Flames select Tobias Trejbal No. 42 overall in 2026 NHL Draft
A large netminder has heard his name called on the draft floor.
On Saturday, the Calgary Flames selected goaltender Tobias Trejbal, 18, with the No. 42 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Heading into the draft, the No. 42 pick belonged to the Nashville Predators, but during Round 1 on Friday, they moved it and the No. 58 spot to the Carolina Hurricanes for the No. 30 selection. The Hurricanes then traded the pick to the Flames for the No. 51 and No. 68 picks.
Trejbal is considered one of the best masked prospects heading into this year’s draft. Daily Faceoff analyst Steven Ellis had the Czech netminder as his top goaltending prospect in his final rankings, 45th overall, while NHL Central Scouting had him listed as the No. 3 North American goaltender.
Trejbal was one of the top netminders in the United States Hockey League this past season. He led the Youngstown Phantoms to the best record in the league, going 30-9-3 in 42 games. He led the USHL in goals-against average (2.12), finishing second in wins and save percentage (.916), while ending up tied for third in shutouts (3). He also posted a 1.66 GAA and .896 SV% in the playoffs, though the Phantoms were shockingly eliminated by the six-seeded Madison Capitals in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Trejbal was named the league’s goaltender of the year, while also being placed on the USHL All-Rookie Team, earning First-Team All-Star honors in the process.
The Most, Czechia native hasn’t had a ton of experience on the international stage, only appearing in one game for the Czechs during the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.
Trejbal is committed to playing at the University of Massachusetts and is scheduled to join the team in the fall of 2027.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Trejbal moves exceptionally well, taking up even more net with his agility. Ellis says he has been widely considered one of the top goaltenders heading into this year’s draft.
“His numbers with the Phantoms have been excellent,” Ellis wrote. “Being 6-foot-4 doesn’t hurt, either. The stats don’t lie: 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 all of my viewings of his this year and feel confident he’ll be one of the first goalies off the board.”