7 Players the Calgary Flames could target with their second first-round pick

Heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, the focus for the Calgary Flames and the C of Red has been the No. 9 overall pick, where they could ultimately end up with a potential star player of the future. However, what some have forgotten is that the Flames have a second pick in the first-round, courtesy of the Vancouver Canucks and the Elias Lindholm deal.

After an incredible season in Vancouver, the Flames pick comes in at No. 28 overall, and if their first pick is going to be unpredictable, it's got nothing on this one. Overall, this draft is considered to be a relatively weak one for depth, and while their first pick could return the Flames a star, the likelihood is much lower late in the first-round.

Now, let's take a look at the back end of the first round, and take a look at 10 potential players that could be fits with the Calgary Flames when they are on the clock for the second time in the 2024 NHL Draft.

7. Leo Sahlin Wallenius

At this point, it's become very clear that the Flames are quite happy to prefer players from overseas rather than the United States after acquiring many Russian's at the trade deadline, but they've had their success with Swede's too. Now, they have the chance to add another in defenseman Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, who has drawn comparisons to 2023 first-round draft pick Axel Sandin Pellika.

Standing at 6-foot-0, he has the size to be a menace in both ends at the next level, but it's his speed and puck moving ability that makes him a future NHLer, providing the type of spark the team saw from Oliver Kylington upon his return. He hasn't quite had the production you would expect from the potential he's shown, but with time and patience, he could end up as a top-four defenseman in the NHL on a solid team if developed properly.

6. Cole Hutson

This might be a reach for the Flames, but Cole Hutson is a talented prospect that has the chance to go in the first round, but it wouldn't surprise many if he ended up landing somewhere in the second round. At 5-foot-10, Hutson doesn't fit the mold of what the Flames traditionally look for, but now is the time for them to take a swing at a high potential player on the blue line.

In 19 games for the US National Development team, Hutson didn't quite excel this past season, but at the 2024 IIHF World U-18 Championship, he was named player of the tournament after tallying an impressive 13 points in 7 games played. Ultimately, if Hutson is on the Flames board, they will likely hope he falls to them at No. 41 overall, or may trade up a few spots if he continues to fall, but if the board falls in a unique way, it wouldn't be a shocking pick.

5. Sam O'Reilly

Plenty of players coming into the draft on the back of several productive years in Europe, NCAA or in the CHL, but sometimes, we see players push their way up the draft board on the back of just one solid year, and that's exactly the situation Sam O'Reilly finds himself in. In 68 games with the CHL Champion London Knights, the winger netted 20 goals and 56 points, and with a 6-foot-1 frame, he's a very enticing prospect.

Many mock drafts have O'Reilly going in the early 20's, but if the Flames still want to stock up on wingers for the future, there's much worse picks at the No. 28 overall spot. There's still plenty of growing in effort areas for O'Reilly, but with more experience at the top level he will find that development, so while winger isn't a major need for Calgary, they still need high potential talent that O'Reilly provides.

4. Andrew Basha

The Calgary Flames may have an abundance of wingers in the organization, but they lack high-end talent, and if they want to take a swing on potential, Medicine Hat Tigers forward Andrew Basha could be an intriguing option. The 18-year old was playing alongside some elite talent in the WHL, but managed to improve his production every year, finishing this past season with an impressive 30 goals and 55 assists in just 65 games played.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing in at 184 pounds, the Flames may have pause over his size, but given the talent and the finishing ability and he could potentially be a solid piece of the future. If Calgary want to load up on more wingers, Basha would be a solid selection, but with many other needs, it would be a shock if Craig Conroy doubled down on the position with such solid prospect depth in the organization at the position.

3. Cole Beaudoin

Cole Beaudoin isn't a big name in the upcoming draft, but on paper, the Ontario native ticks plenty of boxes for the Calgary Flames front office. Standing at 6-foot-2, the center brings plenty of size and finishing ability, as he heads into the draft following an OHL career high of 28 goals with the Barrie Colts.

It's the physical side of the game that Beaudoin excels in, as he loves a battle in front of the net and around the boards, and with his ability and determination on the back check, he becomes the perfect Flames center. His ceiling likely isn't going to be as a 1C, with the middle six hopefully where he ends up, and if the Flames don't take a player down the middle at the top of the draft, they could take a major chance on Beaudoin.