Despite the ongoing hunt for Lord Stanley’s cup, it was the Toronto Maple Leafs that headlined NHL news last week. The Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. They crushed the dreams of Canucks (1st overall odds) and Flames fans (4th overall odds), jumping both clubs to secure the 1st overall selection.
More bad news for the Flames followed. The surging San Jose Sharks secured the second overall selection while holding the 9th-best lottery odds. Despite all the Gavin McKenna talk in Calgary this season, Flames fans were left clutching their pearls at 6th overall.
Regardless of their fall in the lottery, the Flames are still positioned to draft an impactful player at 6th overall. We wanted to know who you think the Flames should select. We asked, you answered.
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Who should the Flames draft with the 6th overall pick?
We presented the poll below to our readers:
Carson Carels
Carson Carels was a majority winner in this week’s poll, collecting roughly 53% of the votes. The defenceman played for the Prince George Cougars this past season, posting 20 goals and 73 points in 58 games. The 6’2”, 194lb lefty also made his World Junior debut in 2025, recording an assist in five games for Team Canada.
Carels finished 7th overall in TWC’s consolidated prospect rankings and would be a great top-four defensive prospect with a left-handed shot to pair with Zayne Parekh. He offers the Flames a great two-way defender with an NHL-ready frame, great vision and skating ability, and a knack for putting the puck in the net. Carels would be a great choice for the Flames if it came down to them addressing their defensive weaknesses on the left side.
Keaton Verhoff
Keaton Verhoff was discussed as the potential first overall pick, but has slid in draft rankings and this poll. He finished last with 4% of the votes. He is an intriguing prospect, leaping the NCAA this past season at only 17 years old.
Despite his age, Verhoff is one of the most impressive athletes in his draft class. At 6’4” and 212lbs, the defensive prospect is one of the biggest and uses his long stride effectively. There was a lot of hype early in the year, but the young defender has underwhelmed some critics this season with lacklustre stats, recording six goals and 20 points in 33 games at the University of North Dakota.
I would be surprised to see Verhoff available at 6th overall, but if the Flames do have a chance to select him, he could begin making an impact right away.
Tynan Lawrence
Tynan Lawrence finished 3rd in this week’s poll, collecting roughly 6% of votes. The Fredricton, NB-born centre played half of his draft season in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, and half with Boston University. He recorded 10 goals and 17 points in 13 games in the USHL before suiting up for 18 games in the NCAA, posting two goals and seven points.
Lawrence finished 5th in TWC’s consolidated rankings and has drawn comparisons to Hurricanes centre Sebastian Aho. Lawrence would be a great fit for the Flames, who are desperate for centre depth.
Viggo Björck
Viggo Björck finished second in this week’s poll, collecting roughly 36% of the votes. The Swedish Centre played his draft season in the SHL with Djurgårdens IF. At 5’10” 172lbs, Björck played 42 games, recording six goals and 15 points. He also played for Team Sweden at the World Juniors, recording three goals and nine points in seven games.
Björck is a quick skater with a high motor, high IQ play style and the puck skills to back up his brain. Despite his smaller stature, the right-shot forward projects as a top-six centre. Björck could realistically be there at 6th overall. He comes into next season with pro experience already and could make an impact in the new building.
Best player available?
There will be plenty of talented players left at sixth overall despite the Flames’ disappointing results in the draft lottery. Craig Conroy and the Flames positioned themselves well to select a high-end prospect in June, especially when you consider their track record.
Conroy has amassed an impressive draft resume while not being shy to move around the board as the clock is ticking. The Flames could decide to target a much-needed centre, such as Viggio Björck or Tynan Lawrence, or if they’re available, either Keaton Verhoff or Carson Carels would be cornerstone defensive partners for Zayne Parekh.
All in all, look on the bright side, Flames fans.
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