The Calgary Flames have been moving towards a rebuild for a number of years now, and recently, they've been openly talking about it, with GM Craig Conroy revealing that in free agency, the team won't be too active as they continue building for the future.
While the trade market, potential offer sheets and development will be key to the future, nothing is more important than the draft, and after solid classes in both 2024 and 2025, it's safe to say that 2026 will be even more important. Currently, the team hold picks No. 6, 28 (could be anywhere from 28-31), 35, 36, 51, 55 and 65, giving them seven selections in the first two rounds (and one pick).
Right there, that is plenty of ammunition for the Flames to add to a very good prospect cupboard, but recently, there's been rumblings that the team could be looking to make a blockbuster move up in the draft. That has now been confirmed on the latest episode of Daily Faceoff Live, with NHL Insider David Pagnotta noting that the team are being aggressive in pursuing one of the top five picks in the 2026 draft.
The Flames are looking to move up at the draft https://t.co/ghHICVBWxO
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 24, 2026
Right now, the two most obvious trade partners for Calgary are San Jose and Chicago, and if either can give the team an opportunity to land Ivar Stenberg, it makes sense for Conroy to explore that opportunity. Currently, the team's first pick is at No. 6, and if moving up costs too much to make sense, the Flames could no doubt stay at six and select the best player available, but to make a rebuild successful, a team needs stars.
Sure, they don't all come in the top two or three picks, but with the emergence of Matthew Schaefer and Macklin Celebrini to follow the success of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and many before them, it certainly helps. Ultimately, this is a Flames team that needs a star down the middle and needs help on the left side of their blue line, and while Stenberg doesn't fix any of those, he could be a star for years to come, something the Flames need more than anything.
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