24. LHD Mace'o Phillips
The 2025 NHL Draft is shaping up to be a great one for the Calgary Flames, and while all attention is paid to their first three picks, they found some potential gems in the later rounds. One of them that has gone highly overlooked is 6-foot-5, 234 pound left-shot defenseman Mace'o Phillips, who can bring some much needed grit to this Flames lineup.
While some saw him as a reach at No. 80 overall, given his agility and his size on the back end, it makes perfect sense for Craig Conroy to take a shot on him, and with 187 penalty minutes in 44 USHL games this past season, he's living up to expectations. It's highly unlikely he'll be anything more than a 6/7 on an NHL team, but that's a good position to have depth in, and if he develops in 2026/27, don't be shocked to see him playing that role for the Calgary Wranglers the following year before pushing for a role in the NHL.
23. C Jonathan Castagna
The Calgary Flames added several prospects via trade last season, but the most intriguing of all is centre Jonathan Castagna, who was the key piece in the Mackenzie Weegar trade along with three second-round picks. He didn't make his way to the NHL last season, but inked a three-year entry level contract, and if the team part ways with Ryan Strome at some point in the next 8 months, Castagna is the perfect replacement.
Playing for Cornell in the ECAC, Castagna posted 15 goals and 34 points in 34 games played while also taking home the ECAC's Defensive Forward of the Year award, something that will help ingratiate him with Ryan Huska. While his ceiling certainly isn't as high as others, he's going to get his opportunities over the next two years, and if he can contribute, there's a chance he could keep a bottom-six role for years to come.
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