Heading into 2024-25, expectations were low for the Calgary Flames. Most figured they’d be a bottom-feeder. But a 5-0-1 start flipped the script and set the tone for what turned out to be a surprisingly competitive season.

By January 31, Calgary was hanging onto the final wild card spot with a 25-17-7 record, just one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks. They weren’t a traditional contender by any stretch, and their only in-season trade saw them send Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and picks to Philadelphia for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.

The playoff race went down to the wire. On April 14, with two games remaining, the Flames were still in striking distance of both wild card spots, held by the Wild (95 points) and Blues (94). But Minnesota and St. Louis both won their final games, and Calgary was officially eliminated, missing the playoffs for the third straight year.

The Flames finished 41-27-14 for 96 points, identical to the eighth-seeded Blues, who advanced thanks to one more regulation win. Calgary became just the fourth team in NHL history to miss the postseason despite hitting the 96-point mark, joining the 2014-15 Bruins, 2017-18 Panthers, and 2018-19 Canadiens.

The biggest reason for Calgary’s unexpected push was rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf. In his first full NHL season, the 2019 seventh-round pick posted a .910 save percentage and 2.64 goals-against average over 53 starts. The 24-year-old finished second in Calder Trophy voting and also received Hart and Vezina consideration.

Several young players stepped up as well. Matt Coronato made the most of his first full NHL season, scoring 24 goals and 47 points in 77 games, third on the team in both categories. When healthy, Connor Zary had a solid sophomore year with 13 goals and 27 points.

Nazem Kadri led all Flames skaters with 35 goals and 67 points in a full 82-game season. Jonathan Huberdeau finally bounced back, posting 28 goals and 62 points, his best campaign since joining the team. Blake Coleman took a step back but still chipped in 15 goals and 39 points. On the back end, MacKenzie Weegar quietly put together an impressive year with eight goals and 47 points.

As for the deadline additions, results were mixed. Frost had the stronger finish, tallying three goals and 12 points in 32 games. Farabee struggled, managing just three goals and six points in 31 appearances.

Without Wolf, it’s hard to imagine the Flames sniffing a playoff spot. His sophomore season will be something to watch.

As expected, Calgary had a quiet off-season focused on re-signing key RFAs. Goalie Ivan Prosvetov was their only outside addition, signing a one-year, $950K deal on July 1.

From April onward, the Flames signed or extended a number of players, including several rookies on entry-level contracts. The most notable RFA signings were Kevin Bahl (six years, $5.35M AAV), Matt Coronato (seven years, $6.5M AAV), and Morgan Frost (two years, $4.375M AAV).

At the draft, their only trade was to acquire the 211th overall pick from Detroit in exchange for a 2026 seventh. They used the pick on Russian forward Yan Matveiko, a bit of an unknown. Their key selections included Cole Reschny (18th), Cullen Potter (32nd), and Theo Stockselius (54th).

The big question lingering over the rest of the off-season is what happens with Rasmus Andersson, and, to a lesser degree, Nazem Kadri.

Andersson, a right-shot defenceman entering the final year of his deal, has been the subject of trade speculation for months, and a move feels inevitable.

Kadri, on the other hand, is less likely to be dealt. He carries significant term and cap hit, plus a full no-move clause. Still, his name has surfaced in rumours, and it’s something to keep an eye on as the off-season winds down.