The Calgary Flames are now eliminated from playoff contention. The focus has officially shifted to the draft lottery standings.
Due to the difficulty of the Flames’ last four games of the season, the club is in a prime position to solidify its lottery odds and potentially secure a top-three selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Assessing the final stretch
The Calgary Flames have four games remaining in the 2025–26 NHL season:
- April 11 at Seattle
- April 12 vs Utah
- April 14 vs Colorado
- April 16 vs Los Angeles
According to Tankathon, the Flames have one of the highest remaining strength of schedules in the NHL.
The Flames currently have the third-best odds for the first overall pick. Their high remaining strength of schedule suggests that they are unlikely to leapfrog many teams in the standings, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a franchise-altering prospect this summer.
A desperate Seattle Kraken squad
Following the trip to Denver, the Flames head to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Kraken on April 11. While the Kraken are fading in the standings and Ron Francis recently stepped down as President of Hockey Operations, they are not officially eliminated from playoff contention just yet.
Given that Seattle let go of draft capital to acquire rental forward Bobby McMann at the trade deadline, they will likely treat this game as a “must-win” in order to justify that investment and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
MacKenzie Weegar returns to the Saddledome
After a season-long six-game road trip, the Flames will return home to play the Utah Mammoth on April 12. This marks the first time that former Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar will play at the Scotiabank Saddledome since the massive trade on March 4th that sent him to Utah.
The Mammoth will likely still be looking to clinch a playoff berth at this point in the season. Furthermore, Weegar will undoubtedly be motivated to perform well against his former team. This will not be an easy game for the Flames.
Nazem Kadri back in Calgary
The schedule offers no breaks as the Avalanche come to town on April 14, bringing a very familiar face with them. Nazem Kadri returns to the Saddledome for the first time since being traded back to Colorado on March 6.
This will be one of the Avs’ final chances to fine-tune their game for the playoffs. Kadri’s return also adds another layer of intrigue to an already difficult matchup.
A high-stakes finale against the Kings
The Flames’ 2025–26 NHL season concludes on April 16 against the Los Angeles Kings. Depending on how the next week unfolds, this game could be a “win and in” scenario for the Kings, who are currently locked in a heated battle with the Nashville Predators for the final wild card spot.
With their postseason lives on the line, LA will be playing with a level of desperation that few other teams can match. The Flames will be in for a rough time if they are hoping to play spoiler.
Conclusion
Facing four teams currently in playoff positions or fighting for their lives ensures that the Flames will likely maintain their bottom-three league standing. We will see what happens, but the most likely scenario is that Calgary will secure a high pick thanks to this difficult schedule.