The Battle of Alberta isn’t much of a battle nowadays.

Sure, the Calgary Flames took three of four games from the Edmonton Oilers last season, but after missing the playoffs with 96 points in 2024-25, the Flames bottomed out and finished with 77 points, the third-fewest in the National Hockey League in 2025-26.

While they have a strong prospect core, which beat the Oilers’ prospect 6-1 in the NextGen game, by the way, it’s going to be another long season for the Flames. Let’s take a look at what they did this past off-season.

What major acquisitions did the Flames make this off-season?

The biggest acquisition the Flames made this off-season came on the trade front. On June 23rd, shortly before the 2026 NHL Draft, the Flames sent the 35th overall pick, prospect Étienne Morin, the Vegas Golden Knights’ conditional 2027 first-round pick, and the Colorado Avalanche’s conditional first in 2028 for Šimon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov.

Nemec, selected second overall in 2022, finished the 2025-26 season with a career high of 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games with the New Jersey Devils. It’s a reclamation project for a team that can currently afford one. Tsyplakov, 28, scored 10 goals and 35 points in 77 games during the 2024-25 season (his first in North America), but managed just two goals and four points in 49 games last season.

A couple of weeks after the trade, the Flames signed Nemec to a five-year deal worth $7.25 million annually, which begins this season. He was one of a handful of young players to re-up with the Flames, as Brennan Othmann, William Strömgren, Sam Morton, and Rory Kerins all agreed to terms. The last three are set to start the 2026-27 season in the American Hockey League.

Alex Nylander, selected eighth overall all the way back in 2016, signed a professional tryout, which was converted to a one-year deal. The Flames also brought in Mike Benning and Jake Livingstone.

Their other notable off-season move was trading veteran Blake Coleman to the Minnesota Wild for three picks and Jacob Middleton. Last season, Middleton scored two goals and 16 points in 75 games with the Wild, posting back-to-back 20+ point seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25. He’ll give the Flames a veteran presence on the blue line.

By finishing as poorly as they did last season, the Flames had a high pick. Unfortunately for them (but fortunately for Oiler fans), the Flames dropped down three spots to select sixth overall. With that pick, they selected Carson Carels, who’ll play for North Dakota this season.

Which key players departed the Flames this off-season?

The most notable departures from the Flames’ roster are Coleman and defenceman Olli Määttä. On July 2nd, they were sent to the Wild for Middleton, the Wild’s 2029 second, their 2027 third, and their 2028 fourth.

It’s a sizable loss for the Flames, as both players were veterans. Coleman, in particular, is a loss to their leadership core as he served as an alternate captain in 2025-26. Last season, the forward scored 20 goals and 35 points. Määttä was acquired before the 2026 trade deadline in the MacKenzie Weegar trade.

Also joining the Wild’s organization is Justin Kirkland, who played 20 games with the Flames in 2025-26. Most of his season was spent with their AHL team, where he scored 11 goals and 22 points in 42 games.

Another loss to their leadership core is Ryan Lomberg. A bottom-six forward, Lomberg scored four goals and nine points in 57 games. Despite his 5’9” stature, Lomberg was always willing to stick up for teammates.

Victor Olofsson, acquired in the Nazem Kadri deal with the Avalanche before the 2026 trade deadline, signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. He spent the 2024-25 season with the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games.

The Flames’ 2026-27 outlook

Like the Vancouver Canucks, it’s going to be a long 2026-27 for the Calgary Flames as they enter this rebuild. Basically, the two teams will battle for who is the worst team in the Pacific Division.

Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @CynthiaRDelaney.

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