2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Calgary Flames’ Top 10
Welcome back.
It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.
Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under, have played fewer than 15 games in the past season, or have not spent significant time in the NHL overall over a three-year period.
Today, we’re breaking down the Calgary Flames.
The Flames might very well have the best pipeline in hockey.
A pair of star defenders? Check. A potential top-six center? Yup! One of the best goaltending prospects in the game? You betcha. Calgary has done a good job of drafting prospects in the first round and finding some hidden gems. Ethan Wyttenbach, in particular, was one of the most exciting prospects in the game this past season. No matter what level of hockey you watched, if there was a Flames prospect involved, they were typically one of the best players in the league.
It’s still going to be a few years until the Flames are true contenders in the Western Conference, but this is a group that truly has a ton of intriguing pieces for the future, and there are already some good young core pieces in place, like Dustin Wolf and Simon Nemec.
The best days are still to come.
Biggest Strength
I really like what the team is doing defensively, mostly on the high end. I think both Carson Carels and Zayne Parekh have top-pairing potential, with both being high-end puck movers with strong hockey sense. I’m also a believer in Hunter Brzustewicz, who looked better in the NHL as the season wore on. The depth definitely falls off a bit after that, and I’m not sure there’s a single defenseman outside of the top 10 on this list with a realistic chance of making the NHL. But, man, the guys they have at the upper level are impressive. Alternatively, I like Calgary’s wing depth, with Matvei Gridin being the shining star. I could see a few others in the “Other Prospects” section carving out NHL careers, including Chase Harrington, Brennan Othmann, Aydar Suniev, and Andrew Basha.
Biggest Weakness
The Flames could definitely use some more center depth. I’m a big Cole Reschny fan, and while I’m not sure what his true ceiling is, I am convinced he’ll be a highly impactful NHLer capable of 60-plus points a season. Beyond that, I’m not sold on anyone else as a potential NHLer. Cullen Potter has experience down the middle and on the wing, but he’s smaller. Jack Hextall was a decent pick in the first round but not the one I would have taken at No. 30, given his lack of 5-on-5 production. I do find Maxmilian Curran, Theo Stockselius and Jonathan Castagna intriguing, but none is guaranteed to make the NHL. The good news? The 2027 NHL Draft is loaded with quality centers.
Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Craig Conroy
Dir. Amateur Scouting: Tod Button
Dir. of Player Development: Ray Edwards
AHL Affiliate: Calgary Wranglers
ECHL Affiliate: Rapid City Rush
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Carson Carels, LHD, 18 (University of North Dakota, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 6th overall, first round in 2026
It always felt like if the Flames were going to take a defenseman, they would try to snag the best left-handed blueliner on the board. The New York Rangers ultimately took Alberts Smits at No. 5, but I still like Carels more. He was one of the best young defenders in the CHL, and scouts love him. Carels brings that rugged, heavy-lifting mentality he and his family use on the farm right onto the ice. When you combine his elite defensive awareness, seamless two-way game, punishing physique and off-the-charts hockey IQ, you get a truly premium defensive prospect. He showed high-end flashes during the World Juniors, and he possesses every tool necessary to become a top-pairing defender one day. You won’t find many more defensemen as rounded as him in the draft, and he hits like an absolute truck. Carels is the type of prospect who’ll work his tail off no matter what, and you have to love that.
2. Zayne Parekh, RHD, 20 (Calgary Flames)
Acquired: Drafted ninth overall, first round in 2024
It was a wonky season for Parekh. He signed with the Flames before the NCAA rules came into effect. Had he not, spending a year in college would have been much more beneficial than bouncing in and out of the lineup like he did this past year. Still, I thought he had some shining moments with Calgary and put on a dominant performance at times at the World Juniors. Nobody will deny his skill with the puck, and his skating has remained a big part of his game. Defensively, Parekh is still prone to mistakes under pressure, but that’s something the Flames will continue to work on. At his best, I see a potential top-pairing, power-play quarterback, and I don’t think it’ll take him long to figure that out.
3. Cole Reschny, C, 19 (University of North Dakota, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 18th overall, first round in 2025
Reschny was one of the most impressive freshmen last season, putting up 35 points in 36 games while playing a leading role on one of the top teams in the country. Reschny’s ability to produce no matter the situation makes him so intriguing. He’s not huge, but he makes up for it with explosive speed and elusiveness, making him a tough player to contain on the rush. He’s an outstanding playmaker – legitimately one of the best outside of the NHL. Reschny is smart, competitive and has all the makings of a top-six forward in the NHL one day. Look for him to play a big role on Canada’s World Junior team this winter.
4. Matvei Gridin, RW, 20 (Calgary Flames)
Acquired: Drafted 28th overall, first round in 2024
Gridin had a fascinating season last year, splitting his time equally between the NHL and AHL. He had 30 points in the AHL and another 20 with the big club, establishing himself as a full-time contributor in the second half. Gridin is a highly skilled forward who loves to shoot from anywhere, and he’s difficult to push around. Skating was a bit of a question mark in junior, and scouts weren’t convinced he’d carry his offensive prowess to the pro ranks. But after one year in the Q, he proved he was ready for the next step. It feels like no matter the level, Gridin has proven doubters wrong, and now he looks like a genuine offensive threat for the Flames. Look for Gridin to start the year on Calgary’s top line in his first full NHL season.
5. Hunter Brzustewicz, RHD, 21 (Calgary Wranglers, AHL)
Acquired: Traded by Vancouver Canucks in 2024
Brzustewicz was a highly productive OHLer, and while his numbers were a bit softer in his second year of pro hockey, it was good to see him play in both the NHL and AHL. He finished the season with the big club, with his ice time improving in the latter stages. Brzustewicz is a skilled defender who has continued to get physically stronger, and it showed during his time in the NHL this year. I love Brzustewicz’s puck-handling, and he’s the most mobile defenseman on this list. It also feels like he got better at closing gaps and limiting own-zone mistakes the more the season wore on. I hope he gets to make the jump to full-time duty with the Flames sooner rather than later, although acquiring Simon Nemec might make it harder to crack the right side.
6. Ethan Wyttenbach, LW, 19 (Quinnipiac University, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 144th overall, fifth round in 2025
You’ve probably heard a lot about Wyttenbach in recent months, and for good reason. The 2025 fifth-rounder finished first in NCAA scoring with 59 points, which is utterly incredible for a player taken as late as he was just a few months prior. The Roslyn, N.Y., native is an undersized forward but always moving, carving his way through the ice to get into scoring situations. He has never been a high-end producer at any level – he was more productive as a freshman NCAA forward than he has been at any other point. We’ll see if Wyttenbach can sustain that, but he might end up becoming the biggest steal from the 2025 NHL Draft. As long as he continues to get quicker, he has a legit path to a middle-six role in the NHL, even as an undersized forward.
7. Tobias Trejbal, G, 18 (UMass, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 42nd overall, first round in 2026
Trejbal was my favorite goalie from the 2026 draft class. His numbers with the Phantoms were excellent, and being 6-foot-4 doesn’t hurt, either. The busier Trejbal is, the better he plays. His ability to stay calm and composed under pressure is impressive, and he has quick hands and quicker feet. Trejbal’s athleticism has gotten scouts talking, and his big frame makes him an easy project for a team willing to be patient with the UMass commit. I’ve been impressed with just about every viewing of him over the past two years. I feel like he has a legitimate chance of becoming a No. 1 goalie in the NHL.
8. Cullen Potter, C/LW, 19 (Michigan State University, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 32nd overall, first round in 2025
Potter had a good sophomore campaign at Arizona State University, registering 26 points in 24 games. I like his commitment to playing in all three zones, and he anticipates plays and gets himself where he needs to be better than most of the draft class. I think his ceiling is high, but he needs to show he can handle the physical demands of being a 5-foot-9 forward. Potter should be able to make it work, though. He battles hard and wants to win individual shifts as much as anyone. Potter will have a chance to chase a national title at MSU, and I expect him to play a big role from the get-go.
9. Samuel Honzek, LW, 21 (Calgary Wranglers, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 16th overall, first round in 2023
Injuries have plagued Honzek’s career – he was limited to just four points in 18 games this past season. So it’s hard to truly feel confident in Honzek’s game right now, beyond a more bottom-six role, which, honestly, isn’t a bad thing given his playstyle. He’s a strong puck protector who uses his 6-foot-4 frame to his advantage, and he has a powerful wrister, too. Scouts have praised his overall fitness and intensity, which allowed him to return to the NHL from training camp for the second consecutive season. If he stays healthy, Honzek can still be a decent NHLer. It just feels like a bit of an uphill battle right now given how the past few years have gone.
10. Jack Hextall, C (Michigan State University, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 30th overall, first round in 2026
Hextall was no stranger to dominant performances last season, showcasing a dynamic skill set with an endless motor. That’s what I love about his game – he won’t be a high-end producer in the NHL, but he can play a variety of roles effectively. He has a good shot, but he’s even better as a setup guy. On the power play, he doesn’t waste much time blasting shots past goalies. I also think he got better physically as the season wore on. I think he’ll be a solid support player at the next level unless he can figure out how to be more impactful at 5-on-5. That’s partly why I didn’t rank him as a first-round pick for the draft.
Other Prospects: Jonathan Castagna, C (21), Theo Stockselius, C (18), Tyson Gross, C (23), Egor Barabanov, C (20), Maxmilian Curran, C (19), Jaden Lipinski, C (21), Cade Littler, C (21), Andrew Basha, LW (20), Parker Bell, LW (22), Lucas Ciona, LW (23), Chase Harrington, LW (18), Simon Katolicky, LW (17), Yan Matveiko, LW (19), Brennan Othmann, LW/RW (23), Aydar Suniev, RW/LW (21), William Stromgren, RW/LW (23), Alan Shaikhlislamov, RW (17), Joe Iginla, RW (17), Aidan Lane, RW (19), Trevor Hoskin, RW (22), Axel Hurtig, LHD (21), Abram Wiebe, LHD (22), Maceo Phillips, LHD (19), Gavin White, RHD (23), Bode Laylin, RHD (18), Jakob Leander, RHD (19), Kirill Zarubin, G (20), Arsenii Sergeev, G (23), Yegor Yegorov, G (20)
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