3 Calgary Flames Who Will Regress In 2024-25

The Calgary Flames are going to be a lot worse than last season and the team needs to be. After moving on from key players like Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, and Jacob Markstrom, there's hardly a way the Flames won't lose more games. Some of the Flames are getting older and will come off of strong seasons, so let's dive into three of their players who will regress in 2024-25.

Nazem Kadri

Nazem Kadri had a career year in his final season with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring 28 goals and 87 points in 71 games. He followed that up in a key role in Calgary with 24 goals and 56 points in a full season and came back with 29 goals and 75 points last season. His point total in Colorado won't be repeated as the Flames will be bad and not a top offensive team, but his 75 points also won't be touched again either.

Kadri had more help and played in the top-6. Even though he is expected to be on the top power play again, he is projected to play on the third line with players like Martin Pospisil, Anthony Mantha, and Andrei Kuzmenko. That isn't a recipe that will get the soon-to-be 34-year-old a strong season. His playing time will likely go down and I expect somewhere around 22 goals and 55 points.

Blake Coleman

Blake Coleman had a career year for the Flames, and by doing so at age 32, the player isn't expected to repeat that performance, especially with a worse team around him. Coleman's previous career-high in goals was 22 and points was 38. He scored 30 goals and 54 points in 78 games. He should play in the top-6, but he produced that offense with next to no power-play time, scoring just three goals and recording no assists. That will likely be the case again.

Anthony Mantha

Anthony Mantha should be in the prime of his career, but his best years came early in his career. He finally started to get his game back last season with the Washington Capitals and finished his season with the Vegas Golden Knights. He scored 23 goals and 44 points last season, 12 more goals and 17 more points than his previous season. The big winger also reached the 40 point plateau for the first time since 2018-19, so it's hard to imagine he can do it again from the bottom-6 in Calgary without power play time. I will be shocked if he reaches 20 goals again unless there are injuries and he plays a lot more and with better players.