8 Former Calgary Flames Stay in Stanley Cup Playoffs – Hockey Writer – Calgary Flames
Calgary’s Flames aren’t looking for the Stanley Cup, but that doesn’t mean there’s no reason for their fan base to adjust the move. There have been some great series so far, currently being played twice in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference Finals.
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The Western Conference Finals were between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars, while the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in the East. It turns out that at least one former Flames player in three of the remaining four teams offers a lot of options for Calgary fans, depending on which player is the biggest fan. This is one of the eight that can lift the Stanley Cup in about a month.
Matthew Tkachuk
He won't be surprised to see Matthew Tkachuk's name on this list, as he has been a household name in Calgary for years and continues to be a member of the Panthers. The 27-year-old helped the Panthers beat the Stanley Cup finals in a row, including last year's championship with the Oilers.
Tkachuk hasn't had the best playoffs so far, recording 3 goals and 10 points in 13 games. However, that didn't hurt the Panthers, who are currently leading their series with the Hurricanes 1-0 as they hope to reach the Cup final for the third consecutive year.
Sam Bennett
Another name on the roster won't be as surprised as Sam Bennett, who has also played an integral role in the success of the Panthers over the past few years. The 28-year-old appears to be his draft defeat in the Fire Days, but his career quickly rejuvenated after joining the Panthers.
Bennett has made an excellent playoff so far, scoring a leading seven goals while also distributing three assistants through 13 outings. He is an absolute threat and should continue to cause pain to the Hurricanes throughout the rest of the Eastern Conference finals.
AJ Greer
The last prefix on the Panthers roster was AJ Greer, who spent the 2023-24 season in Calgary. The 28-year-old was short in the Flames game as he recorded only 58 games, which was largely due to foot injuries, which took him a lot of time.
Greer is a solid fourth in the Panthers, scoring a career-high 130 minutes in 81 regular season games, scoring six goals and 17 points. So far, he has wore nine playoff games, recording two goals and three-pointers.
Brett Kulak
Brett Kulak has been consistent in the back end of the Oilers in the last four playoff games, but his career started with the Flames. The 31-year-old defensive player played his first 101 games in his 580 professional NHL games in the Flame Sweater.
Kulak has played an integral role in the current running for the Oilers, averaging nearly 24 minutes of ice time in 12 games. As long as Mattias Ekholm exits the roster, he should continue to play a lot of tons as the Oilers hope to make it to the Cup in the second year in a row.
Troy Stecher
Ekholm's injury also created roles for another former Flame and current Oilers defender for Troy Stecher. The 31-year-old was not suitable for the first round due to injuries and healthy scratches, but stepped in and played the role of third in the final three games of the Oilers.
Stecher joined the flames at the 2023 trade deadline to reach a deal with Arizona Coyotes. Despite only 20 games, he quickly became a popular player in Calgary, despite hitting four goals and seven points in a short game.
Derek Ryan
Although Derek Ryan is unlikely to see any games in this year's game, he remains on the Oilers roster and has played 36 regular season games with them this season. The 38-year-old is in the final game of his NHL career and it will be a good fit to see him go out with the champions.
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Ryan is a feeling good story because he didn't show up in his first NHL game until he was 29. He has recorded 606 professional games, 192 of which were worn in flame sweaters from 2018 to 2021. During this period, he scored 25 goals and 80 points.
Mark Yankowski
Mark Jankowski has once again become a regular NHLER in 2024-25 after bounced between the American Hockey League and the NHL. He started the season in Nashville Predators before being acquired by the Hurricane on the 2025 trade deadline.
Jankowski proved a reliable addition in the Hurricanes as he scored only eight goals in 19 regular season games. His role in the playoffs was limited to three outings, although we can see more of him in the Eastern Conference finals, perhaps the Stanley Cup final before the Hurricane.
Exciting action in the future
No matter which team fans choose to take root, these current series are a must for all hockey fans around the world. These four teams have been the best years in the NHL, and it’s no surprise that it makes them the last ones to survive. So fans should look forward to some hockey in the coming weeks as they all fight for a chance to lift the Stanley Cup.
