4. Matvei Gridin (2024, No. 28 overall)
Many overlooked the pick of Matvei Gridin late in the first-round of the 2024 NHL Draft, but early in his career, he's flashed the type of potential that could make him a top-line winger in the NHL for a long time to come. After dominating both the QMJHL and the AHL, Gridin made his mark when he found his way back to the NHL late in the 2025/26 season, and with 4 goals and 12 points over the final 25 games of the season, he's flashing high end potential in the NHL.
Combined with that skill is great size and physicality as Gridin stands at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, and with comparisons to the likes of a young Nikita Kucherov, it's clear to see that the wider NHL community is starting to see what the Flames have in Gridin. If he can take a leap in 2026/27, there's a chance that Gridin could be a point-per-game level player quicker than expected, but even if he becomes a 60-point player consistently in the NHL, this was an A+ draft pick for Calgary.
Grade: A
3. Zayne Parekh (2024, No. 9 overall)
Of all the players currently in the Flames system, none have the potential of Zayne Parekh, who came into the 2025/26 season on the back of 96 and 107 point campaigns with the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League. It was a shock then when he remained on the board at No. 9 overall, and given that the Flames knew they would likely be dealing Rasmus Andersson and Mackenzie Weegar, finding a star with this offensive upside in the draft was a no-brainer.
His rookie campaign in the NHL started off rough, but down the stretch he started to find his footing, with 4 goals and 8 points over the final 20 games of the 2025/26 campaign, including a potential goal of the year in Game 82 against the Los Angeles Kings. This summer, Parekh will need to work on putting on muscle, but if he's given an opportunity like he was late in 2025/26, there's no doubting that he could show why he's going to be a star of the future in Calgary.
Grade: A
Add us as a preferred source on Google