Latest / Jablam Sports Hockey / Calgary flames season preview 2026-2027: Parekh and Nemec light the Flame

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Calgary flames season preview 2026-2027: Parekh and Nemec light the Flame · Jablam Sports Hockey

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to Jablam Sports Hockey, your home for everything happening around the NHL.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_01: I'm your host, Peter Brojeronov, and in every episode we break down the biggest stor topics every hockey fan's talking about, with writers, TV, and radio experts from all 32 teams in the channel.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_01: Today we're continuing our 32-episode team previews with the Calgary Flames.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: Back on the show is Steve McFarland, who covers the Flames.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome back, Steve.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks, dear.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Good to be here with you.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: And in trending now, we'll talk about Krider, where he signed, and someone retiring.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_01: Let's drop the puck.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: Do you like the sound effects there, Steve?
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: I love the sound effects.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a big fan.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: So last season, the Flames missed the playoffs and finished second last in the Pillow, I mean Pacific Division.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, is that gonna be a continuation this coming year of the rebuild?
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: And we'll we see a bit of a climb.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's really funny because the the Calgary Flames always seem to do the opposite of what people expect.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: And so when there's expectations, they sort of flop.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: When there are no expectations, they seem to tread water a little better, they seem to thrive a little more with no pressure.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but for Flames fans, I think you just have to keep embracing the rebuild.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: Expect that not much is going to come of this season.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's not a bad thing.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: Get another decent first-round pick.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, try and keep a good culture there because I think that's important in the rebuild.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: So you're trying to balance that losing with uh a winning attitude, which is always a struggle for teams that are in transition like they are, but they fully committed to the rebuild.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, I think that um that we're not gonna see too much improvement, if any, this year.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: All right, let's go to some braid sprouts in the Flames, of course, and one of them is their goaltending position.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: In my mind, it looked like Devin Cooley came out of nowhere, and he was a top 10 in goals saved above expected.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_01: What's his see like?
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: That's a great question.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know if we know you you have to do it consistently to kind of prove that you should be considered in that sort of starting quality goaltender tier.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but he they sure became the league's best tandem by uh many kind of advanced metrics last year, and and Cooley was just a massive surprise, especially after kind of struggling in the preseason.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: And there were a lot of questions as to who the you know the backup goaltender would be.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and really it became you know, it's Dustin Wolf's net, but with a bit of a 1B in Cooley, and I think this year, you know, they're gonna trend the same way as they did last year.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, maybe maybe let Cooley start consecutively if he plays a real great game.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Hard to pull a good goaltender out of the net when he's uh your best player on any given night.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: And I, you know, I think it's probably gonna be a bit of a closer to two-thirds, one-third split, but it might creep into that closer to 50-50 territory if he plays as well as he did last year, and the team is struggling uh because it just gives you an opportunity to again keep Wolf fresh, avoid injury, really split that workload, um, and and just continue developing both of them in the summer.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_01: And I like I love this move.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: GM Crancodemore made a big splash and he acquired Simon and Nemek, and then he locked him up to a five-year deal at 7.25 per year.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: What's the possibilities of Nemek?
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: I think he has a really high ceiling.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, I I think that when you're draft as high as he was, uh and and you have that pedigree, you know, it was you were chosen for that reason.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think in flashes in Jersey, when he got opportunities, he did show his offensive upside.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I don't think he's a terrible sort of defensively aware defenseman either.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: I think he can really thrive.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I think if you're gonna make a splash like that on the trade front, um, you might as well pay him like a top defenseman as well.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that the Flames have done everything right.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's a little bit of a gamble just because you haven't seen any sort of consistent production in the NHL yet, but they're you know betting on what the devil saw when they drafted him, and they're they're betting on his youth and his potential and and what you do see in the video, which is inconsistency, but a lot of top-tier talent.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I think he he could very easily have uh a very strong you know 40 to 50 point year if he's playing in all situations and getting that ice time from the flames.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: He is that talented.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_01: And the other young defender, Calgary, uh draft him ninth overall in 2024, Zayn Perek.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: What kind of growth could we see in his game this season?
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: Uh that is gonna be the player that I think I'm most interested in watching on the entire team, just because of that elite top-end skill.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: Like I think he could be a better offensive defenseman than Nemich if he's kind of doing the things he needs to do and not getting too much in his head, not you know stressing about the pressures that are being put on him by uh fans and probably himself and and certainly coaches to a to a certain degree.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think that the sky's the limit with Brack in terms of you know, we saw last year, some of those late season moves that he put on were um you know highlight real type type moves.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that you know, he's a guy that I'm really curious to see how the coaches bring him along, who they pair him with, what kind of minutes he's gonna get this year, and if he's gonna be sitting in the press box at all.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: I imagine that he will not be a healthy scratch as frequently as he was last year.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but you know, I think there could be some teachable moments in there depending on what he's doing.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, as long as their communication is really clear and he's understanding of how they're do developing him and what their intentions are, I think that he could become a you know a really, really good player this year.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, again, with that really high-end offensive skill, a lot of opportunities for goals from the back end, which would inflate their chances to be a better team because their goal scoring is such a problem overall.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: I like that you said that he caught uh could uh possibly have a higher upside offensively than Nemek.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: Man, Nemek already has a hat-trick in the league.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, true story.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't want to take anything away from uh Salome, but uh it's just you know, it's it's just he's one of Perek is one of those guys that is just electrified when he's sort of confident and feeling like the leash is off and he can just do what he does and just feel it and and instinctually play the game.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: Uh tough for a young defenseman because you know you're also supposed to stop goals from being scored against you.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, finding that balance is really, really tough for guys like him.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: But if if he just you know gets rolling and gets confident and uh uses his feet the right way and keeps that sound positioning that they've been working on, he has the ability to get back quickly.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: So you can take some risks and and still recover if if he's you know if he's in that state of of confident uh and and aware play.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: I feel that just in the offensive zone, I feel he's really good at finding those holes to burst in Kala call Kale Makar.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_01: So he he's really good at that part of his game.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_01: What's one hot take prediction you have for the Flames this year?
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: One hot take prediction.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think this is a little bit out there, but with opportunity, because Jonathan Huberto is is not gonna start the year, there's sort of that chance on the left wing for someone to play you know in that top nine and make an impact.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: And I think someone like Maxim Ciplikov could really thrive if given an opportunity and uh and with the right kind of pairing.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know what those lines are gonna look like necessarily right now, but I think Ziplikov could be a 20 goal scorer this year, potentially.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: That would be kind of a an out there hot take that uh you know a lot of people might disagree with.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: But I I think he was one of the most hotly sought after free agents a few years back from the uh from the Russian league to take him over here, and I and there's good reason for that.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: He's a a big guy, a skilled guy, and I could just see him taking advantage of an opportunity.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_01: Man, that would be another steal because he came in with that uh nemic trade.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he was kind of an afterthought, and I, you know, I was looking at it and I'm going, you know, that's that's not a bad throw-in if you're talking about you know a player with some potential that just needs another change of scenery.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: I know he's uh you know gone through two organizations already, but yeah, just that opportunity.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: The Flames can offer something that many teams can't as a rebuilding team, uh, with a lot of young, talented players kind of in that product pool, in that prospect pool.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I think you know, a guy like Siplikov kind of has nothing to lose.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: And there's something about the fit with the flames that might just you know catapult them into that goal scoring category.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: Time for some trending now.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: The NHLPA announced on Friday, John Klingberg has retired from hockey at 34 years old for the Shannon's Sharks last season.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: He had 10 goals, 27 points in 56 games while playing 20 minutes a game.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I actually liked Klingberg's game.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: He even maybe sometimes, especially in like in Maple Leafs Land, people harp on those offensive defensemen that aren't the top, top, top guys, but then make those breakdowns, and then they don't do so well here.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_01: We even saw that back in the day with Larry Murphy.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: And then where what happened?
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but I'm surprised you couldn't find a spot on the team, maybe as a sixth defenseman.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_01: You know, he could easily go on the second power play unit.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think the trend for the NHL these days is just to get younger, and it's it's harder for guys in their mid-30s to stick, especially when you had injury concerns or um sort of big big plummets in your production.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um to kind of get those roles, you have to be more like a I'll use a flame as an example, Hanley.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: You have to be more of a you know really beloved team guy uh who maybe contributes a little more to the energy of the team to find a you know a place where you can be a six or seven defenseman.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh in Detroit, the Red Wings are removing the C from Dylan Larkin.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_01: The team announced on Friday.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, he's still gonna report to training camp.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_01: And Detroit looks like they're gonna start the season without a captain.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_01: So we're a lot of question marks going in with the Detroit this year.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um let's just move on with uh Chris Krider signing in Montreal one year at 2.1 million per but with bonuses, and he's reunited with his old pal, Martin St.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: Louis, and GM Kent Hughes.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_01: How do you feel fans should react after he's the guy that took out their beloved Kerry Price a decade ago?
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I think you have to have uh a short memory when it comes to the NHL because the the player that you despise when he becomes uh an important part of your team in whatever role he's gonna play, I think you kind of have to embrace him.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: So um, but it is interesting how how things kind of come full circle, I believe.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, totally.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_01: Man, I was a Kreider hater because I remember even when uh Price was a rookie in in the NHL, and even some Hab fans were questioning Price's game, but I was like, I could see this kid, I see his potential, and I liked him from day one.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_01: And when that when that hit when he hit him there, I was like, oh man, throw the boss at throw the book at him, get him out, suspend him.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_01: Come on, you can't just go around headnailing goalies.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: You gotta protect the goalies, so give me that.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: You gotta protect the goalies.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_01: All right, that's it for this episode.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, thanks for coming on the show, Steve.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, my pleasure.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, anytime.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: I've enjoyed your uh your interviews around the league so far.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and we'll have more 32 of them before we get into the season episodes.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_01: Let me know in the comments what you thought about the episode, and of course, subscribe on your listening app.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_01: See you next time.