Only nine games remain on the schedule in the 2025–26 regular season for the Calgary Flames. This season began with a slew of questions about the team’s potential success. Ryan Huska and Craig Conroy preached that the goal in 2025–26 was to build on the season prior’s narrow playoff absence and build around their core leadership group of Nazem Kadri, Mackenzie Weegar, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson. After a slow start and a few desperate attempts to change the narrative, the Flames fell comfortably to the bottom of the standings and were left with few options after the Olympic break.
Within a month after the Olympics, the Flames had cut that leadership group in half, trading Andersson, Weegar and finally Kadri. Add in Jonathan Huberdeau’s season-ending hip surgery, and the Flames are left with a lineup that looks very different from what it did merely six weeks ago.
With that in mind, we wanted to know who Flames fans thought was the team’s MVP this season. We asked, you answered.
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Which player acquired at the deadline are you most excited about?
We presented this poll to our readers.
Devin Cooley
Devin Cooley took home a resounding victory in this week’s poll, earning almost 70% of the votes. The Flames’ backup has been one of the league’s best goalies. Cooley currently sits second in High Danger Save Percentage via NHL Edge, posting a .865. Furthermore, even considering his poor performances against the Islanders and Capitals earlier this month, Cooley’s .915 SV% is among the best in the league, behind league-leading Scott Wedgewood by a hundredth of a percent.
When he’s hot, he’s hot. Despite Cooley only starting 23 games this season, he leads the league by a large margin in percentage of starts with a SV% above .900. Cooley’s attained that mark in 18/23 starts for a cool 78.3%, leading his peers by more than 7%.
For a player the Flames took a chance on this season as their backup, Cooley has shown his value at the NHL level and then some. Beyond his on-ice play, he’s been a breath of fresh air in the media and the locker room. I’m sure many Flames fans are hopeful to see Cooley and Tito back for another season in Calgary.
Mikael Backlund
Oh, captain, my captain. Mikael Backlund didn’t impress as many Flames fans as he’d hoped this season, as the longest tenured Flame in franchise history earned 8.6% of votes. He has posted 16 goals and a team-leading 40 points this season, suiting up for all 73 of the Flames’ games thus far. Backlund has continued to be the Flames’ most reliable defensive forward and penalty killer while having a healthy offensive season for his standards.
Backlund is among the league’s most active penalty killers, sitting just outside the top ten for total miles skated on the penalty kill. Similar to his leadership, Backlund’s impact isn’t boastful or all that attention-grabbing, yet effective.
Although Backlund didn’t run away with the MVP in this poll, there’s no question that his impact this season was significant. The Flames will look to lean on their captain further next season as their roster continues to dwindle in average age.
Kevin Bahl
Kevin Bahl was the least valuable option in this week’s poll, earning less than 5% of votes. Entering the season, the Flames and fans alike knew they would be seeing their fair share of Kevin Bahl. As the now #1 left shot on the team’s back end since Weegar’s departure, Bahl has logged some significant minutes this season. However, Bahl’s four goals and 13 points haven’t moved the needle for many fans. Better luck next season, Kev.
Other
Finishing second in this weeks poll, “Other” received roughly 20% of this week’s votes to finish second in the poll. Among the most common comments, Mackenzie Weegar earned the most praise. Of current roster players, Blake Coleman earned multiple mentions, while some of the Flames new comers got some love as well, most popularly, Olli Maatta.
Although it was a rough and tumble year for the gang donning the flaming C, I’d say most fans are excited for what’s to come. As far as next season’s MVP, I’d say there’s no clear favourite.