Could Chase Harrington Shock the Calgary Flames and Push for an Immediate Roster Spot?

Over the past three years, the Calgary Flames have knocked it out of the park in each and every NHL Draft, and while not all the talent is at the National Hockey League level yet, the more and more this team continues to rebuild, the more exciting the future becomes.

This past year, the team added another two first-round picks in defenseman Carson Carels and Jack Hextall, and while the organization is confident that both will be difference makers at the NHL, the draft class is so much deeper beyond that.

One intriguing piece that nobody quite has a read on yet is 2026 second-round pick Chase Harrington, and following the NextGen Rookie Showcase, a Flames decision has raised some question marks about the season ahead.

Chase Harrington Sticking With the Flames... For Now

During the Rookie Showcase, Harrington made a clear impact in the Flames 6-1 loss, and given that his body is already pro-ready at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he's a player that many believe could push for a spot sooner than the majority expect. For now, he's taken a step towards that, as the Flames announced that several players were released back to their junior teams... almost all the team prospects set to play juniors beyond Harrington.

Obviously, this doesn't mean that Harrington will play any NHL games with the Flames this season, but it shows how highly both the front office and the coaching staff think of him, as he'll now get the opportunity to practice alongside the Flames top stars.

Chase Harrington Has a Bright Future With the Calgary Flames

While Harrington's game is based on physicality and chaos, he's also shown some offensive potential, tallying 28 goals and 57 points in 61 games with the WHL's Spokane Chiefs a year ago in 2025/26. However, there's more to development than simply scoring goals or hitting players, as he has to develop a more well rounded game, as the potential is certainly there for him to be a genuine middle-six option for years to come.

For now, the most likely outcome is that Harrington simply practices with the NHL players in the organization, but if he can impress there, there is always the chance that he gets an opportunity in a pre-season game or two.

With the shortened pre-season however, the expectation is that he'll simply practice before heading back to the WHL, but with the experience this training camp could give him, there's optimism that he'll take a massive leap with the Chiefs this season.

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