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4 centremen Calgary Flames could draft at sixth overall

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Jun 9 2026, 4:48 pm
4 centremen Calgary Flames could draft at sixth overall
Bildbyran/Joel Marklund

It’s not the first-overall pick that fans were hoping for, but the Calgary Flames are still in a position to land a great prospect in this year’s draft.

The Flames didn’t get the luck they were hoping for at the draft lottery, but they do still have the sixth-overall selection. With the early portion of this draft said to be particularly strong, they have a great opportunity to add another promising prospect to their pipeline.

The question everyone is asking is, who will they take?

Aside from the presumed first-and-second overall selections in Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, it’s a toss-up as to who will go after.

There are plenty of defencemen expected to go in the early portion of the draft, including the likes of Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, and Alberts Smits. While all would be great additions for the Flames, many are hoping to see GM Craig Conroy go with an option down the middle of the ice instead.

While they were able to get two centres in Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter in the first round of last year’s draft, the Flames as an organization are still weak down the middle. If they are hoping to address that issue with the sixth pick, here are four centres worth considering:

Caleb Malholtra

  • Shoots: Left
  • Size: 6-foot-2, 182 lbs
  • 2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 29 G, 55 A, 84 PTS (OHL)

In the perfect world, Caleb Malholtra would fall into the Flames’ lap at sixth overall. The problem is that there are some mock drafts projecting him to go as high as second, though there are others in which he’s still available by the time the Flames are up.

Malholtra not only has a ton of skill, as shown by his stats, but is highly regarded for his work ethic and hockey IQ. He projects to be a true number-one centreman who is as strong defensively as he is offensively.

Viggo Bjorck

  • Shoots: Right
  • Size: 5-foot-9, 177 lbs
  • 2025-26 stats: 42 GP, 6 G, 9 A, 15 PTS (SHL)

The centre that has been discussed the most among Flames fans is Viggo Bjorck. There’s a much better chance that he is still available when Conroy and his staff take the podium, and he lines up with exactly what they need.

Not only does Bjorck play down the middle, but he’s a right-handed shot. His size is a concern to some, but he’s not afraid to go to the tough areas. He’s also very responsible in all areas of the ice and has a ton of skill, making him one of the more exciting players in this draft class.

Tynan Lawrence

  • Shoots: Left
  • Size: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
  • 2025-26 stats: 18 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS (NCAA)

Heading into the season, there was a belief that Tynan Lawrence could be a top-three selection in this draft class. Unfortunately, a midseason jump to the NCAA exposed some flaws in his game, and has resulted in him falling down draft boards.

Despite his struggles at the NCAA level, there’s still plenty of reason to love Lawrence’s game. While not the most skilled player available, he has great hockey sense to go with his strong skating ability. If Bjorck and Malholtra are off the board by the time the Flames are up, Lawrence would likely be their best option down the middle.

Alexander Command

  • Shoots: Left
  • Size: 6-foot-1, 183 pounds
  • 2025-26 stats: 30 GP, 17 G, 27 A, 44 PTS (U20 Nationell)

It seems that the public consensus is that after the big three of Malholtra, Bjorck, and Lawrence, Alexander Command will be the next centre to get picked. The 17-year-old is coming off a strong season in Sweden and was even able to get in six games with Orebro HK in the SHL.

Command is yet another prospect in this draft regarded for his strong two-way game and excellent speed. He has legitimate top-six upside, though there is no question this would be a bit of a reach for the Flames. It will all come down to whether they use the sixth pick to take the best player available or to fill an organizational need.

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