Rebuilding Calgary Flames face tough test in unpredictable Pacific Division

As the 2024-25 NHL season approaches, the Calgary Flames find themselves in the midst of a challenging rebuild. Unlike the Anaheim Ducks, who are also rebuilding but remain far from contention, the Flames have made some strides, accumulating intriguing prospects and players who can produce at a somewhat predictable level. However, for Calgary, especially when compared to their Pacific Division rivals, they may be fighting an uphill battle.

The Pacific Division remains fiercely competitive, with teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks emerging as top contenders. The San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings are more complicated, potentially having much better or much worse seasons than many predict.

The Ducks will fight and this season could be more about change than results.

The best teams in the Pacific are obvious

The Oilers, led by stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, boast one of the most formidable forward groups in the league. With Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, Adam Henrique and newly acquired Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, the Oilers realistically have up to six scorers with 20+ goals among their top nine.

The defensive pairing of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard has proven to be consistently good. If Darnell Nurse has a good season, he may never be worth his salary, but he could be extremely effective. Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak and Philip Broberg complete the group.

The Oilers goaltending is still unproven, but Stuart Skinner is finding his groove and is a legitimate starter in the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks, another Pacific Division heavyweight, were good last season and should be good again. With a solid forward group led by JT Miller, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, and a defensive anchor in Quinn Hughes, the Canucks pose a serious threat. They have one of the best goalkeepers, Thatcher Demko, and the team adheres to Rick Tocchet’s system.

The Golden Knights are often near the top of the division, although the possibility of regression exists. They have Jack Eichel and Mark Stone up front, with Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore and former Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin leading the pack at the back. This is a team that does everything to win. Next season should be no exception.

The middle of the pack

The Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken also appear to be in a better position than the Flames, but how they fare in the standings is a mystery. The Kings, with a balanced roster and strong defensive unit, will likely remain competitive, especially if an emerging talent like Quinton Byfield has a better season. They’re still at center with Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala and Phillip Danault and Drew Doughty has been among the league’s best minute hogs for years. Still, his defense is suspect.

The Seattle Kraken, despite a setback in 2023-24, still have a solid blue line and promising young talent like Matty Beniers. They spent some money on acquiring Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson, but it’s unclear if those gambles will pay off or if it was money wasted.

Will the Sharks take a big step forward thanks to their young stars? They don’t have elite stars, but they are heading in the right direction. For them, it’s more a question of when, not if, these stars start producing.

Ducks are not expected to quack much

Anaheim has some good young players and a mix of veterans, but not much is expected of them next season. Trade talks involve Trevor Zegras and John Gibson, while the organization opts to delay the development of future stars like Leo Carlsson. If they take a big step this season, it will surprise many.

What about the flames and their list?

In contrast to the rest of the division, the Flames’ roster lacks the depth and star power needed to compete at the same level as some elite teams. Jonathan Huberdeau, once a 115-point player, has struggled to regain his form and there are rumors that Nazem Kadri may not be long in rebuilding.

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The team added some nice pieces by selling off assets last season, but it’s debatable whether Andrei Kuzmenko and Yegor Sharangovich can be enough forwards to make a real dent in the standings. To think they can compete with the most dynamic attacks in the Pacific is a stretch.

MacKenzie Weegar is Calgary’s top defender, and while Rasmus Andersson can be effective, injuries and trade rumors surround the blueliner. The team added Jake Bean, but the Flames’ defense is still a big question mark.

Dustin Wolf, Calgary’s presumptive starting goaltender, only has 18 NHL games under his belt. He could be great and he could fight.

Given the Flames’ current roster and the strength of their Pacific Division rivals, a playoff berth seems unlikely. Calgary is likely to finish near the bottom of the standings as it faces the increasing difficulties of a rebuild. Your focus this season will be on future development and growth, not immediate success.