Flames’ Jonathan Huberdeau, Martin Pospisil to miss start of 2025-26 season
The Calgary Flames will be without forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil to start the 2025-26 season as they continue to recover from injuries, Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg reported Monday.
Huberdeau and Pospisil both made sporadic appearances for the Flames throughout the 2025 pre-season but are reportedly dealing with minor injuries that will prevent them from suiting up in the season opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
Pospisil, 25, skated as the extra forward for the Flames during Monday’s practice. Huberdeau, 32, has not participated in any on-ice sessions since leaving last Wednesday’s exhibition contest against the Vancouver Canucks after falling awkwardly into goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
Asked on Monday how long he expects Huberdeau and Pospisil to remain sidelined, Flames head coach Ryan Huska said “the hope” is they’re out for a short term.
Neither Jonathan Huberdeau nor Martin Pospisil will be ready to start the season.
Head coach Ryan Huska says the hope is both are short term situations. #Flames
With Huberdeau and Pospisil missing from the lineup to start the season, the door is open for 19-year-old rookie Matvei Gridin to play in a premier spot alongside Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato on Calgary’s second line. The Flames originally selected Gridin with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
In fact, both of the Flames’ 2024 first-round selections have locked down spots with the team out of training camp, although the other was seen as a foregone conclusion to make it from the beginning. But while Zayne Parekh is one of eight defenders on Calgary’s opening day roster, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be in the lineup against the Oilers on Wednesday.
Huberdeau is entering his fourth year with the Flames and is coming off his most productive season since arriving from the Florida Panthers in 2022. The Saint-Jerome, Quebec product collected 28 goals and 62 points in 81 games with the Flames in the 2024-25 season.
Pospisil is heading into his third season with the Flames and signed a three-year, $2.5 million AAV extension with the club this past summer. The Slovak forward collected four goals and 25 points in 81 games last season while alternating between playing center and wing.