After trading away a number of veterans last season, the Calgary Flames will enter 2026-27 leaning on a new group of players to lead the way in their final season at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames announced their leadership group for the new season on Wednsday, running back captain Mikael Backlund for the fourth consecutive year.
Backlund will be joined by Jonathan Huberdeau and Zach Whitecloud as his alternate captains.
As Huberdeau begins the season on the sidelines while he recovers from hip resurfacing surgery, Joel Farabee, Jake Middleton and Ryan Strome will rotate as one of Calgary's alternate captains.
“We’re fortunate to have a group with a lot of character, experience and leadership,” Flames General Manager Craig Conroy said in a statement released by the team. “Mikael has been an outstanding captain for us the past three seasons. Jonathan and Zach bring strong leadership to our group, and while Jonathan is out, Joel, Jake and Ryan will each have an opportunity to step up and take on a greater role.”
Backlund took over the captaincy ahead of the 2023-24 season after the Flames went two years without a captain following Mark Giordano's departure.
Huberdeau and Whitecloud were part of a group that wore an 'A' in 2025-26, alongside Rasmus Andersson, Blake Coleman, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar — all of whom were traded in the past year.
So, Farabee, Middleton and Strome will wear a letter for the first time with the Flames when the season gets underway.
“Leadership isn’t just about wearing a letter. It’s about the way you prepare, compete and support your teammates every day," Flames head coach Ryan Huska said in the team's release. "We have a number of players who do that, and we’re confident this group will set the standard for our team.”
Calgary begins its season at home against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday (7:30 MT / 9:30 ET on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet+) in its final opener at the Saddledome.
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