What Would the Calgary Flames Top-Nine Look Like Without Jonathan Huberdeau?

The Calgary Flames 2026/27 regular season is less than a month away from beginning, and from all accounts, it's set to be a tough season with a lack of elite level players leading this roster into the final campaign at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The team do have some solid veterans that can play supporting roles to the young core the Flames continue to build, and after his injury in 2025/26, the hope was that veteran Jonathan Huberdeau could be a key piece of that support. Unfortunately, a recent update from GM Craig Conroy has thrown speculation on his potential availability for the 2026/27 home opener against the Seattle Kraken, with the report revealing that he won't begin training camp on the ice. So that raises the question, without Huberdeau healthy, what could the Flames top-nine look like heading into the new season? Today, we'll answer that question. Calgary Flames Top-Nine Leaves a Lot to be Desired Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect As of right now, there are a few things we know about the Flames top-nine, and one of them will be the continuation of the Flames most promising line from a year ago, with Matvei Gridin, Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato set to make up their top-line. Beyond that, the duo of Mikael Backlund and Joel Farabee will stay together after the departure of Blake Coleman, and on their left wing, the battle will likely be between Samuel Honzek and Connor Zary, both of whom have the talent to thrive in a bigger role with the Flames. On the third line, Huberdeau was expected by many to play the left wing alongside Ryan Strome and Yegor Sharangovich, with the player who misses out on the second line LW role likely to be shafted and placed on the fourth line. Now however, if Huberdeau is out, it should be a simple change that sees Zary and Honzek play on the 2nd and 3rd line on the left, and given how the team should be prioritizing the future, this is a move that would make perfect sense. What Can we Expect From Huberdeau in 2026/27? Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Despite fears that Huberdeau may not be able to begin the 2026/27 season, Conroy confirmed that at some point, No. 10 will be back on the ice, and after both Patrick Kane and John Klingberg were able to recover from the same hip resurfacing surgery that Huberdeau underwent, hopes are high that he can be his old self once more. Whether that means we'll ever see the offensive force from Florida again or whether his peak is now the 2024/25 campaign that saw him tally 28 goals and 62 points over 81 games played, only time will tell, but if he can become that player once more, there's a chance this team could recoup value out of him. With or without Huberdeau in the lineup, 2026/27 is going to be a bad year for a Flames team that lack proven elite talent at the NHL level, but it's safe to say that if No. 10 can get healthy again, he holds the key to some big decisions this team will need to make in the years to come. Add us as a preferred source on Google