With the Calgary Flames’ 2025-26 season finally over, the organization has marked a dubious milestone. The Flames have become the first NHL team since the 2018/19 season to complete a full 82-game schedule without a single 50-point scorer.
The 2013-14 Florida Panthers hold the modern-era low with Nick Bjugstad’s 38 points, 2015-16 Toronto Maple Leafs also finished without anyone reaching 50, as did the 2018-2019 Arizona Coyotes, when Clayton Keller only achieved 47.
A tough 2025-26 season
Matt Coronato’s 45 points (18G, 27A) in 80 games led the way for the Flames this season. Mikael Backlund and Morgan Frost follow with 43 points each (Backlund: 17G-26A; Frost: 22G-21A). With a low-scoring effort last night, it confirmed the Flames joined the infamous list of low-scoring teams.
The Flames haven’t sunk quite as low as those earlier teams—the Coyotes were led by Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s 43 points, and the Panthers by Bjugstad’s 38—but the offensive drought is unmistakable and not much better.
This marks a franchise low for a leading scorer in the 82-game era, well below Jiri Hudler’s 54 points in 2013-14. The plus-minus column tells an equally grim story: Blake Coleman leads the team at just +11, with only seven players finishing positive. Ironically, top scorer Coronato sports the team’s worst rating at -29.
It’s a stark contrast to brighter times. Just a few seasons ago, in 2021-22, the Flames last made the playoffs with Johnny Gaudreau (115 points) and Matthew Tkachuk (104 points) both hitting 100-point seasons. That year also featured three other 50+ point scorers (Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, and Rasmus Andersson), plus Noah Hanifin’s 48 points from the blue line—totals that seem worlds away from this season’s reality.
What does it mean for the future?
With the Flames now locked into a top-six draft position following Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Kings, scoring depth will likely top General Manager Craig Conroy’s priorities heading into the draft. Could Calgary select a forward even if elite defensive prospects are available higher on the board? Perhaps someone like Viggo Bjorck?