Craig Conroy is about to enter his fourth NHL Draft as the general manager of the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames], assuming the duties on May 23, 2023. He inherited the role from Brad Treliving, who held only three draft picks in the 2022 NHL Draft, none of whom have reached the NHL as of the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, Conroy had a month to prepare for the 2023 NHL Draft [https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-nhl-draft-1st-round-pick-signings-tracker-345227668], with the 16th overall pick, and five more for a total of six that first year. He restocked the team's 2024 draft pool [https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhl-draft-first-round-live-tracker], selecting 10 prospects, including two first-rounders at 9th and 28th overall. In 2025, Conroy trimmed his selections [https://www.nhl.com/draft/tracker] down to eight, once again with two first-rounders at 18th and 32nd overall. Overall, the Flames general manager has made 24 selections at the NHL Draft, with 11 more on tap at this year's event, including 6th overall and eight picks in the top 68 spots. Today, many could call Conroy a veteran at the draft table, which raises the stakes with every selection he makes in Buffalo. While many will look towards the future, let's revisit his previous draft picks and catch up with where they are in 2026. 2023 NHL DRAFT Samuel Honzek (16th overall) LW/C Samuel Honzek [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/578968/samuel-honzek] made his NHL debut during the 2025-26 season, skating in 18 games, tallying two goals and four points. At the moment, he's on the Flames roster for next season, with two years remaining on his entry-level deal. Samuel Honzek (Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/eb6ef74d-31a7-41e2-ac30-d35dddce6afc.jpeg] Samuel Honzek (Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) Étienne Morin (48th overall) D Étienne Morin [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/599308/etienne-morin] became an AHL regular with the Calgary Wranglers last season, scoring his first goal and adding six assists in 42 games. He also spent seven games in the ECHL, but is going to be a lock to remain with the Wranglers in 2026-27. Aydar Suniev (80th overall) LW/RW Aydar Suniev [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/620335/aydar-suniev] earned a one-game NHL call-up in 2024-25 and has seven games of experience with the Flames, but is currently a mainstay with Wranglers. Last year, in his first full AHL campaign, he scored 16 goals in 57 games. Jaden Lipinski (112th overall) C/RW After parts of four seasons in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants, Jaden Lipinski [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/585619/jaden-lipinski]went on to play for the University of Maine in 2025-26, scoring three goals and totaling 12 points in 30 games. As of right now, he remains unsigned by the Flames, and his rights expire on July 1, 2027. Yegor Yegorov (176th overall) G Yegor Yegorov [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/691476/yegor-yegorov] is one of two netminders that Conroy has drafted, and the Russian-born puckstopper is ready to make the move to North America, committing to Miami University for the 2026-27 season. Like Lipinski, Yegorov is unsigned, but his rights remain with the organization until July 1, 2027. Future Flames Franchise Goalie? Yegorov Takes First Step Toward NHL Dream [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/48397e18-207a-4d2c-b6b3-c6b320ee65a3.jpeg] Future Flames Franchise Goalie? Yegorov Takes First Step Toward NHL Dream Russian goaltending prospect Yegor Yegorov is set to continue his development path in North America after committing to Miami University for 2026–27, adding another intriguing piece to the Calgary Flames’ growing crease pipeline. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/latest-news/future-flames-franchise-goalie-yegorov-takes-first-step-toward-nhl-dream] Axel Hurtig (208th overall) D The Swedish-born Axel Hurtig [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/640415/axel-hurtig] has found a home in Calgary, joining the WHL's Hitmen squad for the 2024-25 season and serving as team captain last year. After 35 points in 119 games in the WHL, Hurtig is getting called up and slated to be in the Wranglers' lineup for the upcoming season. 2024 NHL DRAFT Zayne Parekh (9th overall) D Zayne Parekh [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/535574/zayne-parekh] doesn't need an introduction to Flames fans. After dominating the OHL for three seasons, including 107 points in 61 games as a defenseman in 2024-25, he became an NHL regular in 2025-26 and is a core player in Calgary's rebuild. In 37 games with the Flames, the 20-year-old had four goals and nine points. Matveii Gridin (28th overall) RW/LW Matveii Gridin [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/527724/matvei-gridin] was busy in 2025-26, skating 37 games with the Wranglers and another 37 with the Flames, tallying a total of 16 goals and 50 points in his first season of professional hockey. As another key prospect in the rebuild, Gridin has two years left on his entry-level deal. Andrew Basha (41st overall) LW/RW Andrew Basha [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/677806/andrew-basha] won a Memorial Cup with the Medicine Hat Tigers, skating with the club for parts of five seasons before making his AHL debut last year. In 27 games, he had a goal and five points, and he will be a regular in the Wranglers' lineup next season. Jacob Battaglia (62nd overall) RW/LW Jacob Battaglia [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/597679/jacob-battaglia] has yet to play outside of the OHL, amassing 230 points in 265 games over the past four seasons. However, he is no longer in the Flames organization as Conroy traded the winger [https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-acquire-jacob-battaglia-in-exchange-for-brennan-othmann] to the New York Rangers in exchange for Brennan Othmann on Mar. 6, 2026. Henry Mews (74th overall) D Henry Mews [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/577193/henry-mews]' first season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan Wolverines lasted only ten games, but he managed to collect nine assists in those contests. In the OHL, he averaged 0.93 points per game with the Ottawa 67's, collecting 174 points in 188 games. He's still recovering from a knee injury and may not be ready for the 2026-27 season. Kirill Zarubin (84th overall) G Kirill Zarubin [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/747425/kirill-zarubin] continues to skate in his native Russia, serving as the starting netminder for AKM Tula in the MHL, posting a 26-13-3 record last year with a .930 SV% and 2.17 GAA. According to his Elite Prospects profile, the 20-year-old is in line for a promotion to the VHL for the upcoming campaign. Trevor Hoskin (106th overall) RW/C Trevor Hoskin [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/647938/trevor-hoskin] swapped NCAA jerseys last season, moving from Niagara University to Merrimack College. His production stayed the same, with 35 points in 39 games, a slight dip from the previous year, 39 points in 36 games. Hoskin is returning to Merrimack for the 2026-27 season. Luke Misa (150th overall) C/LW Luke Misa [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/698042/luke-misa] was a teammate of the projected No. 1 overall pick, Gavin McKenna, at Penn State University last year, where Misa, a freshman, scored 8 goals and 19 points in 37 games. After producing at almost a point-per-game pace (0.91) in the OHL, his numbers dipped down to 0.51 in the NCAA. Hunter Laing (170th overall) C/RW Hunter Laing [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/747334/hunter-laing] had his best season as a WHL skater in 2025-26, scoring 24 goals and 55 points in 64 games, the first time he surpassed 50 points in the league. Interestingly, the Flames did not retain Laing's draft picks, making him eligible for reentry in this year's draft. Eric Jamieson (Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/83e9e2db-2ea9-4192-befa-7c5988c90664.jpeg] Eric Jamieson (Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Eric Jamieson (177th overall) D Eric Jamieson [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/670790/eric-jamieson] is currently the only player drafted by Conroy to go on and win an NCAA National Championship, achieving the feat last season with the University of Denver. In addition to a championship, Jamieson was named to the NCAA (NCHC) All-Rookie Team, thanks to 18 points in 43 games with only 47 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating. 2025 NHL DRAFT Cole Reschny (18th overall) C/LW Cole Reschny [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/577070/cole-reschny] is committed to staying at the University of North Dakota and looks to improve on his six-goal, 35-point performance in 36 games last season. As a former 20-goal scorer in the WHL, he'll look to get back to double digits in his second NCAA campaign. Cullen Potter (32nd overall) C/LW Cullen Potter [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/577155/cullen-potter] will begin his third NCAA season in 2026-27, transferring to Michigan State University after two years with Arizona State. Despite a career minus-2 total, he's producing at a 0.81 points-per-game pace, with 48 points in 59 NCAA games. Cullen Potter (Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9ef99564-e620-454a-9aff-a0f540d25c73.jpeg] Cullen Potter (Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Theo Stockselius (54th overall) C/LW Theo Stockselius [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/689913/theo-stockselius], a Swedish native, has yet to skate in North America, but finally made his SHL debut in 2025-26, collecting an assist in 16 games with Djurgårdens IF. Additionally, he earned a spot on Sweden's U18 club in 2025 and, most recently, the country's U20 team in 2026. Mace'o Phillips (80th overall) D Mace'o Phillips [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/785510/mace-o-phillips] is another Flames prospect poised to take a jump in their career this season, agreeing to skate at the University of Minnesota after several seasons in the USHL. As an alternate captain with the Green Bay Gamblers, he scored one goal and had ten helpers for 11 points in 44 games. Ethan Wyttenbach (144th overall) LW/RW Ethan Wyttenbach [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/577042/ethan-wyttenbach] had a great first season in the NCAA, scoring 25 goals and 59 points with Quinnipiac University, totals slightly higher than his previous year in the USHL. At 19, he's going to return to Quinnipac for another campaign in 2026-27. Aidan Lane (176th overall) RW/LW Aidan Lane [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/577182/aidan-lane] made his NCAA debut last year with Harvard, scoring six goals and 13 points in 34 games. He's bounced around, skating in the PHC, USHL, OHL, and now the NCAA since 2024. At the time of this writing, Lane remains unsigned by the Flames, who retain his rights until 2029. A Brief Flames Stint Is Keeping Jagr's Wild Stanley Cup Final Teammate Streak Alive [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/6c6d240c-85a4-4702-9cb8-42227cec660c.jpeg] A Brief Flames Stint Is Keeping Jagr's Wild Stanley Cup Final Teammate Streak Alive Future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr has played professional hockey for 36 years, with many of his old teammates skating in the Stanley Cup Final. As the Vegas Golden Knights battle the Carolina Hurricanes, his teammate streak has reached 46 seasons. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/players/a-brief-flames-stint-is-keeping-jagrs-wild-stanley-cup-final-teammate-streak-alive] Jakob Leaner (208th overall) D Jakob Leaner [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/873260/jakob-leander] is another Swedish prospect in the Flames system, who is still skating at the U20 level in his native country. As of spring 2026, he has yet to make his SHL debut, but he reached double digits for the first time since age 16, with two goals and 12 points in 36 games. The Flames retain his rights until 2029. Yan Matveiko (18th overall) C Yan Matveiko [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/618888/yan-matveiko] made his VHL debut last year, earning an assist in his only appearance. Down in the MHL, he tallied 15 goals and 37 points in 50 games with the second-best plus/minus rating (plus-23) on Krasnaya Armiya Moskva. Like several of his 2025 draft classmates, Matveiko remains unsigned by the Flames, who maintain his rights until 2029. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How would you rank Conroy's draft history through three years? Which players are you hoping will make an impact somewhere in the organization next season? Who will be the next one to make their NHL debut with the Flames? Let us know what you think in the comments.
