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Published on:

14th Jul 2026

Spring Cleaning – Calgary Flames

Spring Cleaning – Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames once again fell short of the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the 2025-26 season, officially seeing their postseason hopes come to an end on April 7. While expectations entering the year were modest following a quiet offseason, Calgary's inability to generate offense ultimately proved too much to overcome. Neil Smith and Vic Morren discuss the Flames' disappointing season, the emergence of young goaltending, and why General Manager Craig Conroy may still be well positioned to accelerate the club's rebuild thanks to significant draft capital, ample salary cap space, and a new arena on the horizon.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00:00] The Flames are eliminated from playoff contention after another season in which expectations remained relatively low following minimal roster changes during the previous offseason. Neil and Vic examine why Calgary was unable to build upon its near-playoff finish from the year before.

[00:00:30] Calgary proves to be one of the NHL's strongest home teams but struggles badly on the road. The panel identifies the club's biggest issue—one of the league's lowest-scoring offenses—as the primary reason the Flames were unable to remain in the playoff race.

[00:01:00] Jonathan Huberdeau's continued offensive struggles are discussed after recording just 194 points over four seasons in Calgary before shutting himself down prior to the end of the season. On a positive note, Devon Cooley establishes himself as a dependable backup to Dustin Wolf following Dan Vladar's departure to Philadelphia.

[00:01:30] Looking ahead, Vic outlines why Calgary's future remains brighter than its current results suggest. The Flames possess 11 selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, including two first-round picks and four second-round picks, while also holding multiple premium selections in both the 2027 and 2028 drafts.

[00:02:00] The discussion turns to General Manager Craig Conroy's long-term rebuilding strategy. With a new arena scheduled to open in the coming years, the organization appears focused on assembling a competitive young roster that can grow alongside the franchise's next chapter.

[00:02:45] Neil and Vic examine Calgary's offseason flexibility. The Flames enter free agency with nearly $10 million in available salary cap space, giving Conroy the opportunity to aggressively pursue upgrades through free agency, trades, or by leveraging the organization's impressive collection of draft assets.

[00:03:00] Calgary's pending free agents are reviewed, including unrestricted free agents Ryan Lomberg, Victor Olofsson, and Jake Bean, along with restricted free agent John Beecher. The panel discusses which players may fit into the club's long-term plans.

[00:03:30] The episode concludes by emphasizing that Calgary possesses many of the ingredients necessary for a quick turnaround. With significant cap flexibility, one of the league's deepest collections of future draft picks, and several important organizational decisions ahead, Neil believes the Flames have an opportunity to return to playoff contention much sooner than many expect—provided the right moves are made this offseason.

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About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.