The Calgary Flames made their first selection at the 2026 NHL Draft, picking left-handed defenseman Carson Carels sixth overall.

Interestingly, Carels just turned 18 three days ago on June 23, and hails from Cypress River, MB, where he works on his parents' farm, which is why he couldn't be in Buffalo for his big moment on Friday.

According to his Elite Prospects profile, Carels is a physical two-way defender who is 6-foot-2 and weighs 198 pounds. 

After three seasons in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars, he's committed to attend the University of North Dakota in the NCAA. Last season, serving as an alternate captain, Carels potted 20 goals and 73 points in only 58 games. 

Previously, he had zero-goal and six-goal campaigns, topping out at 35 points in 2024-25. During his WHL career, Carels compiled 111 points in 125 games, collected 111 penalty minutes, and finished plus-48.

Internationally, Carels debuted with Team Canada's U20 team last season, finishing with a bronze medal, complementing his bronze at the most recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup. With a stellar campaign with the Courgars, he was a WHL First Team All-Star.

When Carels became eligible for the WHL, Prince George drafted him 15th overall in 2023. 

Regarding his place in the Flames lineup, he'll join a young defensive core loaded with prospects, including Zayne Parekh, Simon Nemec, and Yan Kuznetsov, never mind the prospects on the Calgary Wranglers and Calgary Hitmen.