Fresh Start Ahead: Calgary Flames have confirmed Dillon Dube will not return to the team following his acquittal in a sexual assault trial. The 27-year-old forward, who stepped away from the game over a year ago, now faces the challenge of rebuilding his NHL career. Teams are reportedly assessing his value, with Dube seeking a fresh start elsewhere.
The Calgary Flames have made one thing clear: Dillon Dube’s future will unfold somewhere else. Days after the 27-year-old forward was acquitted in a high-profile sexual assault trial involving five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, Flames management confirmed they will not pursue a reunion.
The decision closes the door on a long, complicated chapter between the team and a player who once appeared firmly cemented in Calgary’s long-term plans. Now eligible to sign an NHL contract on October 15 and return to game action by December 1, Dube faces both an opportunity and a challenge, rebuilding a career interrupted by legal battles, public scrutiny, and more than a year away from the ice.
Flames leadership signals that Dube needs a clean slate as teams quietly assess his NHL value
Fresh Start Ahead: Dube hasn’t played an NHL game since January 2024, stepping away from the team just before charges were formally announced.
His contract quietly expired, leaving him a free agent as the trial unfolded. Even after his acquittal, the Flames see no fit for a return. At a press conference celebrating Mikael Backlund’s contract extension, GM Craig Conroy didn’t hesitate when asked about Dube’s future with the franchise. “At this point, no,” he said. “I think Dillon probably just needs a fresh start.”That “fresh start” could mean testing interest from teams willing to take a chance on a player with 325 NHL games under his belt, a strong two-way reputation, and the benefit of legal clarity.
Yet the NHL landscape has shifted since he last skated in the league. Any team considering Dube will weigh both on-ice potential and the intense spotlight that will follow his return.What Dube chooses and which organizations are prepared to engage, will shape one of the most closely watched comeback attempts of the season. For now, Calgary’s stance leaves the forward looking elsewhere, opening a new chapter after one of the most turbulent periods of his career.
