The 2024 NHL Draft is about a month away, and the Calgary Flames currently hold the 9th overall pick. The Flames are one of two organizations (along with the Vegas Golden Knights) to never draft top three in their history. However, they still have had some high draft picks over the years. The highest draft pick in Calgary Flames history was 4th overall in 2014:
4th Overall
2014 – Sam Bennett, C
The highest draft pick in Flames history is Sam Bennett. Unfortunately for both parties, it just didn’t work out. Bennett scored 67 goals and 140 points in 402 games as a Flame. He was dealt to the Florida Panthers at the 2021 Trade Deadline.
6th Overall
1992 – Cory Stillman, C
Stillman played 393 games for the Flames and collected 109 goals and 235 points. In 2001, Stillman was dealt for now Flames GM Craig Conroy and a 7th rounder.
1997 – Daniel Tkaczuk, C
Daniel Tkaczuk was one of the biggest draft busts in NHL history. He played a grand total of 19 games in the NHL, all with the Flames, scoring 11 points.
1998 – Rico Fata, RW
Another bust for the Flames, Fata had one assist in 27 games.
2013 – Sean Monahan, C
Monahan was a fan favourite during his 656 game career as a Flame. Monahan scored 212 goals and 462 points. He dealt with a plethora of injuries and battled through a lot as a Flame. Monahan was later dealt to the Montreal Canadiens to give the Flames cap space to sign Nazem Kadri.
2016 – Matthew Tkachuk, LW
Matthew Tkachuk is one of the best draft picks in Flames history. Tkachuk was an awesome player for the Flames, scoring 152 goals and 382 points in 431 games. He was really the lifeline for the team during his time as a Flame. Tkachuk didn’t want to sign an extension with the Flames in the 2022 off-season. He was dealt to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 1st round pick.
9th Overall
2000 – Brent Krahn, G
Krahn is the first of two goaltenders on this last. Let’s just say Krahn didn’t work out as a prospect. He played in one NHL game with the Dallas Stars in 2008-09.
2003 – Dion Phaneuf, D
Phaneuf was an awesome defenceman for the Flames, scoring 75 goals and 228 points in 378 games. He was dealt halfway through his fifth season as a Flame in the infamous seven player deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
10th Overall
2002 – Eric Nystrom, LW
Nystrom played three seasons with the Flames, notching 19 goals and 39 points in 204 games.
11th Overall
1990 – Trevor Kidd, G
Kidd is famous for being the first goalie drafted in the 1990 NHL Draft. The Flames moved up from pick #20 to do so in a trade with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils used that 20th overall selection to take a goaltender by the name of Martin Brodeur. Ouch.
1999 – Oleg Saprykin, LW
Saprykin played in parts of five seasons with the Calgary Flames, and became a fan favourite during the 2004 run. Saprykin was dealt to the Arizona Coyotes for Daymond Langkow.
12th Overall
1984 – Gary Roberts, LW
Another member of the 1989 Stanley Cup winning team, Roberts was an instrumental player with the Flames for years. He finished his Flame career with 257 goals and 505 points in 585 games.
13th Overall
1980 – Denis Cyr, RW
If you ever happen upon this trivia, Cyr was the first draft pick in Calgary Flames history. He played in parts of three seasons with the Flames before being dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks.
1983 – Dan Quinn, C
Quinn played three full seasons with the Flames from 1983-84 to 1985-86. He was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the 1986-87 season for Mike Bullard. Bullard was included in the deal with the St. Louis Blues that saw Doug Gilmour come to Calgary.
1996 – Derek Morris, RD
Morris was a solid defenceman in his 343 game career as a Flame, scoring 34 goals and 163 points.
2011 – Sven Baertschi, LW
Baertschi played parts of four seasons with the Flames, but it didn’t work out. He was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2015 2nd rounder that turned into Rasmus Andersson.
2021 – Matthew Coronato, RW
Coronato is just coming into his own, playing in several different stints with the big club in 2023-24. Currently, he has 3 goals and 9 points in 35 games as a Flame.
14th Overall
2001 – Chuck Kobasew, RW
Kobasew played in parts of four seasons with the Flames, scoring 34 goals and 71 points in 210 games. Kobasew was traded alongside Andrew Ference in exchange for Wayne Primeau, Brad Stuart, and a 4th round draft pick that turned into T.J. Brodie.
15th Overall
1981 – Al MacInnis, RD
MacInnis is the best defenceman in Calgary Flames history. He scored 213 goals and 822 points in 803 games as a Calgary Flame. He had 31 points in 22 games during the Flames Stanley Cup winning 1989 run.
Atlanta Flames Draft History
The Atlanta Flames drafted second overall twice: Jacques Richard in 1972 and Tom Lysiak in 1973. They also drafted eighth overall twice: Richard Mulhern in 1975 and David Shand in 1976.
Photo by Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports
