Although the deal was agreed upon over a year ago, it was finally confirmed on Friday that construction on the Calgary Flames’ new stadium will begin on Monday. This is a big day for Calgarians. The Saddledome may be history, but it has been out of date and in need of replacement for nearly a decade.
Related: Flames Can Speed Up Their Rebuilding With Rasmus Andersson Trade
Barring any setbacks, the new stadium is expected to be completed before the 2027-28 season, meaning the Flames will have three more seasons at the Saddledome before making the transition. At least one or two of those seasons could prove difficult, as the roster is in the early stages of a rebuild, but when they’re ready to step into their new building, the Flames should find themselves in good shape.
Flames Have High Hopes
Under former general manager (GM) Brad Treliving, the Flames have been spinning the tires. They were never bad enough to earn a high first-round pick and rarely felt like real Stanley Cup contenders. GM Craig Conroy seemed to recognize this and stopped the madness by choosing to rebuild.
This season, the Flames added some great prospects. The most exciting of the bunch is Zayne Parekh, who was picked in ninth place in June. He has been compared to Erik Karlsson and figures to be a big part of Calgary’s blue line for years to come. He won’t be alone either, as Hunter Brzustewicz, acquired from the Vancouver Canucks midway through the 2023-24 season, also has the makings of a top-four defenseman at the NHL level.
The Flames also added forward Matvei Gridin, selecting him 28th overall in the 2024 Draft. He joins a cabinet of forward prospects that includes top prospects like Samuel Honzek, Matt Coronato, and Jakob Pelletier. There is still Connor Zary, who is only 22 years old, and registered 14 goals and 34 points in 63 games with the Flames this past season.
Of course, it’s often who is in the middle of the pipes that will decide whether a team can win the Stanley Cup. Fortunately, the Flames appear to be in good hands. Despite his lack of experience at the NHL level, Dustin Wolf was named the goaltender of the year in his first season in the American Hockey League (AHL). The 23-year-old, although undersized, has all the makings of a top-class goalkeeper and will be given a chance to shine in 2024-25.
Flames New Arena Will Attract Talent
Many players would love to go to Calgary and leave with a new stadium. The city is not known as the best place in the league, partly because of the weather, but also because the Saddledome is old and outdated.
The Edmonton Oilers are a perfect example. They have struggled to sign players for decades but have become the top destination for many free agents because of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but also because they have Rogers Place, who is less than ten years old. If they were still playing outside of Rexall Place, they would have a hard time bringing in talent.
Related: The Flames Have a Chance of Being Bottom 3 in the NHL Standings
With the new stadium and the talent coming from the organization, players may be interested in moving to Calgary soon. These next few seasons may be tough, but it will all be worth it in the end, as the franchise sets itself up for more success in the future.
Source link
