Vanessa: If you think Mikael Backlund is just going to cruise into another season as the undisputed number-one center, you are looking at this roster completely wrong. The competition for top-line minutes in Calgary isn't just tight; it’s a full-blown civil war that starts today.
Nick: And when you add in the fact that we traded Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta, the pressure on every single forward who didn’t leave town has never been higher. This is where seasons are won or lost before the puck even drops in October.
Vanessa: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, your daily source for everything Calgary Flames. I’m Vanessa, and I am joined by my favorite tactical nightmare, Nick. We are three days out from the season opener against the Seattle Kraken, and the depth chart is shaking.
Nick: It is. And if you listened to our mailbag yesterday, you know we’ve been digging into the Simon Nemec signing and how it shifts the defensive pairings. But today, we are going deep on the position battles that will define our first month.
Vanessa: Here is what we are tackling today. First, we settle the argument: who actually wins the starting center job? Is it Backlund, Frost, or does someone surprising like Connor Zary break through? Second, we look at the left wing logjam with Joel Farabee and Jonathan Huberdeau fighting for ice time. And third, we give you our final roster cut predictions—who is packing their bags for the AHL?
Nick: That is right. We have eight centers on this list. Eight. It is crowded, it is messy, and it is exactly why the front office made these moves. Let’s get into Segment One: The Battle for Center Ice.
Vanessa: Okay, Nick. Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Mikael Backlund. He is the veteran leader. He is reliable. But he is thirty-six years old. Do you really see him taking all those top-line defensive zone faceoff minutes again, or is Morgan Frost ready to usurp him?
Nick: I think Backlund is still the anchor, but not because of his speed. It’s his positioning and his ability to kill penalties. However, Frost has the upside. If the coaching staff wants to push the pace in the neutral zone, Frost is the guy. But here is the thing about Backlund—he doesn't make mistakes.
Vanessa: Right, but mistakes are expensive when you’re playing against a team like Seattle. They exploit turnover opportunities instantly. If Backlund is slow to transition, that’s a liability. What about Yegor Sharangovich? He’s listed as a center here. Does he have a shot at the third line?
Nick: Sharangovich is an interesting piece. He’s versatile. He can play wing or center. But if you put him on the third line, you are essentially burying a player who needs consistent offensive zone starts to thrive. I think he ends up sliding to the second line to play alongside Backlund or Frost initially.
Vanessa: So you’re saying Backlund and Frost are the clear one-two punch? What about Ryan Strome? He’s been here a while. He provides grit. Does he steal a spot from Tyson Gross or Ben Jones?
Nick: Strome is a locker room staple, and he knows the system inside and out. He’s going to be on the fourth line, killing penalties, and giving you ten minutes of solid work. But Tyson Gross? He’s young. He’s fast. If he shows he can handle the puck in the offensive zone without panicking, he might force the coaches to give him more than just call-up duty.
Vanessa: Wait, Tyson Gross? You’re putting faith in a guy who hasn’t played a shift in the NHL yet over Martin Pospisil? Pospisil has experience. He’s physical. Why is Gross ahead of him in your book?
Nick: Because Pospisil is a project. He’s big, sure, but his skating stride is questionable for the NHL pace. Gross, despite his inexperience, has the edge. If I had to bet on who survives the preseason cuts, I’d take Gross’s skill over Pospisil’s size. Pospisil might end up in Laval.
Vanessa: Ouch. Okay, so Backlund stays, Frost pushes hard, Strome is the grinder, and Gross is the wild card. That leaves Sam Morton, Martin Pospisil, and Ben Jones fighting for the last two spots. Who gets sent down?
Nick: Ben Jones has the size and the two-way game. He’s safe. Sam Morton is the risky one. He’s talented, but if he turns the puck over in his own zone, he’s done. I think Morton makes the team out of camp because the coaching staff loves his energy, but Pospisil is the most likely to be assigned to the minors early in the season.
Vanessa: Alright, I’ll buy that. Backlund and Frost are the core. Strome is the veteran presence. Now let’s move to Segment Two: The Wing Logjam. We have Joel Farabee, Jonathan Huberdeau, Samuel Honzek, and then a bunch of RWs. Where does Farabee fit?
Nick: Farabee is the most intriguing battle. He’s a skilled winger, but he’s also a power-play threat. The question is, do you play him next to Huberdeau? Because Huberdeau needs the puck. Farabee creates space, which helps Huberdeau. But if they’re both trying to drive play, you might clog the middle.
Vanessa: I disagree. I think you separate them. Put Huberdeau on the top line with a pure goal-scorer, and Farabee on the second line to drive possession. If you keep them together, you risk having too many players who want to carry the puck themselves. We need balance.
Nick: That’s a fair point. Balance is key. But remember, we lost Blake Coleman. He was the ultimate two-way winger. He killed penalties, forechecked hard, and scored clutch goals. Who fills that void? Is it Matt Coronato? Or does someone like Samuel Honzek get a shot at that fourth-line role?
Vanessa: Honzek is raw. He’s got speed, but his decision-making in the offensive zone needs work. I think Matt Coronato is the better fit for that fourth-line role right now. He’s bigger, he’s stronger, and he can physically engage. Honzek might need more time to develop his hockey IQ.
Nick: Coronato has the physical tools, no doubt. But Honzek’s speed could be a weapon against slower teams like Seattle. If the Flames want to counter-attack, Honzek is the guy. It’s a gamble, though. If he loses the puck, it’s a disaster.
Vanessa: True. So, we have Huberdeau and Farabee battling for top-six ice time, Coronato pushing for the fourth line, and Honzek as the wildcard. What about the right wings? We have Matvei Gridin, Adam Klapka, and Maxim Tsyplakov. Who stands out?
Nick: Tsyplakov is the most skilled. He’s got a quick release and great vision. If he can stay healthy and avoid turnovers, he could carve out a role. Gridin is steady, but Klapka... Klapka is the journeyman. He’s probably going to be the ELC guy who plays twelve minutes a night and tries not to make mistakes.
Vanessa: Klapka is the definition of 'reliable.' Not exciting, but reliable. I think Tsyplakov is the one to watch. If he shows promise in training camp, he could steal a spot from someone like Coronato. It’s a tough battle, but Tsyplakov has the ceiling.
Nick: Agreed. Tsyplakov is the high-risk, high-reward pick. Now, let’s talk about the defense. We signed Simon Nemec to a five-year, $36.25 million deal. That’s a massive commitment. How does that change the defensive pairing dynamics?
Vanessa: It changes everything. Nemec is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He’s not a shutdown guy like Zach Whitecloud, but he can start a breakout. Pairing him with Whitecloud makes sense—Whitecloud covers the defensive side, Nemec drives the offense. It’s a classic complementary pairing.
Nick: Exactly. And it opens up space for Kevin Bahl and Jake Bean to compete for the other spots. Bahl is big, he’s physical. He’s perfect for the bottom pair. Bean is smaller, but he’s a fantastic passer. If he can defend well enough, he could be the third-pairing defenseman who logs crucial penalty-kill minutes.
Vanessa: But can Bean defend well enough? That’s always the question with smaller defensemen in the NHL. If he gets pushed around, he’s gone. What about Yan Kuznetsov? He’s a young prospect. Does he have a shot?
Nick: Kuznetsov is talented, but he’s still developing. I think he starts in the AHL unless there’s an injury. Same with Hunter Brzustewicz and Brayden Pachal. They’re depth guys. The real battle is between Bean, Kuznetsov, and maybe Michael Benning for the last spot.
Vanessa: Michael Benning? He’s a bit older. I think he’s more of a mentor type. I’d lean toward Bean getting the edge because of his offensive upside. We need scoring from the blue line, especially with the trade of Maatta. Bean provides that.
Nick: Fair enough. Bean it is. So, Nemec and Whitecloud are the top pair. Bahl and Bean are the middle pair. And the rest are fighting for the last spot. Now, let’s get to Segment Three: Roster Cuts and Final Predictions. Who is going home?
Vanessa: Okay, let’s look at the goalies. We have Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley. Wolf is the starter. Everyone knows that. But is Cooley the backup? Or does someone else sneak in?
Nick: Wolf is the clear number one. He’s young, he’s athletic, and he’s improved his rebound control significantly. Cooley is the backup. He’s experienced, he’s steady, and he doesn’t make flashy saves, but he doesn’t give up soft goals either. It’s a stable tandem.
Vanessa: I agree. Wolf is the future. Cooley is the present insurance policy. Now, forwards. We talked about Pospisil and Morton. Who else is on the bubble? What about Connor Zary? He’s been in the league for a few years now.
Nick: Zary is the most dangerous player on the bubble. He’s skilled, he’s fast, but he’s inconsistent. If he can show he can play a responsible two-way game, he makes the team. If he continues to turn the puck over, he’s back in the minors. It’s all about accountability.
Vanessa: Consistency is key. I think Zary makes the team because the coaching staff believes in his upside. But he needs to step up. Otherwise, Tyson Gross or Martin Pospisil could steal the spot. I’m predicting Pospisil goes to the AHL, and Zary stays.
Nick: I’ll go with that. Pospisil to the AHL. Zary stays. And on defense, I think Yan Kuznetsov is the one who gets sent down. He’s too raw for the NHL right now. He needs more time to adjust to the pro game.
Vanessa: Kuznetsov to the AHL. Makes sense. So, final roster prediction: Backlund, Frost, Strome, Sharangovich, Zary, Farabee, Huberdeau, Honzek, Coronato, Gridin, Klapka, Tsyplakov, Nemec, Whitecloud, Bahl, Bean, and Wolf/Cooley. That’s twenty-three players.
Nick: Solid group. It’s balanced. It has speed, it has size, and it has skill. The key is how the lines gel in the first week. If Nemec and Whitecloud click early, and if Frost can match Backlund’s defensive intensity, this team is going to be tough to beat.
Vanessa: And don’t forget, we predicted the Flames would beat the Seattle Kraken 3-2 in the season opener. With this roster, I think we’re going to do it. Wolf steps in, Nemec controls the tempo, and Backlund shuts down their top line.
Nick: I stand by that prediction. The defense looks stronger, the center ice is deeper, and the wingers have the speed to punish Seattle on the counter. It’s going to be a great season.
Vanessa: Before we go, we need to talk about something important. Keeping this podcast free and daily takes a huge amount of work—research, editing, production, and keeping the lights on. A small contribution from our listeners helps us keep doing what we love.
Nick: We pour our hearts into every episode, bringing you the latest analysis and insider takes. Your support allows us to keep the content fresh and accessible to everyone. If you enjoy what we do, please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description.
Vanessa: Every dollar helps us keep the show free for all fans. Thank you for being part of the Beatline community. Now, subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you listen. Let’s get those ratings up!
Nick: Go Flames! See you tomorrow.