Previewing the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery for the Calgary Flames
By Nathan Smith
The Calgary Flames are heading into yet another crucial off-season with plenty of questions to answer, and on Tuesday, those questions could be made easier or much, much harder. That’s because the NHL’s annual draft lottery is taking place on Tuesday at 4.30 PM MT, where the Flames will learn their fate for the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
So what does the draft lottery look like for the Flames?
5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick
Despite the poor 2023-24 season the Flames had, they won some tough games down the stretch, thus allowing teams like Seattle, Ottawa and Arizona/Utah to pass them on the board, leaving the Flames with a 5% chance at moving all the way up to No. 1 overall. Moving up that far would allow Calgary to land Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini, a dream that many Flames fans had when the struggles began this season, but ultimately, it would take a minor miracle for this to occur.
With the ninth best odds in the lottery, the Flames have a 64.4 percent chance at landing the No. 9 overall pick, and while they would still have a chance at landing some very solid names at that position, it’s safe to say that the fan base would see that as a disappointment.
Who will be available at No. 9 overall?
Given his recent performances, it’s no surprise that many Flames fans are looking at Tij Iginla and the potential for him to carry on the family name in Calgary, but if he goes before then, the team still have an opportunity to land a potentially elite player. As of right now, Tankathon.com have the Flames drafting Calgary Hitmen defenseman Carter Yakemchuk with their pick, with Iginla going two picks later to the Buffalo Sabres, with Berkeley Catton, Zeev Buium and other top names expected.
Calgary Flames fans should also be keeping an eye on teams like Buffalo, New Jersey and Utah, as they have been noted as potential trade partners for Jacob Markstrom, meaning the next few months could define this organization going forward.
Flame for Thought will have all coverage of the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, the 2024 NHL Draft and everything that happens over the summer, so make sure to stay tuned for all your Calgary Flames news and updates.