Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks Set for Season Opener

The 2024-25 NHL season kicks off tonight with a classic Pacific Division face-off between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. Set in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, the Flames are poised to start their campaign with anticipation, unity, and self-belief as emphasized by Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska. “What happens outside of our room does not matter,” Huska stated. “What truly only matters is the belief that’s inside the room.”

Leading the Flames is a robust leadership group, including seasoned veteran Nazem Kadri, who believes in the team’s potential. “We’ve got a sneaky amount of talent in this room,” said Kadri. “We’ve got some pace, we’ve got some physicality, we’ve got a little bit of everything.”

On the opposing bench, the Vancouver Canucks are eager to build on last season’s playoff success. With stars like J.T. Miller, who scored 103 points last season, and Quinn Hughes, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, expectations are high. “I think competition is good,” said Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet. “For the most part, the pace and the work ethic of the guys, I’ve really liked these past three weeks.”

Both teams have made significant moves in the off-season, with Vancouver adding Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Daniel Sprong, and Vincent Desharnais. Meanwhile, newcomers and prospects in Calgary, like first-round pick Samuel Honzek, are expected to make an impact.

Honzek, who has been noteworthy during Flames training camp, may debut alongside veterans Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko. “For him, it’s just playing the way he played through our camp,” said Coach Huska about Honzek.

One of the main figures to watch in Vancouver is Elias Pettersson, who will play on a line with newcomers Jake DeBrusk and Daniel Sprong. Pettersson is already a standout performer and enters the season with a significant cap hit of $11.6 million, the largest of any Vancouver-based athlete.

As the teams prepare to face off, goaltender Arturs Silovs has been confirmed as Vancouver’s starter. Silovs, who played a crucial part in the Canucks’ playoff run, is expected to increase his regular-season games significantly.

The season opener will see both teams trying to assert themselves early in the division, with the Flames eager not to repeat last year’s struggles against the Canucks, who won three of their four matchups in the 2023-24 season series.