8 Calgary Flames players that may have played their last game with the team

For the third-straight season, the Calgary Flames failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Unlike the prior two seasons, however, missing this year is being viewed in an entirely different lense. Over those past two seasons, the organization had a goal of competing for a Stanley Cup. Realizing they weren’t a good enough team to do so, they opted for somewhat of a rebuild approach under GM Craig Conroy, with many envisioning they’d finish near the bottom of the standings in 2024-25.

Instead, they fought right until the end, as they weren’t eliminated until Tuesday night. It was a valiant season-long effort from a roster that didn’t have a ton of top-end talent but worked their tails off night in and night out. That effort level resonated well with the majority of the fan base, who were sure to send them off the ice with a standing ovation on Tuesday.

As fun of a group as this was, however, there will be some changes made next season. Not only are there some prospects knocking on the door for new opportunities, but there are some pending UFAs who either don’t make sense to bring back, or priced themselves out of town. Here’s a look at eight players who may have played their final game for the Flames.

Rasmus Andersson

Flames management remained adamant all season long that they had no intention of trading Rasmus Andersson ahead of the deadline, and they held true to that word. For a long period of time, their sole focus was to get him signed to an extension this offseason, though a down 2024-25 campaign may have them thinking differently.

Andersson, 28, will be looking to cash in on an eight-year deal, knowing very well that this is the best chance to get the biggest payday of his career. His lengthy track record of being a very-stable top-four defenceman will ensure he gets a lucrative contract, but with the Flames in the position they are in, it may not make sense to sign a player of his age to such a long-term deal.

It’s by no means a guarantee that Andersson has played his last game as a Flame, as he still has another season remaining on his contract. That said, his play this season has many in Calgary believing he should get traded for future pieces rather than re-signed.

Anthony Mantha

You’ve got to feel for Anthony Mantha, who signed with the Flames on a one-year, prove-it type deal in hopes of getting a better contract this coming offseason. He wound up playing just 13 games before suffering a torn ACL.

Mantha played relatively solid in the short stint, scoring four goals and seven points. He is a valuable player, but with several prospects knocking on the door for full-time NHL gigs, it’s hard to envision management bringing Mantha back.

Joel Hanley

What a season it was for Joel Hanley. Many questioned why the 33-year-old made the team out of training camp, as he struggled to get into the lineup through the first few months of the season. After that, however, he was relied on heavily by head coach Ryan Huska as a fixture in the top four.

Hanley’s strong season will ensure he’s playing regular NHL minutes next season, though it may have also priced him out of Calgary. He can likely land a multi-year deal this summer, and that doesn’t make a ton of sense for this team given where they sit.

Dan Vladar

Dan Vladar deserves a ton of credit. He was having a tough season, but really stepped up in his final seven starts when the stakes were at their highest. That said, it still marked his third-straight season posting a SV% below .900, which may have the organization searching for a more reliable option behind Dustin Wolf for the 2025-26 season.

As for Vladar, he too may be intrigued to test the open market to see if there’s a bigger opportunity for him elsewhere. Wolf’s season ensured that he is undoubtedly the number-one goalie for this organization moving forward. If Vladar were to return, it would be on a pretty cheap contract that doesn’t carry much term.

Kevin Rooney

Kevin Rooney took a lot of heat from Flames fans this season. The 31-year-old doesn’t provide much of any offence as shown by his five goals and 10 points through 70 games, though that isn’t all that uncommon for a fourth-line centre.

The bigger issue with Rooney is that he isn’t particularly great in the face-off circle, and he by no means is a shutdown specialist. The Flames lack of depth led him to playing a regular role this season, but an upgrade will be needed in 2025-26, whether it be via free agency or perhaps a young prospect stepping up.

Justin Kirkland

His season didn’t last very long, but Justin Kirkland became a fan favourite in Calgary in a very short time. The 28-year-old was limited to just 21 games due to an ACL tear, during which time he scored two goals and eight points, while establishing himself as a true threat in the shootout.

The Flames may elect to bring Kirkland back given that he seemed to fit in quite well both on and off the ice, though the fact he’s logged only 30 career games to date may wind up resulting in management looking elsewhere.

Daniil Miromanov

The Daniil Miromanov experiment hasn’t worked out. The Flames received the 27-year-old defenceman as part of a package in last year’s Noah Hanifin trade, hoping they could unlock the full potential of a blueliner who had excelled in the AHL in the prior two seasons.

Unfortunately, Miromanov didn’t just struggle to replicate his offence that was on display during his time in the AHL, but also had some major defensive lapses. He has another year on his contract, but it wouldn’t at all be a surprise to see the Flames either seek out a trading partner or perhaps bury him in the AHL in 2025-26.

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