The Calgary Flames’ offseason has been active, but the question remains—has it been enough to push them back into the playoff picture? The most pressing item is still unresolved: Connor Zary remains unsigned. Getting that deal done is non-negotiable if the Flames want to keep their young core intact. Then there’s the uncertainty around Rasmus Andersson’s future [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/should-the-flames-move-on-from-rasmus-andersson]—a situation that needs clarity before training camp to avoid lingering distractions. © Stan Szeto-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2aa38b48-f8e9-4cb3-a09e-435ec28d5687.jpeg] © Stan Szeto-Imagn Images The club has made some notable signings. Morgan Frost stays on a two-year contract, bringing creativity and depth to the forward group. Martin Pospisil is in the mix for three more years [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/latest-news/martin-pospisil-re-ups-with-flames-on-three-year-deal]. Goaltending insurance arrives in the form of Ilya Prosvetov, a still-developing netminder who will have a chance to prove himself. Re-signing Kevin Bahl and Joel Hanley [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/from-unsung-to-unmissable-flames-invest-in-bahl-and-hanley] provides depth and dependability on the blueline. Key young players— Sam Morton, Rory Kerins, Yan Kuznetsov, and Jeremie Poirier—have all been re-signed, solidifying the developmental pipeline. Realistically, this was never going to be an offseason where Calgary landed a marquee name like Mitch Marner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights/latest-news/once-a-knight-always-a-knight-mitch-marner-s-return-to-93]. Even a target such as Nik Ehlers would have been a stretch given the current stage of the rebuild. Instead, the focus has been on internal growth and building a foundation for long-term success. The Flames have important building blocks. In net, Dustin Wolf looks every bit like the franchise goaltender [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/why-dustin-wolf-will-win-the-vezina-sooner-than-you-think] they can build around. On defence, Zayne Parekh is a high-upside prospect who could make an NHL impact as early as next season. Up front, there is a deep pool of forward prospects ready to push for roster spots. Patience remains essential. Calgary is constructing a culture of winning — where there are no excuses and the compete level lasts until the final whistle. That’s the kind of identity that can sustain a team through the ups and downs of a retool. Leadership will play a critical role, too. Jonathan Huberdeau [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/back-in-the-groove-can-huberdeau-keep-his-game-trending-up]needs to produce at a top-line level once again, and Nazem Kadri (providing he’s not traded [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/latest-news/nazem-kadri-trade-rumours-fire-without-smoke]) must continue to be the emotional and competitive catalyst. © Joe Puetz-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/43f70b3b-9b8d-4c90-b841-e61957493bb6.jpeg] © Joe Puetz-Imagn Images Last season ended in disappointment, but perspective matters. The Flames were not expected to contend, yet they remained in the playoff race until the final week, finishing 41-27-14 with 96 points—missing the postseason only on win differential. They matched the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues] .585 winning percentage, but the Blues’ late-season surge earned them the final Wild Card spot. It’s not hard to imagine how different the story could have been had the Flames snuck in. So, have the Flames done enough? Not entirely. There’s still work to be done before opening night, and securing Zary is at the top of the list [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/connor-zary-s-next-deal-a-priority-for-flames]. But with an established culture, a competitive core, manageable contracts for key role players, and a motivated group of prospects, this team is positioned to take another step forward. If their veterans hit their potential and the youth movement delivers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/draft-picks-patience-and-potential-the-flames-formula-for-the-future], Calgary could find itself not just back in the playoff mix—but making noise when it gets there. Follow Bryan Wilson on X. [https://x.com/bryanwilsonhky?s=21]
