Reach: Tynan Lawrence/Daxon Rudolph etc.
While there's a clear cut top 7-8 prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft, there's always a team that looks to go off the board with their pick, and if that's the Flames this season, it may involve centre Tynan Lawrence or WHL defenseman Daxon Rudolph.
If the Flames could somehow trade back into the lottery to land either player, it would be a genius move from Craig Conroy if he could pull it off, but at No. 6, this would take a galaxy brain move for the Flames to convince themselves it's a good idea. Over his three years as Flames General Manager, this is something that Conroy has easily avoided, and with at least one top-tier prospect expected to be available, this isn't likely to happen.
However, one can't rule out the possibility, and while it's very, very unlikely, it would be a move that sends shockwaves through the Flames fanbase, and not for a good reason.
Good Floor, Not Exciting: Alberts Smits
There's only one player in this tier, and in terms of players that could fall to No. 6 overall, Alberts Smits may be the most NHL ready of the group, as many believe his physical traits and his experience at the highest level in Finland and Germany sets him up well for immediate success in the NHL.
However, that doesn't make him a very exciting pick, as his offensive ceiling is quite low, but considering he plays a bruising, safe style on the left side of the defense, he would definitely fill a need for Calgary. At 6-foot-3, Smits knows how to use his size effectively, but in 38 games in the SM-Liiga last season, he had just 6 goals and 13 points, showing his offensive upside is limited.
Ultimately, if the top-five is McKenna, Stenberg, Malhotra, Carels and Verhoeff, the Flames would have a choice to make between Smits and Chase Reid, and in that case, Smits could be an understandable pick, but if any of the players left on this list are available, it's safe to say that this pick would be highly underwhelming.
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