career, including two this season.

2. Yegor Sharangovich

  • Career: 6-for-13 (46.2%)
  • 2024-25: 0-for-4 (0%)

And there you have it. Sharangovich has struggled in shootouts this season but has a strong track record throughout his career. The skilled 26-year-old entered 2024-25, having scored six shootout goals on nine attempts.

3. Jonathan Huberdeau

  • Career: 23-for-75 (30.7%)
  • 2024-25: 1-for-1 (100%)

Noticing a trend yet? The third-best shootout option on the Flames’ current roster based on career percentages is Huberdeau, who has had a whopping 75 attempts throughout his career. He’s converted on 23 of them and buried on his first attempt of the season last night.

4. Morgan Frost

  • Career: 3-for-10 (30%)
  • 2024-25: 1-for-3 (33%)

It’s evident that Huska and his staff weren’t just picking at random last night. They are well aware of their players’ success in shootouts throughout their careers, indicating why Frost was the first to be called upon last night.

5. Blake Coleman

  • Career: 1-for-4 (25%)
  • 2024-25: NA

Blake Coleman is shooting a relatively impressive 25% in shootouts throughout his career, though in a very small sample size. He’s been handed an attempt just four times throughout his 606 games, none of which have come with the Flames.

6. Nazem Kadri

  • Career: 7-for-39 (17.9%)
  • 2024-25: 0-for-1 (0%)

As talented a player as Kadri is, shootouts aren’t his strength. The 34-year-old has had his fair share of opportunities with 39 attempts in his career but has converted on just seven. That helps explain why he wasn’t selected last night and has only been tasked with one opportunity this season.

7. Joel Farabee

  • Career: 1-for-6 (16.7%)
  • 2024-25: NA

Newcomer Joel Farabee is one of the more skilled players the Flames have up front, but that skill doesn’t seem to translate to shootouts. He was given just six opportunities during his time with the Philadelphia Flyers, only finding the back of the net once.

8. Mikael Backlund

  • Career: 1-for-13 (7.7%)
  • 2024-25: (NA)

Mikael Backlund wasn’t an option to go in last night’s shootout, having exited with an upper-body injury, and if we’re being honest, he would have waited some time to hear his name called had he been healthy. The Flames captain does plenty of good, but shootouts are not one of them.

9. Connor Zary

  • Career: 0-for-3 (0%)
  • 2024-25: 0-for-1 (0%)

It’s not fair to suggest Connor Zary isn’t good at shootouts, as he hasn’t had much opportunity. In the few chances he has been given, however, he’s failed to convert.

10. Matt Coronato

  • Career: 0-for-1 (0%)
  • 2024-25: 0-for-1 (0%)

Matt Coronato has the best shot of any forward on the Flames but has garnered just one career opportunity in the shootout to date. Practice opportunities may have this coaching staff thinking he isn’t a great option, though it would be intriguing to see him get a few looks going forward.

It goes without saying that the Flames really miss Justin Kirkland when it comes to shootouts. Before going down with a season-ending ACL injury, the 28-year-old had converted on three of four opportunities. If healthy, he would have shot last night and, based on the numbers, likely would have converted.

It’s also worth mentioning that MacKenzie Weegar, who is third on the Flames in scoring, has never had a shootout attempt during his NHL career.

While it’s fair to argue that going by an in-game feel may have been the better approach, the percentages shown above make it very clear what led to Huska’s shootout decisions last night.

ADVERTISEMENT