Great Player, Exciting Outcome: Keaton Verhoeff/Carson Carels
If the Flames remain at No. 6 overall in the draft, they will have the chance to draft a very good player, and for the most part, the popular pick beyond the sphere of Calgary is North Dakota blue liner Keaton Verhoeff. During the 2025/26 season, there were some that considered him a potential No. 1 overall pick in this draft, and while he's been overtaken once more since then, he's still an appealing prospect with good production (6G, 20P, 34GP) and great size (6-foot-4, 208-pounds) at just 17-years-old.
The only potential issue with Verhoeff is that he plays the same position as Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewics and Henry Mews, three of the Flames most exciting young players. That shouldn't hold them back, and while he's not our preferred choice, fans should be incredibly excited if he was the pick.
As for Carels, it's much of the same, except he's a much better positional fit playing LHD, and with an incredible 73 points in 58 games for Prince George in the WHL, he may even have more offensive upside. The issue with Carels is that he's likely not going to make it to the Flames, with the New York Rangers heavily linked to the 18-year-old, but given his relationship with Parekh, his offensive upside and his physical presence, he'd be the perfect LHD of the future.
If the Flames take either, fans would be over the moon, but in terms of potential, Carels may be the most exciting prospect that could be available for Calgary at No. 6 overall.
Best (Likely) Outcome, Key Piece of the Future: Viggo Bjorck
Fans and analysts have been debating who is the perfect player for the Calgary Flames at No. 6 overall since the draft lottery, and while that debate rages on, Viggo Bjorck is quickly emerging as a fan favourite selection. While the height definitely scares plenty of people at 5-foot-9, Bjorck has the physical tools and the strength to overcome it, as he showed up against Team Canada and some of the worlds best at the IIHF World Championship.
When given the opportunity in the SHL, Bjorck showed what he can do, posting 6 goals and 15 points over 42 games before dominating the playoffs at the junior level, tallying 8 goals and 20 points across just 9 games. There's always going to be risk drafting a player of his size in the lottery, but given his hockey IQ, the skillset and the cerebral play, the Flames will be kicking themselves if he's available at No. 6 overall and they end up passing on him.
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