Weaknesses
The biggest weakness in Carels' game right now is that his offensive game beyond the shot is limited, and while he posted 53 assists this past season, against some of the best players in the world, the passing ability may certainly come into question.
Beyond that, the aggressiveness in pursuing defenders leaves him vulnerable to being beaten on the rush, with his skating and edgework being inconsistent at best throughout his season in Prince George. The talent is there to be a good PP2 blue liner behind Zayne Parekh, but to get there, he'll need to work on the way he manuevers opposing players on the blue line, something he struggled with at times.
Comparisons
On the high end, it's no surprise that Carels has been linked to Jake Sanderson, a player that he says he has modeled his game after, with his 200ft game, versatility and two-way abilities making him a potential star at the NHL level.
On the lower end, a player like Gustav Forsling or Jacob Trouba come to mind as potential comparisons, and whether or not he lives up to these heights or simply finds a floor at the NHL level, he has all of the ability needed to be a good NHLer for a long time to come.
Fit for the Flames
The Calgary Flames' two biggest needs right now are on the left side of their blue line and a star centre, and thankfully, Carels fits one of those two needs, as he could be a top-four player for years to come alongside Kevin Bahl.
Combine that with Carels' relationship with Zayne Parekh, and you may have a tailor made fit for these Flames, and if he's available at No. 6 when the Flames are on the clock, there's a good chance they see Carels as a difference maker who is built to succeed in a Canadian market.
Will he be available for the Flames?
Beyond the guarantee that Ivar Stenberg and Gavin McKenna will be off the board when No. 6 comes around, there's nothing else that is certain, with Carels being drafted in mocks anywhere from No. 4 to No. 9 overall. Ahead of Calgary, San Jose, Chicago and New York could all use star defensemen, but with their needs likely on the right, there's a better than 50% chance that Carels is available when the Flames are forced to make a decision.
Verdict
Hypothetically, there's no better fit in the 2026 NHL Draft for Calgary than Carson Carels, and while they'll have a big decision to make between him and a potential centre like Viggo Bjorck or Tynan Lawrence, if he is selected, Flames fans should be rejoicing.
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