The Calgary Flames won the Pacific Division during the 2021-22 season, producing three 40-goal scorers, plus one who tallied 35, for the NHL's sixth-best total of 291. Immediately following the departures of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, the Flames dropped to 19th overall with 258 goals in 2022-23, and have been on a downward trajectory ever since. Last year, the Flames scored just 208 goals, the worst total in the league, and according to the Bleacher Report's Way-too-Early Bold Predictions, the rebuilding club is on pace to repeat that dubious ranking. 

Surprisingly, when looking at who scored the most goals for the Flames last season, Morgan Frost led the way with 22, followed by Joel Farabee (20) and the recently departed Blake Coleman (20). Overall, 10 players reached double digits, with Nazem Kadri (12) and Rasmus Andersson (10) both moving on to other teams before the NHL trade deadline. Meanwhile, Jonathan Huberdeau played only 50 games, scoring 10 goals, and should be healthy to start the 2025-26 campaign, with enormous pressure to live up to his $10.5 million contract. 

Last year, Calgary had a goal differential of minus-48, the worst in the Ryan Huska era behind the bench. Considering the lineup only got younger this offseason, with an average age of 26.78, their inexperience may be one of the main reasons Bleacher Report thinks there are not enough goal scorers on the roster. Moreover, their most veteran player and captain, Mikael Backlund, is another year older at 37 and hasn't scored 20 goals in almost a decade.

Although Dustin Wolf is locked into a team-friendly deal at just $7.5 million, he won't be able to put up Vezina Trophy numbers behind a questionable defense and an offense that can't score at the other end. For the Flames to contend for a wildcard spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, he'll need to put the team on his back and carry them across the finish line.

However, the statistics don't lie, and they are not in his favor. Last year, Calgary was shut out five times and scored just one goal in 20 games, posting a 0-22-3 record and leaving a possible 44 points on the table. Of course, they wouldn't have won all of those games, but it goes to show how difficult it is to win hockey games when your team scores only once.

Because the Flames are young and will be celebrating the final season at the Saddledome this year, they run the risk of finding themselves at the bottom of the standings once again with good NHL Draft Lottery odds. Unfortunately, if the Blecher Report is right with their bold predictions, it may be another long season in Calgary. Yet, if the Flames want to send out the old barn on a positive note, they will find a way to score more goals and give opponents a run for their money in the playoff race, defying the doubters along the way.