Skill Development Drills Used by the Calgary Flames

Ever watch a Calgary Flames game at the Scotiabank Saddledome, see Jonathan Huberdeau make a no-look pass, or watch Jacob Markström rob a shooter with a lightning-fast glove, and wonder, "How do they do that?" The answer isn't just raw talent—it's relentless, specific practice.

The drills you see during Flames practices at the Dome are the building blocks of every highlight-reel play. Under head coach Ryan Huska and with a development-focused vision from GM Craig Conroy, the Flames prioritize fundamental skill work that translates directly to game night in the tough Pacific Division.

This guide breaks down the types of skill development drills the Flames use, so you can understand—and even try—the methods that help pros like Connor Zary and Nazem Kadri sharpen their tools. Whether you're a player looking to add elements to your own training or a fan wanting a deeper appreciation for the work behind the spectacle, this is your insider look.

What You'll Achieve

By understanding these drills, you’ll gain insight into:
The core skills the Flames coaching staff emphasizes.
How specific exercises improve puck handling, shooting, and defensive play.
The kind of repetitive, game-simulated practice that builds NHL-level instinct.
A framework to analyze player development, like following Andrew Mangiapane's scoring breakout from a hard-working prospect to a top-line winger.

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Prerequisites / What You Need

You don't need a private ice rink to grasp or adapt these concepts. Here’s what’s useful:

A Basic Understanding of Hockey: Knowing positions, basic rules, and common terms will help. If you come across a term like "edges" or "toe drag," our glossary of hockey development terms can be a handy resource.
For On-Ice Replication (Optional): Ice time, full gear, pucks, cones or tire rings for targets, and a partner are ideal.
For Off-Ice Replication (Optional): A green biscuit or ball, a shooting pad, a net or tarp, and some open space (driveway, garage, basement).
A Focus on Quality Over Quantity: The Flames execute drills with purpose. It’s about perfect repetition, not just mindless skating.

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Step-by-Step Process: Breaking Down Flames Practice Drills

Let’s walk through the categories of drills that are staples for the CGY roster, explaining the "why" and "how" behind them.

1. Edge Work & Agility Skating Drills

The Goal: To create separation, defend tightly, and maintain balance in battles. Great skaters aren't just fast; they're powerful and agile on their edges.

The Flames Drill Example: The "Kadri Quick-Turn"
Nazem Kadri is elite at receiving a pass, using a sharp inside-edge turn to protect the puck, and pivoting into space. This drill builds that.

1. Set up four cones in a square, about 10 feet apart.


2. Start at one cone, skate forward to the next.


3. Upon reaching the cone, dig in your inside edge (right edge if turning left) and pivot 180 degrees to face the way you came.


4. Skate backwards to the next cone, then pivot again to face forward.


5. Continue around the square, alternating forward skating with backward transitions at each cone. Add a puck as you master the footwork.

Why the Flames Use It: In the Western Conference, space is contested. Winning a puck battle along the boards and instantly transitioning up-ice is a non-negotiable skill.

2. Tight-Quarters Puck Handling Drills

The Goal: To control the puck under pressure, in traffic, and in the high-danger areas around the net.

The Flames Drill Example: The "Zary Zone-Entry"
A rookie like Connor Zary had to prove he could handle the puck with pace through the neutral zone. This drill simulates that.

1. Set up a series of five or six cones in a zig-zag pattern from the blue line to the top of the circles.


2. Start from behind your own net, building speed.


3. As you cross the far blue line, stickhandle through the cones while maintaining top speed.


4. Upon exiting the final cone, drive wide or cut to the middle for a shot on net.


5. Progression: Have a coach or partner apply light stick pressure from the side as you navigate the cones.

Why the Flames Use It: Beating one defender at the line is often the difference between a scoring chance and a dump-in. It’s a core skill for offensive players in the league.

3. Release & Deception Shooting Drills

The Goal: To get shots off quickly and accurately from various stances, often while using a deke to disguise the release point.

The Flames Drill Example: The "Huberdeau Catch-and-Release"
Jonathan Huberdeau's playmaking is legendary, but his shot is underrated. This drill works on receiving a pass and shooting in one motion.

1. A passer stands at the side boards near the hash marks.


2. The shooter starts near the far face-off dot, skating across the high slot.


3. As the shooter crosses a designated spot, the passer feeds a tape-to-tape pass.


4. The shooter must receive the puck and release a wrist shot or snap shot on goal in one fluid motion, without stopping the puck or "settling" it.


5. Variation: The passer can vary the location—heel, toe, slightly behind—forcing the shooter to adjust his body and stick quickly.

Why the Flames Use It: In today's NHL, goalies and shot-blockers are too good. You must shoot through traffic and before defenders can close. Quick releases lead to rebound chances and goals.

4. Goalie-Specific Movement & Recovery Drills

The Goal: For a goalie like Jacob Markström, it's about efficient lateral movement, powerful pushes, and recovering to a ready position after a save.

The Flames Drill Example: The "Markström T-Push & Seal"
This focuses on lateral movement and taking away the bottom of the net.

1. The goalie starts in the center of the crease in a ready stance.


2. A coach points to one post. The goalie executes a powerful T-push (shuffling the lead foot while driving with the back foot) to get to the post quickly.


3. Immediately upon arriving, the goalie drops into a butterfly, ensuring the pad is flush against the post and the toe of the skate is pointed outward to "seal" the ice.


4. The coach then points to the opposite post. The goalie recovers to his feet and T-pushes to seal the other side.


5. Progression: After sealing the second post, the coach immediately shoots a low puck to the far side, testing the recovery speed.

Why the Flames Use It: The Battle of Alberta is filled with cross-ice, one-timer threats. A goalie's ability to move post-to-post with power and control is critical to stopping high-percentage chances.

5. Small-Area Competitive Games (SAGs)

The Goal: To simulate game-like decision-making, puck pressure, and competitiveness in a confined space. This is a Ryan Huska favorite.

The Flames Drill Example: 3-on-3 "The Battleground"

1. Use the space from the goal line to the bottom of the circles, and the width of the face-off circles.


2. Divide into two teams of three.


3. Play a continuous, half-ice game with small nets or designated shooting spots on the boards.


4. Key Rules: No lifting the puck, quick face-offs after goals, constant encouragement to make plays.

Why the Flames Use It: It forces players to think and execute faster. There’s no room to glide. It builds the tenacity and quick-passing mentality needed to break out of the defensive zone and sustain offensive pressure—key themes for the Flames in the 2023-24 NHL season.

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Pro Tips / Common Mistakes

Pro Tip: Film Yourself. The Flames video team is extensive. Use your phone! Watching your own skating posture or shot release is the fastest way to correct flaws.
Pro Tip: Practice Tired. Do your skill work at the end of a skating session. Your technique under fatigue is what holds up in the third period when the game is on the line.
Common Mistake: Looking at the Puck. Your head should be up. Practice feeling the puck on your stick. In a game, you need to see Huberdeau cutting to the net or an open lane.
Common Mistake: Sacrificing Control for Speed. It’s better to do a drill correctly at 75% speed than poorly at 100%. Build the muscle memory first, then add pace. Connor Zary's poise didn't happen overnight.
* Pro Tip: Incorporate a "Game Element." Always finish a drill with a shot, a pass to a spot, or a defensive play. This ties the skill directly to an outcome, just like the Flames do to prepare for the C of Red.

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Checklist Summary

Here’s your quick-reference guide to the core skill development principles used by the Calgary Flames:

• Master Your Edges: Dedicate time to agility skating drills with sharp pivots and transitions, like the "Kadri Quick-Turn," to win battles and create space.


• Handle the Puck in Traffic: Use confined-space stickhandling courses (the "Zary Zone-Entry") to improve control under simulated pressure.


• Shoot with Deception & Speed: Practice catching passes and releasing shots in one motion (the "Huberdeau Catch-and-Release") to beat goalies before they're set.


• Train Goalie-Specific Movements: Focus on efficient, powerful lateral pushes and post-sealing recoveries (the "Markström T-Push & Seal") for foundational goaltending.


• Play Small-Area Games: Engage in competitive, confined 3-on-3 or 2-on-2 games to build game-speed decision-making and tenacity, a staple of Huska's practices.


• Prioritize Quality Reps: Execute each drill with full intention and proper form, not just going through the motions.


• Practice Under Fatigue: Work on skills when you're tired to build the stamina needed for the NHL's demanding pace.


• Always Link Skill to Situation: Finish every drill with a game-relevant action—a shot, a pass, a check—to build instinct.

By incorporating these types of focused, repetitive drills into their routine, Flames players hone the skills that define their game. It’s the unseen work at the Saddledome that fuels the excitement on game night and shapes the club's long-term development path. Want to dive deeper into how the Flames build their roster? Explore our hub on Flames player profiles and development.