After almost a year of waiting, the 2026 NHL Draft has finally arrived, and with so many exciting young prospects to choose from, there was confidence that the Calgary Flames could come away with a potential star of the future.
Early in the draft, the board was falling as many expected, and when the Flames came to the podium at No. 6 overall, they had a major choice to make, and in the end, they swung for defense, drafting Carson Carels out of the WHL and the Prince George Cougars.
BREAKING: The Calgary Flames take Carson Carels at #6. pic.twitter.com/xfIJ3kacdm
— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) June 26, 2026
This past season with the Prince George Cougars, Carels posted 20 goals and 73 points in 58 games played, and given his two-way talent, it was a fantastic draft pick. While he's still a way away from impacting the game at the NHL level, but the Flames bet on upside, taking a potential future captain and someone with unlimited potential.
For a Flames team that has many needs, there were many ways they could go here, but in the end, the Flames decide to pass on Viggo Bjorck, ending up with one of the most exciting young prospects in the entire draft, potentially completing the left-side of their defense in the process.
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