2024 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings for the Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are facing one of the most important nights in franchise history when the 2024 NHL Draft takes over the Sphere in Las Vegas, and they've got more than one critical decision to make. We will see if the team can trade up with Buffalo, New Jersey, Ottawa or even Utah, but whether they do make a move or sit tight at No. 9 and No. 28, they still need to get their selections right.
With the night almost upon us, let's take one final look at the prospects looking to get their names called in the 2024 NHL Draft, and rank the prospects that the Calgary Flames would most like to land for the future of the organization at the No. 9 overall selection.
(Note, we have left out the presumed 1, 2 and 3 selections in the draft of Levshunov, Demidov and Celebrini, and will instead rank the 10 players most likely to be available with the Flames current first-round pick).
10. Cole Eiserman - F USNTDP
Cole Eiserman is one of the toughest names to predict in the upcoming draft, as he has the talent to be picked higher in the draft, but unfortunately wingers aren't as valued in a draft full of centers and defenseman. That's likely how the Flames will view Eiserman as well, as he has the talent that will translate to the NHL quickly, but with a winger group that includes Blake Coleman, Jonathan Huberdeau, Yegor Sharangovich, Andrei Kuzmenko, Martin Pospisil and others, they're all full up at the spot.
With the No. 28 overall pick, the Flames could look for a winger, but at this point Eiserman just isn't likely to be the pick, with the team having plenty more options outside of Eiserman. If they do shock the NHL world and make the pick however, they would be getting a player that has scored almost a goal a game for the U.S. National Development team, and if that is the case, they certainly won't be criticized as they need that offensive burst in their lineup.
9. Anton Silayev - D Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo
At this point, we all know the Calgary Flames front office values size, and if that remains the case, look no further than defenseman Anton Silayev, who stands at 6-foot-7, weighing 211 pounds. That doesn't mean he lacks skill, but in comparison to other players it's just not at the same level, and if any of the eight players ahead of him remain available and he's selected, it's safe to say that Flames fans would be deflated.
At 18-years of age, Silayev has one year of experience at the top level in the KHL, and while that would help his game translate to the NHL level, he just doesn't bring the star qualities the Flames are looking for. With 3 goals and 11 points on the year, the production could be there at the next level, but given the Flames past as a team that values size above everything, it would be an intriguing pick that isn't received well by the fan base.
8. Carter Yakemchuk - D Calgary Hitmen
Carter Yakemchuk is one. of the most polarizing prospects in the upcoming draft, but even with his combination of size and skill as a blue liner, not everyone is sold on his ability to make the jump to the next level. In his final year with the home town Hitmen, Yakemchuk netted 30 goals through pure skill and determination, and with his size, that can't be overlooked on a team needing young stars that can break a game wide open.
With recent reports that Calgary have up to seven defenseman on their radar heading into the draft, it's easy to expect that the Flames are open to the Alberta boy with their No. 9 overall pick, and while it wouldn't be a bad move, it wouldn't exactly be the most exciting either. Depending on how the draft board falls, this may be the obvious pick for the Flames though, even if most fans would prefer to target Yakemchuk in a situation where the team trades back into the lottery around the 12-15 mark.
7. Konsta Helenius - C Jukurit Mikkeli
Konsta Helenius is the wild card for the Calgary Flames heading into this draft, as many believe the team could even take him over some of the bigger names in the draft, with his size and experience overseas a major positive. The production in Finland wasn't quite as good as other players in the draft, but he still managed an impressive 36 points in 51 games, with his talent expected to translate to the NHL quicker than others.
While there's high expectations for Helenius at the next level, his ceiling isn't necessarily as a franchise changing player, and for teams like New Jersey, Pittsburgh and others that are built to be solid right away, he would fit in much quicker. If the Flames do target Henelius however, the belief is there that he can be a solid player for a team over a number of years, even if he isn't necessarily going to be a star in the NHL.
6. Tij Iginla - F Kelowna Rockets
Tij Iginla is the name on most lips when it comes to the Calgary Flames 2024 NHL Draft process, as it's simply tough for the organization to ignore the son of the greatest player the franchise has ever seen. On his own merit however, Iginla has risen up draft boards with his pure goal scoring ability and determination, as he has risen from the mid-teens to a potential spot in the top five, with the former Kelowna Rockets forward being linked to at least four different teams before Calgary.
One major positive of Iginla's game is his versatility, as he projects to be a center at the next level, while having the talent and the ability to play wing as well, and given the Flames current makeup, that's a major plus. The majority of mock drafts leading into the big night have predicted that the Flames will end up with Iginla, and if the top-five on this list are gone, it's certainly going to be the move for Craig Conroy.
5. Zayne Parekh - D Saginaw Spirit
When talking about offensive upside in this draft, you can't ignore Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit, who won the award for OHL's Best Defenseman of the Year in 2023-24 after an incredible campaign. It was a record year that saw Parekh notch 33 goals and an incredible 96 points, so the Flames would absolutely love to pair him with Hunter Brzustewicz, who scored 92 of his own this past season in the OHL.
Parekh, similar to other defenseman in this class needs to work on his defensive game, but with so much potential, limitations in his own zone certainly won't stop a team somewhere in the top-10 taking a chance on him. At this point it appears that team will come before the Flames, but with the team attempting to build around their blue line, adding an X factor in Parekh would be a home run move for this organization.
4. Berkly Catton - F Spokane Chiefs
Berkly Catton is a player held in high regard by the Calgary Flames fanbase, although there is a fear that the Flames could pass on him due to his size and the front office's obsession with that, even in today's game. Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing just 170 pounds, there's a chance that Catton struggles to adapt at the next level, but when talking about high ceiling's, there's few higher in this entire draft.
In 2023-24, Catton went off in the WHL, netting an amazing 54 goals and 116 points in just 68 games played, and with that type of production at the Flames biggest position of need, Catton might be the pick at No. 9. In most mock drafts, Catton is available when the Flames take the podium, so unless they find a defenseman they've fallen in love with still available, this may be the pick on June 29.
3. Sam Dickinson - D London Knights
There may be other players with more upside in this draft than Sam Dickinson, but what the London Knights prospect has is a balanced skill set that makes him easy to slot in as a future top-four defenseman at the NHL level. Despite being 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, the Ontario native doesn't sacrifice skill with his size, but unlike other players, he doesn't sacrifice a presence on the defensive end to inflate his offensive numbers.
Whether it's setting his teammates up, driving the offense to the net himself or playing a calm, patient game in his own zone, Dickinson has all the makings of a balanced top pairing defenseman, something the Flames desperately need. Calgary have added some high level prospects on their blue line, but none that stand out in the national spotlight, so if they can somehow land Dickinson in the draft, it makes their future that much brighter.
2. Zeev Buium - D University of Denver
When talking about star quality defenseman in the upcoming NHL Draft, no one stands out quite as much as Zeev Buium, who did absolutely nothing but make history during his time at the University of Denver. Buium became just the third freshman blue liner in NCAA history to tally 50 points in a single season, and he fits the exact mold that the Flames are looking for; a game-breaking offensive minded defenseman that can become a star at the level of a Cale Makar.
That's not to say Buium will turn into that caliber of player, but if the Flames want to make their selection based on potential, there's no one better in this upcoming draft on the blue line than Buium. It's highly unlikely that the Flames will be lucky enough to draft Buium, but if he slides all the way to them, they would be absolutely thrilled, as he could be the final piece of the promising blue line that Craig Conroy has built in his short time as Calgary's GM.
1. Cayden Lindstrom - C Medicine Hat Tigers
The Calgary Flames are looking for a star to lead this team into the future, and simply put, there's no one that has more tools to be that player than Medicine Hat Tigers forward Cayden Lindstrom. He has the size, the talent and the drive to be an absolute star, with the only downside being his injury history.
When healthy though, Lindstrom can score with talent, physicality and determination, and is projected to go anywhere from No. 3 overall onwards. If the Flames want to nail this draft however, this is the player that they will be praying will fall to them at No. 9, and if they can add Lindstrom, he would hopefully be the key forward that they've been missing since the departure of Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau.