BLUEPRINTS: Should Flames Follow Sharks, Habs or Panthers? | Fifth loss in 2026

The Calgary Flames face a pivotal crossroads after their fifth loss of 2026—will a bold rebuild reshape their future? We examine how teams like the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers have navigated transformational rebuilds, spotlighting strategies Calgary could emulate, potential draft targets like Gavin McKenna and the looming Rasmus Andersson trade. With the Flames already armed with multiple first-round picks, fans wonder if bottoming out is the key to attracting generational talent and enticing free agents.A heartbreaking 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets exposes the Flames’ struggle to sustain pressure, despite power play success and strong games from Mikael Backlund, Dustin Wolf and Andersson. We hear from Locked On NHL about Ryan Huska’s coaching future after the Blue Jackets relieved head coach Dean Evason of his duties and hired veteran NHL coach Rick Bowness. Is this the moment Calgary finally commits to a true rebuild, or will management double down on continuity? The next moves could define the Flames’ identity for seasons to come.Timestamps0:00 – Embracing the Flames’ Rebuild10:58 – Columbus Loss Recap & Player Updates24:08 – Locked On NHL: Ryan Huska’s Job Security, Coaching ContinuityFollow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-flames/Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LockedOnNHLPodsEverydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonflames.supercast.com/Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/lockedon right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. So before tip-off, check the FanDuel app and see what’s dropping during NBA Happy Hour — every Friday from 6 to 7:30 PM Eastern. A little basketball, a little action, and a whole lot of Friday energy.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)#NHL #CalgaryFlames Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.