The Calgary Flames enter the 2026 NHL draft with 11 picks, eight in the top 70, the most draft capital they have held in a single class in nearly 25 years. There’s no doubt that the 2026 NHL Draft is one of the most important drafts in franchise history. Whatever happens over the next few days will shape the future of the team for the next decade.
Draft Picks at a Glance
| Round | Pick # | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | #6 | Calgary (own) |
| 1st | #30 | Vegas Golden Knights (Mikhail Vorobyev trade, March 6, 2024) |
| 2nd | #35 | New York Rangers |
| 2nd | #36 | Calgary (own) |
| 2nd | #51 | Nashville Predators |
| 2nd | #55 | Ottawa Senators |
| 3rd | #64 | Vancouver Canucks (Nikita Zadorov trade, November 30, 2023) |
| 3rd | #67 | Calgary (own) |
| 4th | #99 | Calgary (own) |
| 5th | #131 | Calgary (own) |
| 6th | #163 | Calgary (own) |
As mentioned, the Flames hold eight picks in the top 70, including two first-round picks and four second-round picks. The most important, of course, is the sixth overall pick. The pick represents the highest pick for the Flames in a decade.
#6 Overall
What type of player could the Flames get at 6th overall? If history is any indication, there’s a good chance whoever they take will be a key piece of the team for years to come.
Top Options
We believe the three players below are the Flames’ top options at sixth overall, and the most likely to be selected by the Flames on June 26th.
Viggo Bjorck – C
Viggo Björck is a dynamic centre whose high hockey IQ, never-ending motor, top-end puck skills, and ability to play with incredible pace make him a fantastic option early on in the 2026 NHL draft. We could see him in the NHL as early as next season, but his contract in the SHL might get in the way. Whichever team is lucky enough to draft Björck is getting possibly the highest ceiling from a forward not named McKenna or Stenberg.
Carson Carels – LD
Carson Carels is a mobile, two-way defender who plays a smart offensive style while staying composed when the puck is headed to his end. Carels flashes his talent through amazing edgework, high-end vision, deceptive puck-movement, and strong defensive capabilities. We see Carels becoming a two-way, top-four defenceman at the NHL level, with a strong chance to hit his ceiling of top pair.
Keaton Verhoeff – RD
Keaton Verhoeff is a mobile, right-shot defenseman whose game is built on skating, positioning, and steady defensive reliability. His ceiling is relatively high as a dependable, shutdown-leaning blueliner, but his offensive potential can still be built upon. If his offensive game evolves, Verhoeff has all the tools to become a top-pairing NHL defenceman.
#30 Overall
With Vegas making the Stanley Cup Final, this pick was unfortunately bumped to 30th overall. The odds of finding an impact player here are slim, but not zero.
Top Options
At 30th overall, there are a wide range of ways this pick can play out. There are likely 10-15 players in this range that could go 30th overall. Below are three players who seem like the best fits for the Flames with this pick.
Maddox Dagenais – C
Maddox Dagenais isn’t the flashiest player, but he offers the exact type of profile NHL teams love. A big, physical, imposing centre who can rip the puck and dominate physically. There’s a good chance Daganeis goes higher than expected, given his size. If he can continue to round out his offensive game, he could become a second-line forward one day.
Liam Ruck – RW
Liam Ruck is a winger who has found success on the offensive side of the puck thanks to his goal-scoring ability and offensive sense. He brings a quick and accurate wrist shot and a good understanding of how to get into space and generate offensive chances. His offensive skills do make him a pretty decent bet to carve out a middle-six role, even away from his brother if that is the situation he ends up in.
William Hakansson – LD
William Hakansson is a modern defence prospect whose game is built on skating, composure, and efficient puck movement. He offers a strong foundation that translates well to higher levels, giving him a relatively safe projection. If he can add some offensive touch, in which case he may be a sneaky good pick later in the first round.
The Second and Third Round
The Flames will enter the draft with a whopping six picks between the second and third rounds. How many they actually use is still up for debate, as some sort of trade seems like a certainty at this point.
Second/Third Round Options
Once you hit the second round, there are a ton of players who would make sense. It all depends on the team’s needs and who the Flames think gives them the best bet at being an impact player one day.
Adam Valentini – C/LW
Adam Valentini is an intriguing centre prospect who brings great projectability thanks to his determined work ethic and strong overall sense for the game. Valentini does everything well; however, there’s no skill that completely stands out with him. That causes his ceiling to be a bit limited. Nonetheless, there’s definitely a possible middle-six player in Valentini.
Brooks Rogowski – C
Brooks Rogowski will be an interesting player to watch over the next few seasons as his development could go a number of different ways. How much of his offensive ability will transfer and continue to develop is left unpredictable in many scouts’ eyes. There’s potential for the young center to develop into a Tage Thompson or Beckett Sennecke-type power forward with skill. But there is also the harsh reality that he tops out as a third-line checking forward who earns his keep on the penalty kill.
Egor Shilov – C
Yegor Shilov is a supremely talented forward who comes with a similar amount of baggage. He’s very much a boom-or-bust prospect, which makes him an ideal gamble for a Flames team holding six picks in the first two rounds. If he can work on his skating and compete level, he could be one of the biggest steals of the draft. Taking a swing on a player with borderline elite skill despite the question marks elsewhere seems right up Craig Conroy’s alley.
Craig Conroy’s Draft Tendencies
With three drafts under his belt already, some trends have begun to develop when it comes to Craig Conroy’s draft picks. We broke them down and looked at how the Flames general manager has typically operated on draft day.
Positional Needs Heading Into the Draft
What positions do the Calgary Flames need heading into the 2026 NHL Draft? At a high-level, just about everything except the goaltender.
- Centre: No doubt the biggest need for the Flames. The organization doesn’t have a single top-line centre at any level right now. While Cole Reschny is a promising prospect, he likely caps out at a very good second liner. After him, the talent pool drops off. The Flames desperately need to start adding high-end centre prospects to the organization.
- Left Defence: While the right side of the defence is loaded with prospects, including Zayne Parekh, the left side is devoid of long-term talent. The Flames really need to start adding some high-end left-shot defenders to the pipeline sooner rather than later.
- Offensive Wingers: The Flames are loaded on the wings, with a plethora of current NHLers and young talent throughout the organization. While the wing shouldn’t be the main priority on draft day, adding some more high-end offensive wingers wouldn’t be a bad thing and would go a long way in building up the prospect pool.
A big weekend lies ahead
Make no mistake, the 2026 NHL Draft is incredibly important to the future of the Calgary Flames. With so many picks and different routes to take, Conroy and his staff will have maximum flexibility when it comes to making picks and trades this weekend. It should be a wild one in Calgary, and The Win Column has you covered with all your draft weekend news.