The Calgary Flames are watching from home after failing to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a disappointing end to a season that never fully found traction and now shifts attention squarely to a pivotal offseason.

One of the most significant questions hanging over the organization involves alternate captain Blake Coleman, a veteran forward whose leadership, contract status, and playoff pedigree place him at the center of Calgary’s short- and long-term planning.

At 33, Coleman remains one of the Flames’ most trusted two-way players — a penalty-killing mainstay, matchup forward, and respected voice in the locker room. Signed in 2021 to a six-year deal carrying a $4.9 million annual cap hit, he arrived after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay and quickly carved out a defined role alongside Mikael Backlund. Together, they formed one of the team’s most reliable defensive forward combinations while Coleman established himself as a fixture in the leadership core.

Even amid significant roster turnover in recent years — including the departures of Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar — Coleman has remained a constant presence. That stability now sits against the backdrop of a franchise still determining whether it is retooling on the fly or edging closer to a deeper reset.

“I Love Being a Flame”

Following Calgary’s season finale, Coleman spoke candidly about his future, balancing his desire to win with his connection to the organization.

“I think it’s one of those things where I can be here and try to get this team to the next level… Yeah, there’s that avenue where you can really help kids grow, and I still feel like I have a lot of good years and a lot left to give. So, you know, that excites me. I love the city of Calgary. I love being a Flame. Really good group of kids in here, and then a great staff that I enjoy being around. So everything from that aspect still excites me, and it’s a lot of fun to be around…”

“But, yeah, of course I want to win. I’ve been to the top of the mountain a couple times and missed that competitive nature of the playoffs. And, again, it’s a place that I feel like I can really contribute and make teams better. So in a perfect world, this goes quick, and we can get a good team going here faster than maybe people anticipate.

"So, again, it’s not up to me. I’m kind of at the mercy of where they want to go, and I respect whatever their decision is.”