Mikael Backlund stays captain as Flames unveil new leadership group

The Calgary Flames will skate into the 2026-27 campaign with a reshaped leadership core anchored by a familiar face. On Wednesday, the club confirmed Mikael Backlund will continue to wear the C, guiding a new-look group in what will be the team’s final season at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Backlund returns as captain, Huberdeau and Whitecloud get As

Backlund remains captain for a fourth consecutive year, having originally taken over the role ahead of the 2023-24 season after Calgary went two years without a player wearing the C following Mark Giordano’s departure. The move underscores the organization’s trust in his voice as the roster turns over around him.

General manager Craig Conroy praised the character in the room in a team statement, saying the Flames are fortunate to have a group with significant experience and leadership and calling Backlund an outstanding captain over the past three seasons. Jonathan Huberdeau and Zach Whitecloud have been designated as full-time alternate captains, continuing in the leadership roles they held last year.

Huberdeau, however, will open the season on the sidelines as he recovers from hip resurfacing surgery. During his absence, the Flames will rotate one of their alternate captain spots among Joel Farabee, Jake Middleton and Ryan Strome. Each will take turns wearing a letter, giving them a formal chance to step into larger roles within the group.

New leaders emerge after year of trades

Huberdeau and Whitecloud were part of a broader leadership mix in 2025-26 that also included Rasmus Andersson, Blake Coleman, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar. All four of those veterans have been traded over the past year, leaving significant gaps in the hierarchy and opening the door for new figures to take on responsibility.

For Farabee, Middleton and Strome, this season will mark the first time they wear letters with the Flames. Head coach Ryan Huska emphasized that leadership extends beyond jersey designations, noting in the team’s release that it is reflected in how players prepare, compete and support one another on a daily basis.

Flames set tone ahead of final Saddledome opener

The leadership announcement comes as Calgary prepares to open its season at home against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night, marking the franchise’s final home opener at the Saddledome. With several long-time veterans moved out and a new building on the horizon, the club is signaling a transition both on and off the ice.

Backlund’s continuity as captain, combined with the expanded roles for Huberdeau, Whitecloud and the rotating alternates, is intended to provide structure through that change. How this revamped leadership group handles the coming season will be central to the Flames’ efforts to stay competitive while ushering in a new era for the franchise.