Projecting the Calgary Flames’ 2026-27 Blue Line: Locks, Battles and Trade Candidates

TRENDINGNFL training camp updatesCommanders sign Stefon DiggsCunningham controversyFantasy Football Draft KitCollege football top 25Story byBryan WilsonWed, August 5, 2026 at 7:25 PM UTC·6 min readAbout Our AdsRecommended Stories5 Flames Players Under the Most Pressure in 2026-27Jonathan Huberdeau, Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, Connor Zary and Simon Nemec headline the Flames players facing the most pressure in 2026-27.The Hockey News - Calgary FlamesFlames Prospect Wyttenbach Following Up Stellar NCAA Season With Red-Hot SummerCould Ethan Wyttenbach become one of the biggest steals of the 2025 NHL Draft? The Flames prospect continues to impress this summer.The Hockey News - Calgary FlamesWhat the Boston Bruins Depth Chart Could Look Like at 2026 Training CampA look at the Bruins' roster with a just over a month until NHL teams report, and two months prior to the start of the regular season.Boston Bruins On SIAdvertisementAdvertisementFive NCAA stars who could sign NHL contracts this springEvery year, college players make the jump to pro hockey within just a couple of days of their NCAA season. Some players play a handful of regular-season games, while others go on lengthy playoff runs straight out of Marketing 101.The Hockey NewsHow High Is Adam Klapka’s Ceiling With the Calgary Flames?In an era of professional hockey defined by transition speed and lateral agility, the prototype for success has increasingly skewed toward the undersized specialist. However, the Calgary Flames possess a rare outlier in Adam Klapka, a player whose value is derived from a physical dimension that few in the modern NHL can replicate. Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 235 pounds, Klapka represents a throwback to the power-forward archetype, yet his utility in the current lineup requires more than justThe Hockey News - Calgary FlamesNHL rumors: Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj linked to 2 teamsThe Montreal Canadiens have a logjam along their blue line, and GM Kent Hughes trading RFA Arber Xhekaj wouldn't be overly surprising.ClutchPointsFlames reportedly tried to trade for Arber XhekajCalgary made a push for the rugged Canadiens defenceman at the deadline, but a deal never materialized.HockeyFeedA Roster Made Up Of Trades and Signings In JulyTwelve trades since July 1, and somehow you could ice a real team out of the names involved. Not a contender. But three lines, three pairs and a legitimate goaltending carousel, all built out of guys who packed a bag in July.The Hockey News - Edmonton OilersThe "Show Me" Season: Can Rory Kerins Stick in the NHL?Rory Kerins has spent the last few years doing things the right way, but now he faces the ultimate test: turning AHL dominance into a permanent NHL career. At 24 years old, the Caledonia, Ontario native is no longer just a "prospect", he’s a player with a proven track record of finding the back of the net at the AHL level, and he knows exactly what the Flames are looking for.The Hockey News - Calgary FlamesYoung Anaheim Ducks Players Who Could "Graduate" into Impactful NHL Roles in 2026-27As blockbuster trades and massive contracts reshape Anaheim’s roster, rising young players like Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo must now translate minor-league production into full-time NHL success.The Hockey News - Anaheim DucksAvalanche Could Have A Major Goaltending Decision On Their Hands Next SummerIlya Nabokov's development could have a major impact on the Avalanche's long-term plans in net and Scott Wedgewood's future in Colorado.The Hockey News - Colorado AvalancheSan Jose Barracuda 2026-27 American Hockey League Season PreviewWith the San Jose Sharks turning a corner, the Barracuda look to provide their rebuild with just enough of a spark, and a great season can do that.The Hockey NewsSan Diego Gulls 2026-27 American Hockey League Season PreviewThe Dave Manson era begins with a new-look team that has a handful of prospects but will rely on vets to return to the playoffs and take a step forward.The Hockey NewsBlue Jackets Breakout Defenseman Is Just Getting StartedKeep an eye on this Blue Jackets defenseman in 2026-27.The Hockey News - Columbus Blue JacketsThree Best Ex-NCAA Rookies In The Pacific Division For 2026-27?Former NCAA players will soon make up a huge percentage of all rookies in the NHL, so who are the three to look out for in the Pacific Division for 2026-27?The Hockey News2 Canadiens Facing Big Seasons In 2026-27These Canadiens are gearing up for big seasons in 2026-27.The Hockey News - Montreal CanadiensTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 19: Forward Looking More Like Late-Round StealNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a seventh-round draft selection at center who continues to build out a two-way game and could turn out to be a late-round steal.The Hockey News - Pittsburgh PenguinsNew Jersey Devils Prospect Update: An All-Too Early Forecast of Utica’s Forward Lines for 2026-27With new management, the Comets are making moves this off-season. So, with the summer rolling onward, let’s take a way too early look at their potential opening night lineup for 2026-27. Before we start, a few rules. For this exercise, I assumed Amadeus Lombardi makes the Devils out of camp. While far from a guarantee, […]SB NationNHL free agent market still packed with surprising namesA surprising number of big names remain without contracts as training camps loom.HockeyFeedHow The Sharks' And Ducks' Blueline Could Decide Their Playoff FateThe Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks are Pacific Division rivals, and next year, the Ducks and Sharks could be fighting for third place in the Pacific. But San Jose and Anaheim's defense corps are built differently – and the Sharks and Ducks D-men could help push their team into the 2027 playoffs.The Hockey News