Former Flames Players Make Their Mark in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final has arrived, featuring a thrilling matchup between the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights and the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes. While both teams showcase a wealth of homegrown talent, their paths to this championship series have been bolstered by the acquisition of key veterans, including several former Calgary Flames players.

Three notable ex-Flames are making their presence felt in this year’s Final: defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin of the Golden Knights, along with center Mark Jankowski of the Hurricanes. Among these former Calgary players, Andersson stands out for his decade-long tenure with the Flames, where he played 617 games, notched 64 goals, and accumulated 278 points. He served as an alternate captain before a pivotal trade to Vegas in January 2026.

Drafted in the second round of the 2015 Entry Draft, Andersson remained a steadfast presence on the Flames, being one of the last ties to the franchise’s previous playoff appearance in 2022. As the Flames underwent a roster retooling, General Manager Craig Conroy identified Andersson as a valuable trade asset. Ultimately, Conroy leveraged Andersson’s experience to acquire two draft picks, along with players Zach Whitecloud and Abram Wiebe from the Golden Knights.

As he vies for his first Stanley Cup, Andersson’s legacy with the Flames is impressive, ranking among the top seven defensemen in franchise history for games played, goals, assists, and points. His playoff statistics leading into the Final reflect his contributions: 16 games played, five assists, and a plus-4 rating.

Hanifin, who joined the Flames via a trade from the Hurricanes in 2018, was drafted fifth overall in the same year. The deal, which sent future Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox to the Hurricanes, turned into a significant moment for Calgary. Hanifin quickly established himself as a leader on the blueline, averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per game during his five and a half seasons with the team. His best season came in 2021-22, where he recorded 10 goals and 38 assists for a total of 48 points.

During the 2023-24 season, Hanifin was also dealt to Vegas in a complex three-way trade that ultimately benefited the Flames with a conditional first-round pick in 2026. As of now, his playoff contributions include six assists and a plus-3 rating over 16 games.

Lastly, Jankowski, a first-round selection by the Flames in 2012, made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season. He became a regular in the lineup the following year, achieving a career-high 17 goals in 72 games. Over his time in Calgary, he played 208 games, scoring 36 goals and 64 points. Despite having the briefest tenure among the three, Jankowski holds the distinction of having his first NHL goal set up by the legendary Jaromir Jagr.

In his playoff run, Jankowski has contributed four assists and a plus-3 rating in 14 games. As the Stanley Cup Final unfolds, fans are left wondering which former Flames player they will support in their quest for that elusive first Cup victory.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.