The Pacific Division arms race isn’t slowing down — it’s ramping up.
Every summer, it feels like the pace in the West gets more difficult to keep up with. Right now, the Calgary Flames are doing their best to hold steady in a division full of heavy hitters.
The Vegas Golden Knights went out and landed Mitch Marner — a blockbuster swing that keeps them firmly in “all-in” mode. Edmonton remains Edmonton; as long as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl wear Oilers jerseys, they should be a perennial contender. Vancouver added Evander Kane, and already has Thatcher Demko, Quinn Hughes, and Elias Pettersson leading the charge. When Demko is healthy - and if Pettersson can find his game again - the Canucks are as dangerous as anyone.
Even the so-called rebuilding teams are stockpiling weapons. San Jose has a future superstar in Macklin Celebrini, who just spent time this summer learning from Sidney Crosby with Team Canada. That experience should only sharpen his game in year two, and his growing chemistry with Will Smith is going to be must-watch hockey.
Anaheim’s Mason McTavish is trending upward and looks ready to take another step, while Chris Kreider will add some much needed veteran depth. In L.A., the Kings remain a force — loaded with talent like Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, and a rising Quinton Byfield. Seattle might not be flashy, but their balance and depth keep them in the playoff conversation. Acquiring Mason Marchment from Dallas was a sneaky good add.
So where does that leave Calgary?
The Flames are still early in a retool, but the challenges are obvious. They need more depth down the middle, especially after this season. Cole Reschny is an exciting prospect, but he’s not likely to solve that issue just yet.
The big question is whether the Flames can find a true star forward to match the firepower around the Pacific. Could a Rasmus Andersson trade be the only realistic way to add that piece? It’s not an easy puzzle to solve.
Here’s the trap: the Flames cannot afford to drift into the “mushy middle.” Drafting high means finishing low, but a throwaway season won’t fly with management — nor should it. (Even though Gavin McKenna is draft eligible in 2026.) Calgary has to find a way into the playoffs rather than living just outside the wild-card cut. That’s the hard part of a retool: being competitive now, while still building for later.
The good news? Calgary might have the ace up their sleeve in net. Dustin Wolf is more than just the goalie of the future — he’s the goalie of right now. That gives Calgary something few other teams have: a young, homegrown starter with superstar potential.
Patience is part of the plan, but patience gets tested quickly in a division stacked with stars and contenders. The Flames don’t need to win the arms race overnight, and GM Craig Conroy has done a good job stocking the stables, but they do need to show progress — and avoid standing still while everyone else speeds ahead.