OPTIMISM: Why Calgary Flames Fans Should BELIEVE They'll Be Good Next Year

Calgary Flames’ turnaround hinges on Devin Cooley and Dustin Wolf’s dynamic goaltending. Could a playoff resurgence be closer than fans expect? With Matvei Gridin’s burgeoning confidence and Zayne Parekh’s rising trajectory, the Flames’ young core is poised to shake up the 2026-27 season. We break down the latest Locked On NHL Prospects mock draft, where Calgary targets cerebral center Caleb Malhotra at fifth overall, fueling hope for a foundational shift up the middle. Key discussion points include the impact of recent trades, Morgan Frost’s uncertain future, Jonathan Huberdeau’s expected bounce-back, and why draft quality may trump quantity in the team’s rebuild. Can the Flames’ mix of youth and shrewd roster moves spark a return to postseason contention? Timestamps 00:00 Reasons Flames Could Be Good in 2026-27 10:13 Mock Draft & Calgary’s Pick Analysis 23:01 What We Learned This Week in Calgary Flames Hockey Follow & 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/LockedOnNHLPods Everydayer Club Join the Everydayer Club for ad-free audio, access to our group chat on Discord, and more. Use code DEADLINE ahead of the trade deadline for one month free. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonflames.supercast.com/ Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY The Cotton Candy flavor is HERE on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today! Hims To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/LOCKEDONNHL. Warby Parker It’s the perfect time to upgrade your glasses for spring. Buy one prescription pair and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at https://WarbyParker.com/LOCKEDONNHL. 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.