SportsHockeyFlames

Who will Calgary Flames draft sixth overall? Here's what the experts think

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
May 21 2026, 3:53 pm
Who will Calgary Flames draft sixth overall? Here's what the experts think
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images

The draft lottery didn’t go the way the Calgary Flames would have liked, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of excitement going into June.

While many in Calgary held hope that they would see their team land the first-overall pick, it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, they fell two spots and will instead draft at sixth.

Though it was a disappointing outcome, many within the city are already excited once again to see potential prospects the Flames can draft with that pick. The question is, who will it be?

There are several different outcomes depending on which mock drafts you look at. Aside from Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, the projected first two selections, there are a lot of questions as to how the rest of the top 10 will shake out.

Here’s a look at who several draft experts believe the Flames will take:

Jason Bukala (Sportsnet)

Chase Reid

  • Position: RHD
  • Size: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
  • 2025-26 stats: 45 GP, 18 G, 30 A, 48 PTS (OHL)

One thing about this year’s draft is that it is loaded with defencemen in the early going. While Keaton Verhoeff seemingly had the edge over all other blueliners in this draft class early into the 2025-26 season, the perception has now changed.


One defenceman who some believe could be the first off the board is Chase Reid. The Soo Greyhounds blueliner is an incredible skater with great offensive instincts. The question for GM Craig Conroy and his staff will be whether the Flames need another right-shot blueline prospect with Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, and even Henry Mews in the fold.

Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)

Tynan Lawrence

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

Part of what Conroy and his staff need to decide is whether they’d be more comfortable making a safe pick or swinging for the fences. Tynan Lawrence feels like a prospect who falls into the latter category.

Lawrence headed into the season very high on all draft lists, but has dropped on most due to an injury-riddled and overall disappointing 2025-26 campaign. This would be categorized as a risky pick to some, though he does fit an organizational need positionally and does boast plenty of skill.

Craig Button (TSN)

Caleb Malholtra

  • Position: C
  • Size: 6-foot-2, 182 pounds
  • 2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 29 G, 55 A, 84 PTS (OHL)

If Caleb Malholtra is still available by the time the Flames walk to the podium, you’d have to think they’d be all over it. They are an organization in need of a future first-line centre, and Malholtra is arguably the best centreman in this draft class.

The issue here is that some see Malholtra going as high as third overall. If he is still up for grabs, Conroy may very well be sprinting to the microphone to call his name.

Corey Pronman/Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)

Keaton Verhoeff

  • Position: RHD
  • Size: 6-foot-4, 208 pounds
  • 2025-26 stats: 36 GP, 6 G, 14 A, 20 PTS (NCAA)

Had he not chosen to go to college at 17 years old, Verhoeff may very well have been the top player selected in this draft. Playing against older, stronger players has resulted in some concerns regarding his game.

That said, the positives considerably outweigh the negatives. Verhoeff’s skating still needs improving, but he’s undeniably one of the best two-way defencemen in this draft. On top of that, he has plenty of size, which all teams covet on the back end.

Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff)

Carson Carels

  • Position: LHD
  • Size: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds
  • 2025-26 stats: 58 GP, 20 G, 53 A, 73 PTS (WHL)

The fact that not one of these mock drafts has the Flames selecting the same player goes to show just how neck-and-neck many of these prospects are. On this particular mock draft, the Flames are projected to select another intriguing defenceman in Carson Carels.

Carels, who didn’t hide the fact that he’d be overjoyed to be picked by the Flames, is very steady defensively, and, as proven by his 20-goal season, has plenty of offensive upside. Whether he’ll still be available when the Flames walk to the podium remains to be seen.

ADVERTISEMENT