2026 Team Board Mock Draft

[Hasbro]

Back by popular demand (one Dm anyway)

A series of 1 day polls for the forthcoming draft. Picks will be decided by vote.

Please only vote if you are a Flamer.

Links to the individual threads on the player names.

Mother thread on prospects board


1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

2. Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)


3. Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda (SHL)


4 . Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)



5. Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)


6. ??????

 

[BigRangy]

Bjorck!

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

I fully expect us to take Verhoeff if Carels is off the table. There isn't another prospect in this draft that the Flames brass is remotely close to as familiar with.

 

[Yepthatsme]

I fully expect us to take Verhoeff if Carels is off the table. There isn't another prospect in this draft that the Flames brass is remotely close to as familiar with.

Familiarity does not equal likelihood to draft. It means they’ll have the most informed opinion, whether that means to draft or if they have him ranked lower or prefer to stay away.

Also, if Verheoff is viewed at all as being on a similar level as another prospect, you have to believe they avoid the RD. Our U24 org chart would be hilarious

RD: Parekh, Verheoff*, Brzustewicz, Mews
LD: Morin, Wiebe

C: Reschny, Stockselius, Curran
LW: Gridin, Potter, Honzek, Wyttenbach, Basha
RW:

Please just take the C/RW if it’s close.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Familiarity does not equal likelihood to draft. It means they’ll have the most informed opinion, whether that means to draft or if they have him ranked lower or prefer to stay away.

Also, if Verheoff is viewed at all as being on a similar level as another prospect, you have to believe they avoid the RD. Our U24 org chart would be hilarious

RD: Parekh, Verheoff*, Brzustewicz, Mews
LD: Morin, Wiebe

C: Reschny, Stockselius, Curran
LW: Gridin, Potter, Honzek, Wyttenbach, Basha
RW:

Please just take the C/RW if it’s close.

Parekh played his best hockey on LD at the end of the season. It gives him more options with his stick in the middle of the ice. Parekh and Verhoeff would be an elite top pair. Parekh and Reid probably wouldn’t work together because they are both more the guys you want with the puck.

Also, Gridin and Coronato are primarily RW, and Basha is miles away from being an NHLer in my viewings.

I have no problem with Bjork. I really like him, he’s a top 7 talent in this draft. I just don’t think having him and Reschny as our top 2 Cs is the way to build a team. I will be dissapointed if Carels, McKenna, Stenberg or Malholtra aren’t a Flame at the end of the day. But I won’t be upset if we pick Bjork or Verhoeff.

Also, I think people are forgetting how young Verhoeff is. He’s nearly eligible for next draft. Big guys tend to take longer to develop. I would hate to pass on him and watch him turn into the next Pietrangelo.

 

[Lunatik]

I fully expect us to take Verhoeff if Carels is off the table. There isn't another prospect in this draft that the Flames brass is remotely close to as familiar with.

MacBeath? He won't go until late 1st/early second, but I bet they have seen him and Amrheim more than anyone else.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

MacBeath? He won't go until late 1st/early second, but I bet they have seen him and Amrheim more than anyone else.

Why? because he's from Calgary and played for the Hitmen? Iggy coached Verhoeff his entire time at RINK and even made him the captain, and then Verhoeff went and joined the NCAA team we've had the most scouts monitor this season. Because Iggy is a special advisor for our FO I count him as part of the Flames brass. My gut says that connection will play a big role in our decision come draft day. I still prefer Carels, but I don't think we can go wrong at all with Verhoeff. They both provide in nearly all the areas Zayne's game lacks and to me that can't be overlooked. We've seen that Zayne can play on the left side too so taking a RHD isn't a big deal to me.

 

[Lunatik]

Why? because he's from Calgary and played for the Hitmen? Iggy coached Verhoeff his entire time at RINK and even made him the captain, and then Verhoeff went and joined the NCAA team we've had the most scouts monitor this season. Because Iggy is a special advisor for our FO I count him as part of the Flames brass. My gut says that connection will play a big role in our decision come draft day. I still prefer Carels, but I don't think we can go wrong at all with Verhoeff. They both provide in nearly all the areas Zayne's game lacks and to me that can't be overlooked. We've seen that Zayne can play on the left side too so taking a RHD isn't a big deal to me.

I have little doubt we take him if available, but let's be realistic here, proximity in seeing players makes it easier and when basically all you have to do is look out the window of your office, you will see guys more. But seeing more doesn't mean liking more... while seeing someone more can mean you see more things you like, you also can find more things you don't like. And let's not pretend like would have seen Verhoeff more than all the other hockey ops staff combined saw guys in their own backyard.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Voted Verhoeff, hoping he'll be a cornerstone piece for 10+ years.
But man, do I want a center.

 

[Volica]

Also, I think people are forgetting how young Verhoeff is. He’s nearly eligible for next draft. Big guys tend to take longer to develop. I would hate to pass on him and watch him turn into the next Pietrangelo.

Of all prospects, Verhoeff did himself the biggest draft disservice going to the NCAA as a really young 17 year old. If he stayed in Victoria I think the talk around him would be different, I think he’d be the top 3 lock he started the year as. I also think he has to deal with the anti-hockey-guy-hockey-people stuff; it seems more and more this forum and X simply dislikes big guys in preference for small skill; we get it, short kings.

Calgary Flames fans also have absolutely battered spouse syndrome in terms of centres. Nothing against Björck whom I do like as a prospect, if he was a LW/RW we wouldn’t be talking about him at all.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Of all prospects, Verhoeff did himself the biggest draft disservice going to the NCAA as a really young 17 year old. If he stayed in Victoria I think the talk around him would be different, I think he’d be the top 3 lock he started the year as. I also think he has to deal with the anti-hockey-guy-hockey-people stuff; it seems more and more this forum and X simply dislikes big guys in preference for small skill; we get it, short kings.

Calgary Flames fans also have absolutely battered spouse syndrome in terms of centres. Nothing against Björck whom I do like as a prospect, if he was a LW/RW we wouldn’t be talking about him at all.

So did Lawrence, McKenna during the first half, Hemming. Interested to see how Morozov and Valentini turn out. Don’t know how many draft eligible we see try to play NCAA after this season. Going there in the draft + 1 is a great idea though.

Verhoeff was nearly point per game the first 20 games of the season. Which is crazy for a draft eligible D. I can’t think of anyone other than Levshunov to do that, and he was almost a whole year older than Verhoeff. I also really liked him at the WJC as the tournament went on. He just has a really high IQ. He definitely needs to get faster, but I don’t buy the ‘weak skater’ narrative. He’s a good skater who needs more foot speed. He lost a few races to guys that were 6 years older than him and now apparently he’s slow.

I actually really like Bjork too. I watched every game of him at the WJC, he was arguably the best player in that tournament. If we do pick him, I think it’s because we are convinced he’s a future first line no questions asked.

 

[Yepthatsme]

Parekh played his best hockey on LD at the end of the season. It gives him more options with his stick in the middle of the ice. Parekh and Verhoeff would be an elite top pair. Parekh and Reid probably wouldn’t work together because they are both more the guys you want with the puck.

Also, Gridin and Coronato are primarily RW, and Basha is miles away from being an NHLer in my viewings.

I have no problem with Bjork. I really like him, he’s a top 7 talent in this draft. I just don’t think having him and Reschny as our top 2 Cs is the way to build a team. I will be dissapointed if Carels, McKenna, Stenberg or Malholtra aren’t a Flame at the end of the day. But I won’t be upset if we pick Bjork or Verhoeff.

Also, I think people are forgetting how young Verhoeff is. He’s nearly eligible for next draft. Big guys tend to take longer to develop. I would hate to pass on him and watch him turn into the next Pietrangelo.

Huska played Joel Hanley as a top 4 defenseman for a season instead of just moving Weegar back to LD which he played here and also most of his time in Florida because he’s a right shot. I’ll believe he keeps Parekh on the left side when it happens for a season, he’s made a habit now of switching things up in the last month or two, getting results, then reverting next season. Same with Gridin, he’s naturally a RW but being a left shot has mostly been utilized at LW. I did forget Coronato though, that was an oversight.

Also you fell in love with Morin because he played extremely good in juniors in is draft +2, then dismiss Basha because he was sent back to play in his draft +2? Basha was an overager, but only 4 months older than Morin and had lost development time the previous season.

Verheoff and Parekh would be like water and oil mind you. Verheoff’s decision making is no where near steady enough to be a guy who’s Parekh’s defensive conscious, and you’d be asking him to play the safe game instead of his own which just neuters his value regardless.

As for Bjorck, I don’t see how we should avoid drafting for need and add a defenseman to an extremely young defense core, but we should draft for need and avoid small centres. Players can be shifted from centre to wing, and we still have time to draft a larger C. Calgary is bereft of high end talent, and Bjorck has it spades over anyone not named McKenna or Stenberg in this draft. Calgary can’t afford to skip skill at this stage.

 

[Darth Vladar]

Voted Verhoeff, hoping he'll be a cornerstone piece for 10+ years.
But man, do I want a center.

Begrudgingly took Björck for that very reason. If Carels is gone, we take the BCA, and pray to the hockey gods for DuPont next year.

 

[Mobiandi]

Of all prospects, Verhoeff did himself the biggest draft disservice going to the NCAA as a really young 17 year old. If he stayed in Victoria I think the talk around him would be different, I think he’d be the top 3 lock he started the year as. I also think he has to deal with the anti-hockey-guy-hockey-people stuff; it seems more and more this forum and X simply dislikes big guys in preference for small skill; we get it, short kings.

Calgary Flames fans also have absolutely battered spouse syndrome in terms of centres. Nothing against Björck whom I do like as a prospect, if he was a LW/RW we wouldn’t be talking about him at all.

Bjorck is the centre that many Flames fans (myself included) would be begging to take if we were in the 10-16 range we typically find ourselves in. Kinda how we were hoping for Cootes, and had to ‘settle’ for Reschny, Parekh instead of Catton, Honzek instead of Yager, Coronato instead of Sillinger.

It sucks that we dropped two places, but 6 is still high enough that we should be shooting for elite, gamebreaking talent. I think Bjorck is a great player, and we’d be salivating if he fell to us at, like pick 9 or 10. Marco Rossi got drafted around there and he might be one of the most disrespected centres in the league. Not his fault, but you don’t win championships with those guys spearheading your offense.

Also it’s the Flames. They’d chuck him on the LW immediately and call it a day. They’re decades behind other organizations in developing players down the middle

I wouldn’t overthink this one. If Verhoeff is there, you take him.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Huska played Joel Hanley as a top 4 defenseman for a season instead of just moving Weegar back to LD which he played here and also most of his time in Florida because he’s a right shot. I’ll believe he keeps Parekh on the left side when it happens for a season, he’s made a habit now of switching things up in the last month or two, getting results, then reverting next season. Same with Gridin, he’s naturally a RW but being a left shot has mostly been utilized at LW. I did forget Coronato though, that was an oversight.

Also you fell in love with Morin because he played extremely good in juniors in is draft +2, then dismiss Basha because he was sent back to play in his draft +2? Basha was an overager, but only 4 months older than Morin and had lost development time the previous season.

Verheoff and Parekh would be like water and oil mind you. Verheoff’s decision making is no where near steady enough to be a guy who’s Parekh’s defensive conscious, and you’d be asking him to play the safe game instead of his own which just neuters his value regardless.

As for Bjorck, I don’t see how we should avoid drafting for need and add a defenseman to an extremely young defense core, but we should draft for need and avoid small centres. Players can be shifted from centre to wing, and we still have time to draft a larger C. Calgary is bereft of high end talent, and Bjorck has it spades over anyone not named McKenna or Stenberg in this draft. Calgary can’t afford to skip skill at this stage.

I’ll admit I thought Morin would be way better than he was. He played very well in the last ten games or so. I wouldn’t count him out just yet.

As for Verhoeff’s IQ, I disagree 100%. I think his IQ is his best trait. That and his bomb from the point I think adds an element we don’t have.

I think we obviously need F more, but we have Wyttenbach, Potter, Gridin, Reschny, Honzek, Farabee and Frost as good youngish top 9 options. I am not 100% sold on anyone outside of Bahl and a Parekh as top 4 D at this point. Like I said, if we pick Bjork because we are convinced he’s a first liner, then I am fine with that. I just think you are vastly underselling Verhoeff (and Carels who I think can become a 1D caliber player).

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

I’ll admit I thought Morin would be way better than he was. He played very well in the last ten games or so. I wouldn’t count him out just yet.

As for Verhoeff’s IQ, I disagree 100%. I think his IQ is his best trait. That and his bomb from the point I think adds an element we don’t have.

I think we obviously need F more, but we have Wyttenbach, Potter, Gridin, Reschny, Honzek, Farabee and Frost as good youngish top 9 options. I am not 100% sold on anyone outside of Bahl and a Parekh as top 4 D at this point. Like I said, if we pick Bjork because we are convinced he’s a first liner, then I am fine with that. I just think you are vastly underselling Verhoeff (and Carels who I think can become a 1D caliber player).

Exactly. If management believes he can be a legitimate 1C then by all means draft him. I personally don't see his ceiling as that high. I think he can be a very good 2C.

I think people arguing we should take Bjorck over Verhoeff because DuPont is in next year's draft are no being remotely realistic. With the mess that Vancouver is in, the odds of us finishing below them are very low. So at best we are looking at 2nd last odds to with the lotto. Next year's draft is stacked down the middle

 

[Fig]

I think I trade down...

Y'all might be like...

 

[BigRangy]

surprised no votes for Smits

 

[Fig]

surprised no votes for Smits

Because the player we truly want is

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

surprised no votes for Smits

I would say the one vote on Cullen is more shocking.

 

[Hasbro]

Bjorck in a close one.

 

[scoringmachine]

I fully expect us to take Verhoeff if Carels is off the table. There isn't another prospect in this draft that the Flames brass is remotely close to as familiar with

No one knows who the Flames brass are familiar with and besides Mckenna and Stenberg I personally do not know anyone in the draft. Lots of talk that the Flames should pull a Vancouver Canuck and pick the Ruck twins. Like Vancouver did with the Sedin twins. Like last year I did not know anyone in the draft and by the end it looked like we did well in the first two rounds.

 

[Lunatik]

No one knows who the Flames brass are familiar with and besides Mckenna and Stenberg I personally do not know anyone in the draft. Lots of talk that the Flames should pull a Vancouver Canuck and pick the Ruck twins. Like Vancouver did with the Sedin twins. Like last year I did not know anyone in the draft and by the end it looked like we did well in the first two rounds.

The f*** are you talking about?

We know with 100% certainty the Flames are extremely familiar with Verhoeff for multiple reasons.

1. He was on a team with 3 other Flames prospects this season. Including our top 1st rounder from last year.
2. Verhoeff was in the conversation with Stenberg and McKenna until fairly late in the season, so every team will be very familiar with him. He was also teammates with Reschny in Victoria, meaning they would have seen him a ton in 2024-25 as well.
3. Verhoeff played for Jarome Iginla for 2 years in Kelowna. Iggy is literally a member of our management group.

We've basically had someone watching him since the start of the 2022-23 season.