10. Matthew Tkachuk (2016, No. 6 overall)
Back in 2016, the Calgary Flames had a major decision to make at No. 6 overall, and while players like Clayton Keller, Charlie McAvoy and Tage Thompson were all taken in the first-round, the team made the right choice in taking London Knights star Matthew Tkachuk. In 431 games across 6 seasons for the Flames, Tkachuk posted 152 goals and 382 points, with his final campaign in 2021/22 being his best as he put up 42 goals and 104 points, the second best point mark of his career and the highest goals he's ever put up.
Unfortunately, the decision from then GM Brad Treliving to bridge Tkachuk instead of giving him a long-term deal ended up sinking the team, as they ultimately dealt him to Florida a year before free agency, landing Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar and other assets in return. While that trade looks one-sided in hindsight, Tkachuk gave it his all in Calgary and he left the right way, and given what he did while he was a member of the Flames, this was a home-run selection by Treliving and the front office.
Grade: A+
9. Juuso Valimaki (2017, No. 17 overall)
A year later however, the Flames front office certainly didn't get it right, as they used the No. 17 overall pick on the potentially promising Juuso Valimaki, who showed talent in the WHL after posting 61 and 45 points in 60 and 43 games played in the year prior too and following the draft.
However, he never got himself going in the NHL for the Flames, but in 2020/21, he started to show glimpses after posting 11 points in 49 games played. After that year, he played just 9 more games for the organization, and in 2025/26, he split time between the Chicago Wolves and the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL. Clearly, there were better picks available, with the likes of Josh Norris, Robert Thomas, Morgan Frost and Jake Oettinger all going after Valimaki, and while it didn't seem to be a complete failure at the time, a decade later, it was a rough pick for the Flames.
Grade: D-
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