The Calgary Flames believe the final home opener at the Saddledome will give them an extra boost.
With their new arena slated to be ready in time for next season, the Flames kick off one last campaign in the iconic building when they host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
“This building has seen so many great moments,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said on the eve of the clash. “You think of all the games that have been in this building and the things the fans have been a part of, I think it’s going to be a step up this year, the energy.”
The Flames could certainly use a push. They finished second from the bottom in the Pacific Division and 29th overall last season, having revamped their roster over the past couple of years.
As a result, they head into the season with one of the league’s youngest squads, counting on more prospects to make the jump or take on a bigger role and change the franchise’s fortunes.
Among those players is Zayne Parekh, a 2024 first-round draft choice (No. 9 overall) who skated in 37 NHL games last season and collected four goals and five assists.
The long offseason provided the 20-year-old defenseman time to prepare physically and mentally for his first full season.
“I feel like it’s been a long time coming but it’s crazy it’s here already,” he said.
While the Flames are not pegged as a Stanley Cup contender, there is a sense of better days ahead amidst a send-off to the grand old building.
“I hope the fans rally behind that,” forward Morgan Frost said. “And we give them something to keep showing up and cheer us on loudly.”
The Kraken arrive also expecting to climb in the standings after a disappointing campaign.
Seattle, entering its sixth season, was third in the Pacific Division and in playoff position when the NHL paused for the Winter Olympics in early February.
However, the Kraken faltered down the stretch (7-17-2) and tumbled down the standings.
Seattle has a handful of key players who should be hitting their prime, and believe now is the moment to take a step.
“What I’d like to see and what we’re trying to do is just be more predictable and play the right way shift to shift,” defenseman Vince Dunn told the team’s website. “I think our last preseason game (Saturday in Vancouver) was a good example of what we don’t want. In the first period, we started off hard and then we tapered off. And last season, that became a trend.”
With little turnover in their roster — the only key additions are forwards Mackie Samoskevich (out with an upper-body injury, listed as day-to-day) and Curtis Douglas — the Kraken certainly have an advantage over most teams.
A key will be to use that familiarity to compile wins and build momentum.
“You’ve got to be on top of things right away because games come quick, really fast, and by the time you think about it, you blink and it’s Christmas time,” defenseman Brandon Montour said. “You go in blocks, kind of segments. And for our group, we need to be our best every night.”
