The outlook of the upcoming NHL draft is changing all the time. Craig Conroy has stated that the Flames still want to move up from 6th, but it’s looking less likely now. This is down to Chicago using theirs to acquire Bowen Byram from the Sabres. Many fans had hoped that the Flames would deal with the fourth overall, but that appears exceedingly unlikely.
Mike Grier is reportedly still shopping around second overall, especially as they’ve picked up ninth overall now, too. He has stated they’d received five offers he wishes to consider, but wouldn’t be drawn on who. Whether the Flames have the collateral to make a worthwhile offer is very much up for debate. This is down to trading away most of the valuable assets in recent years.
In short, the picture is changing all the time, and the available mock drafts are quite fluid. Various media outlets have had their say about who the Flames will draft at sixth, with some interesting patterns.
Carson Carels
Carson Carels is a Canadian defenceman whom Win Column has covered in the past. He is considered a top prospect in the draft, and many would have been surprised had he dropped to sixth. That, however, now seems to be the prediction of a few noted journalists.
Both Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale of NHL.com have the Flames selecting Carels. Morreale, who initially had the Flames down to select Viggo Björck, shared his thoughts on the matter. “Calgary is one of the hardest teams to project, but the thought of acquiring a top-pair defenceman at this point is too good to ignore”
Scott Wheeler of the Athletic also has the Flames selecting Carels, as does Rachel Kryshak of ESPN.
Tankathon also has Carels going at sixth, as it stands.
Viggo Björck
Viggo Björck has seemingly come from nowhere in recent days, rising from a suspected teens pick to now even being as high as second in some mocks. Tankathon have him going at fourth now that Buffalo have acquired that pick.
This has led to his position being highly debated, although some outlets still have him going to Calgary.
Corey Pronman of The Athletic has stated, “Calgary steps up here (to sixth) to take the undersized Björck and secure the future of its centre position, which is in desperate need of an upgrade.”
Interestingly, Pronman also had the Flames drafting his Djurgårdens teammate, Marcus Nordmark, at 35th.
The Less Common Answers
Another player who has floated up and down the rankings recently is Chase Reid.
Hannah Stuart of Bleacher Report has stated that she believes he will fall to sixth, being picked up by Calgary. “Chase Reid is easily this year’s top play-driving defenceman. He has the ability to control the flow of the game from the moment he steps onto the ice. In the best-case scenario, he’s going to be a franchise keystone for whatever team is lucky enough to select him. Here, that’s the Calgary Flames,” she told Bleacher Report.
Alberts Smits has been touted by MSN.COM, highlighting him as a defenceman who could only benefit the Flames.
Finally, Keaton Verhoeff has been picked by Yahoo Sports to be the Flames draftee at sixth.
What about 30th Overall?
There seems to be less interest amongst the media as to who will be drafted later on. The Athletic didn’t go into specifics, although it had previously touted Liam Ruck as a potential pick-up for Calgary.
Adam Kimelman of NHL.com also has the Flames selecting Ruck. He said, “The Flames have focused on finding more skilled forwards in the draft, with Matvei Gridin (2024, No. 28) making an impact as a rookie last season, and 2025 NHL Draft picks Cole Reschny (No. 18) and Cullen Potter (No. 32) developing nicely in college. Adding Ruck would be another solid piece, and with four second-round selections, they’re well-positioned to add his twin brother, Markus Ruck.”
MSN.COM also has the Flames selecting Ruck.
His colleague, Mike Morreale, has touted Niklas Aaram-Olsen for the Flames.