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Why so many young Calgary Flames players have struggled this season

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Mar 17 2026, 6:21 pm
Why so many young Calgary Flames players have struggled this season
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images

There’s plenty to be optimistic about if you’re a fan of the Calgary Flames. After years of middling results, the organization, led by Craig Conroy, now appears to have a clear vision: rebuild rather than chase playoff spots each season.

The move is evident in recent trades that saw veterans Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri shipped out, giving the Flames additional draft picks and prospects to bolster an already promising pipeline.

Yet even with excitement surrounding the team’s future, concerns remain — particularly regarding the development of the Flames’ younger players.

Matt Coronato, who scored 24 goals and 47 points in his first full NHL season in 2024-25, has regressed to 15 goals and 32 points through 66 games. Connor Zary, who showed so much promise in 2023-24, is on pace for fewer than 30 points. Not helping matters is that the two have been thrown into a blender when it comes to line combinations this season.

In net, Dustin Wolf has struggled following an impressive rookie campaign, posting a 3.00 GAA and a .897 SV% through 49 games. While it may be difficult to put Wolf’s struggles on head coach Ryan Huska, seeing Zary stall and Coronato’s decline raises questions about his player development abilities.

Huska’s challenge is clear: winning may not be the top priority, but young players need to take visible steps forward for the team’s future to progress.

Outside of Yan Kuznetsov, few youngsters have made a strong impression. Matvei Gridin has shown flashes in 23 games but has totalled just four goals and 10 points. Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz have had limited opportunities, often sitting as healthy scratches.

Even 22-year-old William Stromgren, called up briefly in January, averaged just 7:17 of ice time across three games.

Despite these struggles, Huska has demonstrated competence, leading the Flames to 96 points in 2024-25 and showing he can implement effective systems. His two-year contract extension, signed before the 2025-26 season, provides job security, but patience may wear thin if the organization’s young talent continues to struggle to make the next jump.

Ultimately, the Flames’ success in the coming years will hinge on whether their prospects can develop as hoped. For Huska, maximizing the potential of his young players moving forward will be the biggest key for him to continue on as the franchise’s head coach.

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