The status of the Calgary Flames’ first-round picks in the 2025 NHL draft has been heavily discussed and analyzed. Ever since Brad Treliving made the dreadful decision to trade Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens along with a first-round pick, the entire Flames rebuild has been at stake, somewhat.
With the Flames’ hot start this season, it has made the conditions on that trade very interesting, and something to keep a close eye on as the season rolls on.
Right now, the Flames hold three first-round picks in the 2025 draft:
- Their own pick, which would be 22nd overall if the season ended today
- The Florida Panthers pick, which would be 23rd overall if the season ended today
- The New Jersey Devils pick, which would be 24th overall if the season ended today, but will defer to 2026 if the Devils finish bottom-10
However, with the conditions on the Monahan trade, the Flames have to transfer the better of theirs or Florida’s pick to the Canadiens if the Flames do not finish in the bottom-10 of league standings.
A race between the Panthers and Flames
Right now, the Flames are 11th overall, not even remotely close to finishing bottom-10 as we pass the quarter pole of the season. The Devils are ninth overall, and it seems like a lock the Flames would get their 2025 pick
Before the start of the season, it was a foregone conclusion that the Flames would be a terrible team and the Panthers would be a cup contender once again. But with a quarter of the season done, the Flames and Panthers have identical records, separated only by the first standings tiebreaker.
If the season ended this way, the Flames would give Montreal their own pick and retain Florida’s, selecting just one spot lower in the draft. Instead of drafting 22nd overall and 24rd overall, they’d pick 23rd overall and and 24th overall.
It’s time to cheer for wins
At this point, it doesn’t seem very likely that the Flames will finish in the bottom 10. Disregarding development, entertainment, vibes, and everything else except the logical strategy for maximizing their draft picks, Flames fans should be cheering for the team to continue winning games.
To finish in the bottom 10 in the standings, 12 of the 21 teams below them would have to pass them. Watch their last game against the cup-contending New York Rangers and tell me you can see that happening.
Go Flames go.
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