Following a break prompted by the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Calgary Flames are set to face the San Jose Sharks on February 26 at the SAP Center in San Jose. The Flames last played on February 4, securing a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers, but several roster adjustments are expected due to injuries and other factors as the team returns to NHL action.
Core offensive lines remain mostly unchanged, with key players underperforming
The Flames’ top two forward lines from their previous game will largely carry over to the Sharks matchup. Nonetheless, the top line, led by captain Mikael Backlund and Matt Coronato—Calgary’s leading goal scorer—has struggled recently, combining for only two points across their last five games. Meanwhile, winger Yegor Sharangovich’s point drought extends back to January 21.
Conversely, the second line demonstrated stronger production prior to the Olympic break. Joel Farabee tallied three points in his last three contests, while Nazem Kadri, the team’s leading point producer, notched four points in the same span. Third member Connor Zary also contributed with a goal in the team’s final pre-Olympic game.
Jonathan Huberdeau sidelined for the remainder of the season
Calgary will compete without Jonathan Huberdeau, a pivotal offensive player and the team’s highest-paid skater, who will undergo hip resurfacing surgery in March. Huberdeau’s absence represents a significant loss in veteran leadership and scoring capacity, though it opens up chances for younger Flames prospects to gain NHL experience and increased responsibilities.
Matvei Gridin poised to fill playmaking void left by Huberdeau
Recalled from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, Matvei Gridin is expected to assume a greater role in the Flames’ lineup. His recent performance includes contributing to Team Pacific’s victory in the 2026 AHL All-Star Game, and he has shown promise in 13 NHL games this season. Gridin’s skill set closely matches the type of creativity Huberdeau provided, making him a logical replacement.
Blake Coleman rebounds from injury for third-line opportunity
After an upper-body injury sidelined him since January 8, Blake Coleman has returned to practice and was officially activated off injured reserve on February 20. He is anticipated to join Matvei Gridin and center Morgan Frost on Calgary’s third line. Coleman’s comeback not only bolsters the Flames’ forward depth but also puts him in the spotlight ahead of the looming trade deadline on March 6.
Martin Pospisil’s availability remains in doubt due to health issues
Martin Pospisil, who competed for Slovakia at the 2026 Olympics, may not be available for the February 26 game against San Jose. He missed Slovakia’s Bronze Medal Game against Finland due to illness, and there are indications that he has been playing through injury during the Olympic tournament.
“has been trying to play through something”
– Reporting on Pospisil’s status
Fresh legs expected as John Beecher returns to Flames’ lineup
Head coach Ryan Huska might prefer to deploy John Beecher over a potentially compromised Martin Pospisil. Beecher was recently activated off injured reserve after not playing since January 3, and he appears ready to slot in as the fourth-line center alongside physical forwards Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka. His return should add energy and depth to Calgary’s bottom-six forwards.
Looking ahead: The Flames’ road forward without Huberdeau
The Flames face a critical period as they enter the final stretch of the season without Jonathan Huberdeau’s veteran presence. Nonetheless, the situation offers promising opportunities for emerging players like Matvei Gridin to prove their NHL readiness. The team’s success in their upcoming San Jose Sharks game may hinge on whether the reintegrations of Coleman and Beecher can inject momentum into Calgary’s forward lines as the playoffs approach.
#Flames first day back at practice with Coleman and Beecher both in regular jerseys:
Sharangovich-Backlund-Coronato
Zary-Kadri-Farabee
Coleman-Frost-Gridin
Lomberg-Beecher-KlapkaKuznetsov-Weegar
Bahl-Whitecloud
Hanley-Parekh
PachalWolf
Cooley— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) February 18, 2026
#Flames Roster Update: Matvei Gridin has been recalled from the @AHLWranglers.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) February 18, 2026
Per the NHL media portal, the #Flames have activated Blake Coleman and John Beecher off the injury reserve list.
Active roster up to 23 players. (2 goalies, 7 defencemen, 14 forwards, including injured Jonathan Huberdeau and Olympian Martin Pospisil.)
— Ryan Pike (@RyanNPike) February 20, 2026
For Slovakia, Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil is not in the lineup. He's been trying to play through something here in Milan.
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) February 21, 2026
