The Calgary Flames have plenty of forwards heading into 2026/27, but with the team looking to get younger and younger, there's a good chance they'll be looking to add even more wingers to the pipeline in the 2026 NHL Draft.
One thing that the team need more of in the prospect pool is the combination of size and skill, and in Finland's Oscar Hemming, that may be just what they could get, as he profiles as a potential star of the future.
So who is Hemming? How does he fit with the Flames? Where could they pick him in the draft? Let's find out.
Pre-Draft Production
Year | Team | League | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024/25 | Kiekko-Espoo U18 | U18 SM-sarja | 31 | 35 | 28 | 63 | N/A |
2024/25 | Kiekko-Espoo U20 | U20 SM-sarja | 18 | 2 | 8 | 10 | N/A |
2025/26 | Boston College | H-East | 19 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
Unfortunately, there's been very little production for Hemming against elite level competition, but in the U18 league in 2024/25, he showed how dominant he can be, posting over a goal a game in Finland. Stepping up later in the season against the U20 competition, he got comfortable rather quickly, and in the playoffs he started to dominate, putting together 3 goals and 9 points in 13 games played that year.
Last season, he took a leap to the NCAA by joining Boston College, and like others such as Tynan Lawrence, the adjustment was much harder than expected, as he managed to score just once in 19 games given the limited time on ice. He won't turn 18 until August, and next season, the hope is that he can begin to dominate, so while the intangibles look great, the lack of production could come off as a major red flag to potential teams drafting him.
Strengths
At 6-foot-4, 193 pounds, Hemming's size is going to be a major strength, and unlike some other prospects in this draft, he knows how to use that size and isn't afraid to be phyiscal and get to the dirty areas on the ice. Hemming combines that with great hockey IQ, and with the potential to be a good goal scorer and a great netfront presence, teams in the NHL needing some size will be chomping at the bit to land the 17-year-old.
The playmaking certainly isn't bad either, and while he could improve in that way, he's been able to set up his teammates just as well as he's been able to score the puck himself. Offensively, the skillset is varied and balanced with Hemming, and with skating that's very good for a player of his age and size, he's going to at the very least be a good contributor in the NHL.
