Flames Draft Sixth Overall Pick
Calgary Flames Select Defenseman Carels, Blue Jackets Choose Forward Hemming in First Round
The Calgary Flames made the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft count, selecting defenceman Carson Carels from the Prince George Cougars on Friday night in Buffalo. It is the highest the Flames have drafted since taking Matthew Tkachuk sixth overall back in 2016, according to Calgary Sun.
Carels, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound left-shot defenceman, posted 20 goals and 53 assists in 58 games this past WHL season. He will not report to Calgary right away — he is committed to the University of North Dakota for the fall, National Post reported.
A Manitoba Farm Boy With Elite WHL Numbers
Carels grew up on a 500-cattle ranch in Cypress River, Manitoba. Scouts say that background shaped a relentless, hard-nosed game. FloHockey senior analyst Chris Peters compared him to Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy, calling him the "most complete defenseman" in the 2026 draft class, according to Calgary Herald.
His 73 points in 58 WHL games worked out to a 1.26 points-per-game rate. theScore reported that no draft-eligible WHL defenceman had averaged more than 1.20 points per game since Scott Niedermayer did it in 1990-91. Daily Faceoff analyst Steven Ellis called Carels a "premium defensive prospect" who hits like an "absolute truck."
North Dakota Path Preserves Calgary's Cap Space
Carels will head to the University of North Dakota this fall instead of jumping straight to pro hockey. North Dakota has developed top defenders like Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven. By taking the college route, Carels' entry-level contract clock does not start yet, giving Calgary extra flexibility under the salary cap, Daily Faceoff noted.
Carels said his competitiveness is what sets him apart. "I have that playoff mentality all year," he said, according to TSN. "I feel that's something that separates me."
Flames Built a Defensive Pipeline Before Draft Day
Calgary did not wait until draft night to reshape its blue line. Just three days before the draft, GM Craig Conroy traded two future first-round picks, a second-round pick, and prospect Etienne Morin to the New Jersey Devils. In return, the Flames got former second overall pick Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov, per TSN.
Calgary now has five high-pedigree young defencemen: Nemec, Zayne Parekh, Carels, Hunter Brzustewicz, and a fifth prospect. That depth raises questions about veterans like Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar, who could become trade targets in the next year or two to bring back forward help, according to Vancouver Sun.
Critics Say Flames Still Need a Top-Line Centre
Not everyone cheered the pick. Some analysts argued Calgary should have targeted a high-end centre at No. 6, pointing out that Caleb Malhotra — seen as a top pivot — went third overall to Vancouver. The Flames still lack a true No. 1 centre prospect to drive their offence long-term, per Ottawa Citizen.
There are also minor scouting concerns. Some WHL observers flagged Carels for occasional risky pinches that led to odd-man rushes against. Still, the broad consensus is that his physicality and two-way production make him a strong fit for a Flames team that has lacked a "mean streak" on the back end, LFPress reported.
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