4 Flames players who have been better than expected so far
There haven’t been a whole lot of positives surrounding the Calgary Flames in the early portion of the 2026-27 season.
Through eight games, they sit 31st in the NHL with a 2-6-0 record. They also own a league-worst minus-20 goal differential over that span.
Aside from a few lopsided losses, this isn’t entirely surprising, as the rebuilding Flames were expected to struggle this season. Still, even on a team that’s firmly in the early stages of a rebuild, there needs to be some encouraging signs along the way.
Fortunately for the Flames, a handful of players have given fans reasons for optimism despite the team’s difficult start. From a veteran looking to rediscover his scoring touch to a pair of young forwards making the most of unexpected opportunities, here are four players who have stood out in the early going.
1. Yegor Sharangovich
Following a second-straight disappointing season in 2025-26, Yegor Sharangovich completely changed up his training routine this past summer in hopes of getting his game back on track. So far, so good.
While Sharangovich hasn’t set the world on fire with two goals and four points, he’s playing with a much more competitive edge than we’ve seen in years past. That has helped him generate more chances offensively, and is a great sign for the Flames given that he remains under contract through the 2029-30 season.
2. Adam Klapka
Flames fans saw glimpses of what Adam Klapka could bring to the lineup in 2025-26, but there were far too many nights when the towering forward was barely noticeable. That’s not easy to do when you stand 6-foot-8.
Early this season, however, things have been noticeably different.
Klapka has moved up and down the lineup while making his presence felt on a more consistent basis. He’s generating more offensively while continuing to use his size to deliver punishing hits and make life difficult for opposing defencemen.
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Consistency will be the key for Klapka moving forward, but his early-season play is an encouraging development. If he can continue to contribute at both ends of the ice, he could establish himself as a regular part of Calgary’s lineup as the team eventually looks to transition from rebuilding to contending.
3. Aydar Suniev
Few fans expected Aydar Suniev to crack the Flames’ opening-night roster this season, but an impressive training camp put him firmly in the conversation. He ultimately failed to make the team out of camp, though he received a call-up shortly afterward and hasn’t looked out of place since.
The 21-year-old winger has recorded two goals and an assist through five games, which is some impressive production for a young player finding his footing at the NHL level. It’s particularly encouraging given Calgary’s struggles to generate offence consistently.
Of course, five games is a small sample size, and Suniev still has plenty to prove before he can be considered a fixture in the lineup. Nevertheless, his early production is an encouraging sign for a Flames organization that needs young players to emerge as legitimate offensive contributors.
4. Jonathan Castagna
Much like Suniev, few people expected Jonathan Castagna to join the Flames this quickly. It wasn’t necessarily the original plan, but the 21-year-old centre got his opportunity after Connor Zary was placed on waivers.
Castagna hasn’t logged significant minutes, but he hasn’t looked overwhelmed when called upon. He’s also won 52.3 per cent of his faceoffs, an impressive mark for a player in his first professional season.
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images
He isn’t expected to be a difference-maker just yet, and there will inevitably be a learning curve as he adjusts to the NHL. Still, the fact that he’s looked comfortable in a limited role this early in his professional career is an encouraging sign.
For a rebuilding team, finding young players who can step into unexpected opportunities and hold their own is valuable. Castagna has done exactly that so far, giving the Flames another intriguing young forward to monitor as the season progresses.
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