Position battles
The Flames need to replace Giordano in the lineup and on the top defense pair. Noah Hanifin will likely step into role alongside Chris Tanev after averaging 20:01 in ice time last season. Rasmus Andersson should take on a bigger role, likely on the second pair. The additions of Nikita Zadorov, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 28, and Erik Gudbranson, signed to a one-year contract Aug. 20, should bolster the depth.
At forward, newcomers Brad Richardson, Tyler Pitlick and Trevor Lewis will create competition among Calgary's bottom six with Brett Ritchie, Glenn Gawdin and prospects Jakob Pelletier and Connor Zary.
Most intriguing addition
Blake Coleman, who signed a six-year contract July 28, makes the Flames deeper in at forward. The 29-year-old scored 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 55 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 23 playoff games to help them win the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season.
Biggest potential surprise
Juuso Valimaki, a healthy scratch seven times under Sutter last season, could be Calgary's most intriguing defenseman. The 22-year-old scored 11 points (two goals, nine assists) while averaging 15:26 in ice time in 49 games as a rookie in 2020-21. Valimaki, selected with the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, will compete with defenseman prospect Connor Mackey in training camp while trying to earn the trust of Sutter.
Ready to break through
Pelletier, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound left wing, will make his professional debut this season. The 20-year-old, who scored 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 28 games for Val-d'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, will get a long look in training camp. Calgary's first pick (No. 26) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Pelletier has strong skating skills and a tenacity to his game that could blend well in Sutter's system. He must outshine the bottom-six veteran newcomers and Gawdin to make the team.
Fantasy sleeper
Andersson (undrafted on average in fantasy) scored 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 50 games for the Flames last season, nearly matching his output (22 points) in 70 games from 2019-20. He took on a bigger role last season and occasionally skated on the top power-play unit, bringing exposure to valuable forwards Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm. After the departure of Giordano, Andersson is poised for his best season yet.-- Rob Reese
Projected lineup
Andrew Mangiapane -- Elias Lindholm -- Matthew Tkachuk
Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Blake Coleman
Dillon Dube -- Mikael Backlund -- Tyler Pitlick
Milan Lucic -- Brad Richardson -- Brett Ritchie
Noah Hanifin -- Christopher Tanev
Nikita Zadorov -- Rasmus Andersson
Juuso Valimaki -- Eric Gudbranson
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar