The Calgary Flames missed the playoffs the past two seasons, but this upcoming offseason will be a crucial one for the franchise, as they have a major trade chip in Jacob Markstrom and many picks early in the draft to improve the franchise’s prospect pool and grow a juggernaut in the future through the draft. At the 2024 NHL Draft, the Calgary Flames will have the chance to add to their solid prospect pool, as the Flames have two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks, and two 3rd round picks; Calgary also has two 4th round picks and a 6th round pick as well. The Flyers have 6 picks in the first three rounds, and 3 picks in rounds 4-6 for a total of 9 draft picks in the 2024 Draft. Calgary has the 9th overall pick in the Draft.
Related: 2024 NHL Mock Draft Philadelphia Flyers
9. Tij IGINLA (RW/C), 6’0/185, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
When your dad is in the Hockey Hall of Fame, it can be hard to emerge from his shadow. Jarome Iginla was renowned for the intensity and work ethic he brought to every game, leading to the unofficial title as the last of the great power forwards. He was also a talented goal-scorer, and despite leaving the team over a decade ago, he still holds the Calgary Flames’ record for the most career goals and most career points. It is only fitting for the Calgary Flames to draft his son Tij if he should be available when it is time to for them to draft. Tij finished his draft season with 47 goals and 84 points in 64 games, surpassing Jarome’s 1994-95 totals by 14 goals and 13 points. While his father blended physicality with a good shot, Iginla has shown much better skill with the puck. He has an incredibly quick release that can pack a lot of power, and he can fire the puck from any angle. On top of a strong shot, Iginla also has very soft hands, and the control he shows with the puck is just a fraction lower than elite puck-handlers like Berkly Catton. He can move the puck so quickly between his sticks that opponents are left stumbling, which he uses to create space for either himself or a teammate for a scoring opportunity. Iginla is a strong skater, he is strong on his skates, allowing him to get the most out of his edges. He can change direction in a fraction of a second and still have enough momentum to pull off the same move two or three more times. Watching Iginla cycle through the neutral zone or seeing him pick up a loose puck and pass it to a teammate in one fluid movement hints at the high level of intelligence he has at his disposal. Iginla is all but guaranteed to go in the top half of the 2024 Draft, but how high is another question. He’s been one of the fastest-rising prospects, and there’s little that he can’t do, which has been on full display in the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs. Already, he has six goals and 22 shots in four games, including a hat trick in Game 1. Iginla will slide in easily to a top-six spot in the future. He already has plenty of pro habits, and as he continues to build strength, he’ll become a dangerous sniper who will be impossible to knock off the puck. Although he is listed as a center, Tij Iginla should excel as a top 6 goal-scoring winger in the NHL, which is exactly what the Calgary Flames need.
28. ADAM JIRICEK (D), 6’2/168, HC Plzen (Czechia)
Heading into 2023-24, Adam Jiricek was being mentioned alongside top-10 locks Artyom Levshunov and Sam Dickinson. Now, he’s dropped to the top 20 in a few rankings and could end up being a steal for a team that is on track to make the playoffs this season. This drop is not based on performance, though, as he’s been injured since the first game of the 2024 World Juniors. After having surgery on his knee shortly after, he has also been ruled out of the 2024 U18 World Championship, yet another showcase event for scouts to further evaluate the top prospects. Basically, all scouts have is video and live viewings from the first few months of the regular season in Czechia and the Hlinka Gretzky tournament last summer where he was one of Team Czechia’s best players. Jiricek is still a high-end talent with the potential to become a solid top-four (or even top-pairing) defenseman in the future. His strengths lie in his size, skating, mobility, and first pass. Similar to his brother David, who was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022, he is a well-rounded two-way player that can be used in all situations from the power play to the penalty kill and everywhere in between. He isn’t shy about taking the body either. Once he bulks up and fills into his 6-foot-2 frame, he is going to be a scary presence when opponents try and enter the offensive zone against him. It’s great to have a big shot, but if it doesn’t make it to the goaltender, it’s kind of useless. Getting shots through traffic is a skill in itself, and for it to be a legitimate weapon in the future, he has to work on that aspect of it. Another weakness of Jiricek’s is his skating style. While he has good acceleration and mobility, it sometimes looks awkward as he moves up the ice. But with some work with a skating coach, that can be easily ironed out in the future. All in all, he has a massive ceiling as a modern defensive defenseman that is good all-around, can move the puck and provides solid no-nonsense play in their own zone. The Injury might be enough to drop him into the late 20s as other teams may choose to select players that had better showing in their draft year. Adam Jiricek’s ceiling is that of a top-4 defenseman in the NHL, and will mostly be used in a shutdown-type role at first. Adding a defenseman like Adam Jiricek really boosts Calgary’s defense,
and it might not take long for him to make the roster.
41. Lucas PETTERSSON (C), 5’11/172, Modo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell)
Lucas Pettersson is a Swedish forward who played for MoDo Hockey J20 “A” in the J20 Nationell, scoring 27 goals and 57 points in 44 games. He also played in five games for MoDo’s senior team in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) but did not total any points. He fared very well internationally at the U18 level, scoring 22 points in 18 games for Team Sweden. It sure seems Pettersson has a knack for scoring goals, and he has a variety of ways of doing so. He can score off the rush, but he’ll also go to dirty areas and knock home rebounds or loose pucks into the back of the net. Pettersson has good hand-eye coordination and has shown he can score off redirects, but his shot is also quite good. The next thing that stands out about Pettersson is his skating. He’s an excellent skater who plays with pace, which allows him to excel off the rush. His hockey sense is another standout feature, as he makes good decisions with the puck offensively. But his hockey sense also allows him to be a sound two-way center. Even though Pettersson’s shot is better than his playmaking, he’s still a good facilitator and does a good job setting up his teammates for quality scoring chances. Part of that comes from his hockey sense and pace, which allow him to see and think the game faster than his opponents. He is one of the smartest players coming out of Sweden this year. He always keeps his head on a swivel to be aware of his surroundings and oncoming opponents. This allows him to be fully aware of where his teammates are so he can attract coverage and then deliver passes to open areas and create high-danger shots Pettersson is a first-round talent, but his size may turn some teams away from drafting him in the first round, thus making him an early 2nd round pick. Lucas Pettersson should be a great two-way center in the NHL, more likely settling into a role as a 2nd line center, as he doesn’t have the consistency to be a first-line center. Landing a solid two-way center like Lucas Pettersson in the second round would be huge for the Calgary Flames, who will need centers down the road.
62. Christian HUMPHREYS (C), 5’11/170, US National U18 Team (NTDP)/USNTDP Juniors (USHL)
Spending his final two seasons before entering the draft with the USNTDP, Christian Humphries has shown strong growth. When he first started with the program, he struggled, especially away from the puck. Now, he regularly plays as the top-line center and has established a strong two-way game. He has taken up the first line center spot alongside for the USA National Development Team, he has excelled as an offensive threat using his read-and-react abilities and quickness to transition from defense to offense. Humphreys has a high hockey IQ and anticipates extremely well, is an effortless skater who always has extra gear when needed and uses speed and excellent edges to create transition opportunities. He also plays a solid 200-foot game and does a good job of getting inside position on his man on the back check. Away from the puck, he positions himself well, helping prevent high-danger scoring chances for opposing skaters. Since he has a great shot, it would make sense to see him find his way near the slot and around the net for prime scoring opportunities. Whether it be his size or personal preference to not play that style of game, he rarely finds himself in those areas. As a center, he is on the weaker side in the faceoff circle, but that is expected to change over time. Playing against college teams at times, he is up against bigger and stronger centers with more experience. As he ventures into college as a University of Michigan commit, he is likely to see his faceoff success improve. Christian Humphreys projects better as a top 6 caliber winger, rather than center because he isn’t big enough, nor is he good enough in the circle to be depended on for faceoffs, so his skillset it best fit for playing on the wing at the NHL level. Because of Humphreys’ production this year, he projects to be a 2nd round pick and should be a solid pick if the team drafting him allows him the time needed to develop. The Calgary Flames can always use more depth on offense, and whether Humphreys is a center or not at the NHL level, he should be a productive player for them.
74. Luca MARRELLI (D), 6’2/179, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Known as a strong two-way defenseman, Luca Marrelli has not stood out on the scoresheet as many would think he would with his offensive game, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the offensive zone. On the opponent’s end of the ice, he has shown strong poise from his defenseman position. Whether in the form of strong plays to hold the puck in the zone or being able to make a smart play with the puck, Marrelli has become one of the Ontario Hockey League’s stronger defensemen in the offensive zone. His offensive game has been on display this season on the power play quite a bit as well, and he has shown the capability to help run Oshawa’s unit while showing off his strong playmaking abilities. Marrelli’s vision on the ice has been a major benefit to his game both on the man advantage and in five-on-five play. Marrelli’s game defensively is just as strong, if not stronger. He looked like the Oshawa Generals‘ most consistent and best defenseman last season, which has also carried into this season. He is a defenseman who gives no room, space, or time to his opposition in the defensive zone of the ice while also taking advantage of the long reach he has to shut down any chance his opponent could have with the puck. Along with having top-four potential, he also has the potential to become a fixture on a power-play unit in the NHL, thanks to his strong play and poise at the offensive blue line with the puck. There is always room for a 6 foot 2, Right-handed shooting defenseman on the roster, and Calgary needs to start stacking the prospect pool with high-quality prospects, such as Luca Marrelli.
84. Luke MISA (C), 5’10/165, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
When Luke Misa entered the Ontario Hockey League, it took some time for him to find his footing and overall consistency in his game. Now in his draft season, his game finally took off, and has found that pace and consistency that many had hoped to see as it’s catching the eyes of many for the 2024 Draft. Every season, he has seen a steady increase in his point production, and in his draft year, he led the Steelheads in scoring with 81 points and with 55 assists. This season you saw what makes Misa a household name as his fast pace, skating, and playmaking abilities are his greatest strengths. He’s got great agility and footspeed, generating a strong burst of speed through the neutral zone on a rush play to attack with force and push defenders back. He has strong edges when shaking off defenders and cuts to the middle and he has excellent control of the puck when it’s on his stick. Misa is a very skilled, accurate and creative playmaker. He has a knack for being very quick with his puck movement and having the vision to spot and connect with his teammates easily. While the playmaking is always noticeable, his shot and scoring abilities aren’t quite on par. He does possess great power with his shot as he has shown previously– especially in the high danger area and in tight on goaltenders– but he isn’t a threat from far out. Misa’s game has grown to a point where he can be a viable middle-six option and be sort of a Swiss army knife kind of player. He can play either center or the wing, giving a team multiple options of where to utilize him as he can be a very strong two-way offensive playmaker who can be used in all situations. It could take several years for Luke Misa for to fully blossom at the NHL level, but if he does, he can be a high-end offensive talent. If the Calgary Flames get Luke Misa in the 3rd round, it would be a steal due to his enormous
offensive upside.
106. Jakub FIBIGR (D), 6’0/171, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
While watching the Steelheads quite a bit this season, one of the many standouts was rookie defender Jakub Fibigr. Although he was just transitioning to North American ice, he adapted very quickly and stood out right away. He finished fifth in rookie scoring and top-25 in scoring among OHL defenders with 43 points in 61 games. Fibigr has also already represented Czechia at two major events. He won a silver medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, registering a goal and an assist in five games, and played in the World U18 Championship. While he may not get as much attention as other defenders in this class, Fibigr has been flying under the radar as a defender who can do it all. He possesses a strong two-way game, making an impact in all three zones on the ice. He has great poise, awareness, and a compete level that he’s always displays every shift. Offensively, Fibigr uses his skating to his advantage. He needs to improve his first few steps and agility but when he hits his stride and he’s in motion, he’s tough to contain. He’s a very strong passer, making long stretch plays on a breakout and moving the puck quickly in the offensive zone. Defensively, he has great intensity and can play a strong and physical game as well when in one-on-one coverage. He can box players out in front of the net effectively and he does a great job at challenging shooters by getting into the lanes and taking away any chance of a play from unfolding. There’s the possibility that Fibigr could be a reliable second pairing defender, who can do it all as a best-case scenario. He can drive the play at even strength on the backend, strike on the power play or shut things down on the penalty kill. His well-rounded game combined with his ability to move the puck well in transition will bode well for him at the next level. It won’t take long for Jakub Fibigr to be an impact defenseman for the
Calgary Flames.
125. Herman TRAFF (LW/RW), 6’3/203, HV71 (SHL)
Herman Traff is a player with the size and potential to become that “quintessential” power forward in the coming years. Since earning an SHL call-up, Träff has shown that he is a well-rounded physical winger who can fill the middle of the ice if needed. He’s aggressive and physical and has a great touch of the puck for a big man. He’s responsible for much of HV71’s offense, even in the SHL, mainly through his mid to long-range shooting. I’d love to see more willingness from Träff to get right to the net and generate chances by using his frame and strength, but there are many positive signs in his game. His flashes of skill are impressive, but he needs to find more consistency when not making big-time plays. However, his versatility and skill set at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds is impressive – only a few NHL players possess all three. Traff has excellent vision on the ice and can make high-quality passes. While he tends to focus on scoring goals, he also can set up plays with his playmaking skills. He has a solid, accurate shot and is comfortable shooting from anywhere on the ice. Additionally, he is skilled at positioning himself in front of the net to create scoring opportunities. Defensively, he is reliable and demonstrates good awareness without the puck. Although he may not be considered a top-tier player, his work ethic and versatility make him a potential asset as a bottom-six forward. He has room to develop and has the potential to be a valuable player in the future. With his size and the right attributes to round them out, Traff is an exciting prospect who can be a boom or bust, depending on how his skills and qualities fully develop. For a fourth-round pick, it is worth the risk to pick a player like this who has a high upside, and if he doesn’t pan out as an elite power forward, he can still be a useful 3rd or 4th line forward due to his size and versatility. The Calgary Flames add a big winger with major upside.
170. Hunter LIANG (RW), 6’6/192, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Hunter Laing combines intelligent off-puck movement and passing skill with his massive 6-foot-6 frame. He hooks pucks around defenders and finds teammates from behind the net. When not, he’s flipping between scoring and supporting position. In tight spaces, he shows shooting skill and even some deception to evade pressure. Although Liang’s offensive production is subpar right now, having only put up 25 points in the most recent 2023-24 season, he has a high ceiling potential and in addition to his 6 foot 6 frame, makes him a valuable asset for an NHL squad. Even if Liang doesn’t become a top 6 forward in the NHL, there will always be a spot on the roster for a big forward with skill in the bottom 6. The Calgary Flames added Herman Traff a big power-forward in the 4th round, and adding Hunter Liang adds to the size of their prospect pool.
Draft Recap
A-
Tij Iginla (RW/C)
Adam Jiricek (D)
Lucas Pettersson (C)
Christian Humphreys (C)
Luca Marrelli (D)
Luke Misa (C)
Jakub Fibigr (D)
Herman Traff (LW/RW)
Hunter Liang (RW)
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