Calgary Flames
Flames Forward a Lightning Rod in Calgary as Bieksa Calls Out Team Culture
Kevin Bieksa’s sharp criticism of Yegor Sharangovich has turned the forward into a symbol of the Calgary Flames’ deeper issues.
Yegor Sharangovich has found himself at the center of the storm in Calgary — not just for his play, but as the poster boy of a “culture problem” within the Flames’ organization. The 26-year-old forward was publicly called out by former NHLer and now Hockey Night in Canada analyst Kevin Bieksa after the team’s 6–1 loss. Bieksa blasted Sharangovich’s effort level and questioned whether players should be kept on the team if that’s the kind of play his teammates and coaches can expect.
Bieksa didn’t hold back, suggesting that if Sharangovich’s effort mirrored the team’s overall compete level, the Flames needed to “get rid of him.” The comments got a ton of attention in the following days, prompting reactions from the coach, teammates, and other analysts. Elliotte Friedman, a guest on Morning Cuppa Hockey, said Bieksa’s comments were “really pointed,” but acknowledged that Bieksa has earned the right to say what he wants after 900 NHL games.
“I heard from some people who thought it was too much,” Friedman said. “But I also thought it was interesting that some players came to Sharangovich’s defense — and then he was healthy scratched. That tells me he’s become a bit of a lightning rod in Calgary.”
Friedman added that the team’s struggles — and uncertainty about its direction — have only magnified the narrative surrounding Sharangovich. “What is Calgary’s identity right now? What’s their plan?” he was asked, noting that the Flames’ 1–6 start has exposed deeper issues than just one player’s effort.
What Do the Flames Do Moving Forward?
As the Flames attempt to regroup, the challenge isn’t just about results on the ice this season. Friedman believes it’s time they look at the future, using the 2025-26 campaign to stock up.
With a new arena set to open in two years and fans growing restless, Calgary must decide whether to push for short-term fixes or embrace a longer rebuild — even if it means enduring a lot of losing. Friedman believes this means potentially tanking to get the best pick possible in a very strong draft year.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska detailed why Sharangovich was a healthy scratch and admitted that half of the team wasn’t good enough. The Flames can’t change half the roster, but Sharangovich is among the players who could have brought more. As a result, he’s the player who sits.
Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar says they don’t have a culture issue in their dressing room, and stood up for Sharangovich after getting shredded by Bieksa. Weegar said we all need to step up, and he wishes Bieksa had taken somebody else, because Bieksa could have named several different players and would have been justified in the critique.
No one on the Flames roster is suggesting Bieksa was wrong. That’s a sign that this team has a lot to work on, and the process might be as important as or more important than the results.
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