10. Henry Mews
Last season, Henry Mews was expected to break out at the NCAA level, and across 10 games at the University of Michigan, he had 9 assists and a +5 differential, showing the playmaking ability that made the Flames so happy to land him in the third-round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Unfortunately, he suffered a season ending injury, but at 20-years-old, he's got plenty of time to recover and develop, and with a mature game, he has the ability to make the jump to the AHL after the 2026/27 NCAA season.
With the talent around him at Michigan, this season will be the perfect way to set Mews up for a successful future at the NHL level, and with an 82-point campaign in the OHL also under his belt, there's no denying just how good Mews can be.
At 6-foot-0, 188 pounds, he's got enough size to be effective in the NHL, and while not all of the offensive minded defenseman in the Flames organization can become full-time players at the top level, don't be shocked to see Mews get given every opportunity possible to succeed in the years to come.
9. Jack Hextall
The Calgary Flames have made six selections in the first round of the past few NHL Drafts, and in the next 12 months, five of them will be in the NHL with Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin likely to be joined by Cole Reschny, Cullen Potter and Carson Carels.
The sixth player in that eqaution is Jack Hextall, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and while his upside isn't as high as others in the prospect pool, he certainly has the talent to be, at worst, a middle-six forward at the next level. Last season with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, Hextall posted 20 goals and 58 points in 59 games played, and in 2026/27, he'll take a step up in competition as he's set to play for Michigan State alongside Potter.
Hextall isn't the biggest body at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, but he has more than enough size to compete at the next level, and this season, he'll need to improve his overall game speed, and if he can do that, the defensive responsibilities and playmaking will get him some game time in the NHL before the end of the 2028/29 season.
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