Calgary Flames’ 3 Best-Value Contracts Heading Into 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Calgary Flames

From a salary cap perspective, few teams are in a better position than the Calgary Flames. The young, rebuilding organization has nearly $15 million in cap space at their disposal, and they aren’t expected to use any more of that at this time. Instead, they’re looking to give young players an opportunity to prove themselves at the NHL level.

Despite having so much cap space, the Flames do still have some bad contracts on the books, though it isn’t a major concern for them at this point in time. The good news, however, is that they have a few bargain deals as well, a few of which they could look to trade in order to accumulate even more draft picks and prospects. With that said, here are the three best contracts the Flames have heading into the 2026-27 season.

1. Zach Whitecloud ($2.75 million through 2027-28)

Flames fans weren’t sure exactly what they were getting in Zach Whitecloud when he arrived from the Vegas Golden Knights, but it quickly became apparent that his contributions far exceed his $2.75 million cap hit. The 29-year-old fit in seamlessly with the Flames, registering 10 assists in 31 games while averaging nearly 23 minutes in ice time.

Whitecloud has quickly proven that he is more than capable of handling a top-four role with the Flames, making his current deal a massive bargain. Management could garner a significant trade return for him, but right now it seems they are more comfortable keeping him on the roster as a good veteran presence.

2. Morgan Frost ($4.375 million through 2026-27)

Morgan Frost wouldn’t be a first-line centreman on the vast majority of NHL teams, but given the Flames’ lack of depth down the middle, he appears to be in line for that role this coming season. That in itself makes his $4.375 million cap hit a very solid contract for the Flames.

Frost, who had 22 goals and 43 points this past season, should be in line for even bigger production in 2026-27. The Flames will certainly hope so, as the pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) could be a very good trade chip heading into next year’s trade deadline. On the contrary, the Flames could look to get him signed to an extension considering how weak they are at the centre position.

3. Dustin Wolf ($7.5 million through 2032-33)

After a very impressive rookie season, the Flames were able to sign Dustin Wolf to a seven-year, $52.5 million extension. It was a very big contract given his lack of experience at the NHL level, but his dominance at every level he’d played in had it feeling like a safe bet.

Wolf’s play did dip in 2025-26, but that was more of a reflection of the team in front of him. Nonetheless, it’s the first time in his career where he didn’t post superb numbers, which will undoubtedly light a fire in him for this upcoming season. The 25-year-old has all the makings to be one of the best in the league at his position, making the $7.5 million cap hit look like excellent value should he reach that level.

All Three Will Have Major Roles Next Season

While it could be a tough 2026-27 season as a whole, there is a massive opportunity for these three players above to truly establish themselves as highly valuable NHLers. Wolf was able to do so in his rookie season, while Frost to this point has been viewed as an inconsistent middle-six forward. Whitecloud, meanwhile, has spent the vast majority of his career as a third-pairing defenceman.

Wolf’s role won’t change a whole lot this season, as he is still expected to be handed the bulk of starts, which gives him a great chance to bounce back and prove to the world just how good he is. As for Frost and Whitecloud, they are in line to see some of the biggest minutes of their respective careers, which will make it very exciting for Flames fans to see how they live up to the challenge.