2026 NHL Draft: Five Prospects the Calgary Flames Should Consider at No. 6

The Calgary Flames are slated to select sixth overall at the upcoming NHL Draft on June 26-27.

Assuming a mock draft scenario where Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, and Caleb Malhotra have already been selected, an intriguing prospect pool still remains. Here are five players the Flames should be targeting, (if they are available), at number six.

Keaton Verhoeff (D) – Slated early on as a top-three pick, Verhoeff would be a strong addition if he falls to six. As a 17-year-old freshman with North Dakota, he posted 20 points (6g, 14a) in 36 games and added international experience with Team Canada at the 2026 World Juniors (four assists in five games). Adding a player with his size, skill, and familiarity with other Flames prospects - Abram Wiebe, Cole Reschny, and Zayne Parekh - bodes well for a long-term fit.

Viggo Bjork (C) – While most chatter has focused on fellow Swede Ivar Stenberg, Viggo Bjork would be a significant selection for the Flames. Listed at 5’9", 177 lbs, this young pivot provides exactly what the Flames need: a top-six centre capable of changing a game with offence, tenacity, and a solid two-way game, including penalty-kill reliability. If Bjork is wearing the flaming ‘C’ after the draft dust settles, Flames fans should be very pleased.

Carson Carels (D) – Another promising blueliner, Carels is headed to North Dakota next season, which will be beneficial for his development. Although Chase Reid may have surpassed him in some mock drafts, Carels could be a steal at six. He is projected to be a top-pair defenceman and a nice complement to Parekh; while both shoot left, they could form a strong one-two punch in the Flames’ top-four pairings.

Tynan Lawrence (C) – The Flames need top-end talent up the middle. Despite the draft pool being defence-heavy, Tynan Lawrence from Boston University (NCAA) is a strong option. At 6'0", 185 lbs, he has the build for an NHL middleman. As one of the youngest players in NCAA men’s hockey last season, he posted seven points (2g, 5a) in 18 games. While he has room to grow offensively at the college level, he made an impact at the 2026 U18’s for Team Canada, notching six points (2g, 4a) in five games.

Alberts Smits (D) – In picking the best player available, the Flames might land on Smits. He is a physical blueliner who increased his stock at the World Juniors as a standout for Team Latvia and joined the Latvian Olympic team in Milano Cortina. He has the tools and is gaining the experience needed to transition quickly from prospect to pro.

The Flames have plenty of draft capital in multiple first round picks, even more second round selections, and are more than likely going to try and leverage those assets.

Could they move up? It remains to be seen, but it all depends on what happens ahead of them in the draft, and picking the player that is best available. Craig Conroy and the Flames will need to be ready to pounce.