Who Should the Flames Pick in the First Round of NHL Draft?

The Calgary Flames dropped two places in the draft lottery and will have the sixth overall pick in the first round. 

Like the Vancouver Canucks, the Flames have never had the No. 1 draft pick. While their luck wasn’t as bad as Vancouver’s, Calgary will feel hard done by, particularly seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs win the draft lottery despite having a lower probability. 

As always, general manager Craig Conroy was upbeat after seeing his team secure the sixth pick, and he intends to make the most of it.

Calgary Flames Mock Draft for First Round

With their first three picks in the 2025 draft, the Flames selected centres. The team is deficient down the middle, so those selections made sense. 

While none of those picks (Cole Reschny, Cullen Potter, Theo Stockselius) are perceived as top-tier, the Flames won’t feel obliged to pick a forward if there’s a better player on the board. 

Conroy recently said as much, stating the Flames will pick the best player available, regardless of position. 

That much is clear. What isn’t is who that player will be. At least we know who won’t be available. The abbreviated list includes Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and, quite possibly, Caleb Malhotra. 

Related: Gavin McKenna Scouting Report: Why Leafs Will Draft McKenna

Who Will the Flames Draft With No. 6 Pick? 

This pick could be one of several players, including Viggo Björck from the Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League and Prince George’s Carson Carels. 

I’m going with Carels as he is among the top three defencemen in the draft, along with Keaton Verhoeff and Chase Reid.

I featured Verhoeff in my article on who the Canucks should pick in the first round, and I expect Reid to be taken in the top five. 

The 6-foot-2 Carels fits the profile. He’s a cowboy through and through, growing up on a farm in Manitoba, with his primary responsibility to look after the cows. His work ethic is unsurpassed; he’s as strong as an ox and plays an aggressive, physical style. 

That salt-of-the-earth mantra will endear him to Stampede City, and his elite skills will markedly improve the defensive core. 

If they do get Carels, it will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to help improve the Flames’ Stanley Cup odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook. 

Who Will the Flames Draft At No. 28? 

Markus Ruck is an intriguing proposition at No. 28. He was the WHL’s leading scorer last season, with 108 points (21 goals, 87 assists) in 68 games. 

And he’s a centre, which will appeal even more to the Flames. Ruck doesn’t score as many goals as one would like, 29 in 132 WHL games, but he’s an elite playmaker. 

If his twin brother, Liam, doesn’t get selected beforehand, the Flames might opt for him instead. Liam scored 45 goals last season.

Some expect the Ruck brothers to be a package deal, which might throw a spanner in the works. The Flames also have the 35th and 36th picks, so selecting both isn’t entirely unfeasible. 

While I doubt both will still be available, the Flames might do some tinkering or trading to have the chance at drafting both. 

Have the Flames Ever Had a First Overall Draft Pick?

No, the Flames have never drafted first overall.  

What Is the Highest Draft Pick the Flames Have Had? 

The Flames had the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NHL draft, and they selected Sam Bennett, who recently won the Conn Smythe with the Florida Panthers. 

When Is the 2026 NHL Draft? 

The 2026 NHL Draft takes place on June 26 and 27.