In this mock draft, I will be focusing on the Calgary Flames, and how they could transform their prospect pool in the 2026 NHL draft. Calgary has a total of 11 picks in the 2026 draft, including 2 1st, 4 2nd and 2 3rd round picks.
6-Carson Carels (D) Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Carson Carels is widely considered the single most perfect tactical and positional fit for the Calgary Flames holding the No. 6 overall selection in the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
The Flames see him as a perfect fit alongside Calgary’s elite right-shot defensive prospect, Zayne Parekh. Parekh is an ultra-offensive, rover-style blueliner who takes major risks. Carels plays a strict, elite two-way game characterized by immaculate defensive awareness and gap control. Carels has He has the raw power and skating stability to act as an anchor, letting Parekh join rushes while effortlessly cleaning up transitions on the back end. Calgary’s current defensive pipeline is noted for being highly skilled and intelligent, but heavily lacking in physical intimidation and heavy defensive presence. Flames General Manager Craig Conroy has favored high-character, durable Western Hockey League (WHL) talents during the team’s rebuild. Carels fits the exact blueprint of a traditional “Flames-style” defenseman. Unlike pure offensive defensemen, Carels has explicitly stated that he refuses to sacrifice defense for offense, making it his personal mission to shut down opposing top lines, clear net-fronts, and block heavy shots.
In the 2026 NHL Draft, Calgary Flames trade picks 36, 51 ,55, 65 to the Pittsburgh Penguins for pick 22. This trade up would allow Calgary to select both Liam and Marcus Ruck.
22- Liam Ruck (RW)- Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
28- Marcus Ruck (C)- Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Twin forwards Liam and Markus Ruck are viewed as ideal targets for the Calgary Flames in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft because they provide an explosive offensive punch, natural chemistry, and perfectly align with Calgary’s vast draft capital. The Ruck brothers carried Medicine Hat’s offense after the team lost premium talent, proving they are elite game-drivers rather than passenger players. Though they have a famous give-and-go synergy, their individual toolkits complement each other perfectly. Liam Ruck (RW) is a right-shot sniper who finished near the top of the country with 45 goals. He possesses elite offensive anticipation, quick hands around the crease, and a high hockey IQ. Right-handed goal scorers are a constant, premium scarcity for the Flames’ depth chart. Markus Ruck (LW/C) is a brilliant left-shot playmaker who led the entire WHL in assists (finishing with 102 points). He is highly regarded by scouts for doing the “dirty work,” hounding opponents on the forecheck, and opening up ice for his teammates. The Flames already own the blueprint for the Rucks’ success. During the 2025–26 season, Flames top forward prospect Andrew Basha was returned to junior from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers and centered the twins.
35-Brooks Rogowski (C)- Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Power forward prospect Brooks Rogowski is an excellent fit for the Calgary Flames late in the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft because he provides rare physical scale, fills an organizational void down the middle, and perfectly aligns with the team’s retooling timeline. Standing at a massive 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, the right-shot center from the Oshawa Generals (OHL) is ranked No. 14 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He represents the heavy, pro-style depth Calgary desperately needs. Rogowski is the unique combination of a right-handed shot and a towering frame playing down the middle. While top prospects like Andrew Basha and the Ruck twins project to drive the wing or middle-six, Rogowski projects as a reliable, heavy-skating matchup center who can play in all situations. Unlike one-dimensional enforcers, Rogowski balances his heavy frame with a smooth skating stride and soft playmaking touch. He uses his frame to dominate board battles, screen goaltenders, and disrupt opposing breakouts using his massive reach. Rogowski is committed to Michigan State University, a Big Ten program highly respected for maximizing the physical strength and conditioning of power forwards. Because Calgary is currently in a multi-year rebuild, they do not need Rogowski to rush to the NHL. Allowing him to develop in college gives the Flames the patience required to let his massive frame catch up to his raw skillset.
68- Luka Arkko (LW)- Pelicans U20 (U20 SM-sarja)
Finnish forward prospect Luka Arkko is a highly logical mid-round target for the Calgary Flames in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft because he introduces rare physical scale, strong defensive reliability, and high value to their middle-round drafting strategy. A 6-foot-3, 209-pound power winger playing for Pelicans U20 in Finland, Arkko is ranked 34th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He fits seamlessly into the Flames’ long-term rebuilding puzzle for several key reasons: Fits the “Hard-to-Play-Against” Retooling Mandate and has High-end structural Reliablity. Arkko is already built like an NHLer, using his 209-pound frame to absorb heavy contact, dominate low-cycle play, and win net-front battles. Scouts routinely highlight his relentless work ethic and straight-line foreclosing style. He provides the exact gritty, bottom-six defensive insulation needed to protect skilled, smaller Flames prospects like Zayne Parekh.
Unlike many junior-level players who neglect their own zone, Arkko has earned widespread praise from European scouts for his defensive awareness and overall “Luotettava” (reliable) identity. He features a clean defensive profile, showing advanced gap control and backchecking discipline that translates well to an NHL identity.
100- Vladimir Dravecky (D)- Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
132- Niko Touras (RW)- Montcon Wildcats (QMJHL)
164- Maksim Sokolovskii (LW)- London Knights (OHL)
Draft Summary
6- Carson Carels
22- Liam Ruck
28- Marcus Ruck
35- Brooks Rogowski
68- Luka Arkko
100- Vladimir Dravecky
132- Niko Touras
164- Maksim Sokolovskii
HockeywizScouts 