Theo Stockselius was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the second round, 54th overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft. Just over a week ago, he reached another milestone on his road to the NHL when he made his SHL debut for Djurgården.

But the path to both the draft and the SHL has not always been a straight one for Stockselius. At just 15 years old, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. In an interview with Swedish outlet Aftonbladet, Stockselius opened up about his battle back and the role hockey has played in his recovery.

So, Justin Kirkland is wearing number 23 for the Flames this season. Cue the head tilts and “Wait… really?” reactions from fans everywhere. Nothing against Kirkland, the guy’s got a slick little shootout move (seriously, it works like 75% of the time) and he’s looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued year. That being said, number 23 isn’t just any number in Calgary.

It carries some weight.

Calgary Flames second-round draft pick Theo Stockselius has been selected to represent Sweden in the U-20 5-Nations Tournament in Chomutov, Czechia from Aug. 28-31.

Born on August 13, 1993, in Salem, New Jersey, Gaudreau grew into one of the most electrifying players the game has ever seen. Small in stature but huge in talent, “Johnny Hockey” made a name for himself with his quick hands, dazzling edgework, and vision that could change a game in a heartbeat.

From lighting it up at Boston College to bursting onto the scene with the Calgary Flames, Gaudreau quickly became a fan favorite. Flames faithful assuredly still get chills remembering his overtime winner against the Dallas Stars in Round 1, Game 7 in 2022.

Joel Farabee isn’t necessarily a household name in Calgary yet, but that could change this season.

The 25-year-old winger enters his first full season with the Flames after a deadline deal that sent Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and draft picks to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Farabee and Morgan Frost. It was a youth-focused move with upside in mind.

Drafting is an art, a science, and a game of chance all rolled into one. Scouting is vital to any organization’s success, and while the first round offers up many superstars and generational talents… it’s those later-round gems that can be like found money if they hit.

Here are five standout examples of the Flames’ late-round gems in franchise history:

The Flames' prospect pool is jam-packed with current and former WHLers. Calgary already drafted Andrew Basha, Axel Hurtig and Hunter Laing before adding Cole Reschny during the 2025 NHL Draft. Jordan Switzer was also invited to this year's development camp, adding yet another WHLer to the mix.