Following the draft lottery, the Calgary Flames know that they will draft sixth overall. It will be the highest pick by the Flames in ten years, but they might not settle on it.
The draft lottery allocated the top two picks to Toronto and San Jose, respectively, but both are believed to be open to trading. This presents Flames with an interesting opportunity to move up, but is it realistic?
In recent years, the Flames have begun rebuilding, and most of their established stars are gone. Whilst Dustin Wolf, Zayne Parekh, and Matvei Gridin remain, the Flames would be reluctant to give up any of those three.
1st Overall – Toronto Maple Leafs
The pick that everyone wants will also prove to be the trickiest to execute. The Leafs are struggling to hold onto Auston Matthews, and are under pressure to fill the hole left by Mitch Marner last summer.
A key to unlocking Toronto’s pick could be the defence, where Toronto often struggle. The trade would obviously include the Flames’ sixth overall pick, and potentially the other first-round pick from Vegas. The first pick in 2027, and a mid-tier defenceman would also likely be key. One possible solution is Hunter Brzustewicz, who played 34 times for the Flames in 2025–26.
This option presents the incentive for the Leafs to still have a good pick in this draft, but also a defenceman with plenty of potential.
Could this be the way for the Flames to get Gavin McKenna?
2nd Overall – San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks’ Mike Grier showed minimal emotion when the Sharks won the second lottery. San Jose is in the middle of their own rebuild, and is where the Flames would ideally be in a year or two.
The cost is almost certainly going to be less than what Toronto would want, but they will want to build on their own young group. Grier is, reportedly, open to seeing what’s available for a trade.
Could Grier also be tempted by Brzustewicz? The Sharks need to address defensive issues, and a young player with a decent number of appearances at the NHL level could be the opener.
A deal with the Sharks would almost certainly involve the sixth overall pick, and then it comes down to the other. With the Flames viewed as a struggler for next year, too, next year’s first could be viewed as an attractive prospect for San Jose.
3rd Overall – Vancouver Canucks
The final option likely to be explored, the Canucks are the least likely to be open to a trade. They tanked in the recently completed season, but failed to secure first overall. With their prized asset, Quinn Hughes, traded to Minnesota, there’s a lack of depth in British Columbia.
The Canucks are stockpiling and, much like the Sharks, could see value in the Flames’ 2027 first-round pick. Could the 2026 and 2027 first picks be enough to tempt them?
This pick would also make sense for the Flames, who need a centre. Neither McKenna nor Stenberg is a centre, whereas Caleb Malhotra, projected third overall, is.
So, which deal is most realistic?
Vancouver offers the best mix of willingness, cost, and alignment with both clubs’ timelines. For them, unlike the other two, there wouldn’t necessarily be a need to trade a player, too. This could mean the Flames would keep all of their own young core.
If Craig Conroy does try to trade up, the number of picks (eleven in 2026) will be key. Is Conroy willing to give up a haul for questionable gain, especially as sixth still isn’t a bad pick?