In case you hadn’t already heard: Johnny Gaudreau and his Calgary Flames team will not play for the Stanley Cup this year.
That doesn’t mean Calgary’s influence is completely absent from the 2021 playoffs.
Numerous former Flames players—and even more with tangential connections to the organization—will compete for this season’s championship.
There’s a very good chance the 2021 Stanley Cup winner will feature at least one player previously employed by or attached to the Flames in some capacity, big or small.
Some of these players are top-pairing defensemen. Others are depth forwards and backup goaltenders.