The Calgary Flames are known for being one of those franchises that give up on players too early. They may not always completely give up on players, but they just so happen to break out when they are traded. Funny enough, the Flames have had a handful of former draft picks go on to win their first cup with another team. This has happened recently in the past couple of seasons and also occurred in years prior.
Let’s take a look at the most notable former Calgary Flames draft picks to win their first Stanley Cup elsewhere.
Mark Jankowski
First up on the list is the most recent winner, Mark Jankowski. He was a key depth member for the Carolina Hurricanes all season in 2025–26. He has had some ups and downs since his time with the Flames, but he became a full-time NHLer again this previous season. The Flames drafted Jankowski in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He went 21st overall out of Providence College and was supposed to be a key forward for the Flames.
Out of college, Jankowski had a phenomenal first season in the AHL. In 64 games with the Stockton Heat, Jankowski recorded 27 goals and 56 points. This led the team, and earned him his NHL debut during the 2016–17 season. In the following two years, Jankowski served as a depth piece for the Flames’ forward core. His most productive season came in 2018–19, when he scored 14 goals and 32 points. Unfortunately, that was the best that Flames fans would see of him on their team.
After his time in Calgary, Jankowski bounced around between organizations. He went from Pittsburgh to Buffalo, Nashville, and finally, Carolina. He was acquired via trade from Nashville and ended up being a solid piece for the Hurricanes. His most notable moment in the playoffs came in game two of the Stanley Cup Final. Here, he scored a beautiful game-tying goal to help shift the momentum in Carolina’s favour. They went on to win that game in overtime.
Matthew Tkachuk
The most notable name on this list is, of course, Matthew Tkachuk. The Flames drafted Tkachuk in the 2016 NHL Draft with the sixth overall selection. Outside of the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Auston Matthews first overall, this was probably the second-best pick in the draft. Tkachuk was a huge addition for the Flames and helped build a new wave of offensive skill. He, alongside Elias Lindholm and Johnny Gaudreau, was pure magic. The Flames have not had an offensive threat like this line since they were separated.
Tkachuk was always capable of scoring lots and getting under the skin of opposing teams. His most notable season as a Flame was in the 2021–22 season, where he recorded 42 goals and 104 points. To this day, this has still been Tkachuk’s best all-around season. It is such a shame that Brad Treliving had to let that magic go. In the summer of 2022, Tkachuk was traded from the Flames to the Florida Panthers. At the time, the Flames got a massive haul of Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick (Cullen Potter). This ended up being an awful trade for the Flames.
Ever since Tkachuk joined the Panthers, they have basically been unstoppable. In his first three seasons as a Panther, Tkachuk made it to three straight Stanley Cup Finals, winning two against the Edmonton Oilers. On the bright side, Flames fans loved watching this, especially when Tkachuk gave a shoutout to all his fans back in Calgary.
Sam Bennett
Next up is Tkachuk’s teammate and fellow two-time Stanley Cup winner, Sam Bennett. The Flames drafted Bennett fourth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He was supposed to be the next big thing in Calgary and has always had the potential for it. Through the majority of his time with the Flames, Bennett was usually misused in the lineup. He was often given the bottom-six minutes and was used as more of a depth grinder rather than a top-six power forward. In April of 2021, Bennett was dealt to the Florida Panthers. This was a fairly small trade that did not cause much ruckus. However, it turned out to be a gem for the Panthers.
As soon as he got to Florida, Bennett fit in perfectly. In his first 10 games, he recorded six goals and 15 points. From then on, Bennett was a perfect top-six centreman for the Panthers. He can skate well, throw a ton of hits, and show up when it matters the most. In his playoff runs (with the Flames and Panthers), Bennett has always been one of the most clutch players on the ice. He showed this the most in his second run to the Stanley Cup in 2025. Here, he scored 15 goals and 22 points in 23 games. This secured him his second Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
As much as it sucked to lose Tkachuk, Bennett was just as big a loss.
Laurent Brossoit
Next up is potentially a player that some Flames fans have forgotten about. Laurent Brossoit was with the Flames organization at one point, but not for too long. The Flames drafted him in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He was playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings at the time and won a WHL championship. In November of 2013, the Flames dealt him to the Edmonton Oilers in the Ladislav Smid deal. He has some solid appearances with the Oilers, but still to this day has struggled to find a long-term home.
Brossoit has played for Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vegas, and San Jose during his time in the NHL. His Stanley Cup victory came in the 2023 season with the Golden Knights. During the playoff run, he only appeared in eight playoff games, posting a 5–2 record with a 894 SV% and a 3.18 GAA.
Stephane Matteau
Short-term Flame Stephane Matteau had a solid rookie season in the NHL. He began with the Flames in the 1990–91 season, playing 78 games and scoring 34 points. The Flames drafted him with a second-round pick in the 1987 NHL Draft. After only appearing in four games with the Flames in the year following his rookie season, Matteau was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks for Trent Yawney.
After spending parts of three seasons with the Blackhawks organization, he was part of a trade to the New York Rangers. This was one of the main highlights of his career, as he went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1994. He finished up his career as a solid depth forward.
Brett Hull
Forward Brett Hull is definitely one of the most significant names on this list. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, remembered as one of the best scoring forwards ever. The Flames drafted Hull in the sixth round of the 1984 NHL Draft, not expecting him to become a future star. However, he broke into the NHL as a dominant forward, posting 50 points in 52 games as a rookie with the Flames. Unfortunately, the Flames moved on from Hull in March 1988, sending him to the St. Louis Blues. This was the team Hull was most recognized for.
As much of a star as he was in St. Louis, Hull never achieved the ultimate goal there. After his time with the Blues, he spent some years in Dallas and Detroit, where he would go on to win two Stanley Cups. The NHL legend wrapped up his NHL career in the 2005–06 season, playing just five games for the Phoenix Coyotes.
Chris Dingman
Honestly, there really is not much to say about Chris Dingman. The Flames drafted him in the first round of the 1994 NHL Draft, and he was just an NHL tough guy. He was mostly known for fighting and his tough play, but his skills did not back it up. Dingman only spent parts of two seasons with the Flames. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in the Theo Fleury trade, which brought him his first cup in 2001. His second cup came in 2004 as he helped the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Flames in the final.
Cory Stillman
Now, Cory Stillman was a big name at one point in Calgary. The Flames drafted Stillman with the sixth overall selection in the 1992 NHL Draft. Stillman went on to spend parts of seven NHL seasons with the Flames, his most notable coming in 1998–99. Here, he scored 27 goals and 57 points, being one of his better NHL seasons. The Flames traded him to the St. Louis Blues in the Craig Conroy trade, which ended up working out for both sides. Eventually, Stillman ended up with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Alongside Dingman, Stillman helped defeat the Flames in the 2004 final and won back-to-back cups as he was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes the next season.
Curtis McElhinney
Last to be mentioned here is goalie Curtis McElhinney. The Flames originally drafted the long-time backup NHL netminder in the sixth round of the 2002 NHL Draft. He spent parts of three seasons with the Flames before they traded him to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Vesa Toskala. After this trade, McElhinney bounced around between the Ducks, Senators, and Coyotes before he found a home with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This was where McElhinney was best known. He served as the Jackets’ backup for three full seasons before being on the move again.
The netminder spent a couple of really good seasons with the Maple Leafs before going to the Hurricanes, and finally, the Lightning. Like Dingman and Stillman, McElhinney won with Tampa Bay. Not just one, but two Stanley Cups during the 2020 and 2021 runs. He never played in the playoffs, but he still got his name on the Cup. He was truly one of the most underrated backup goalies of the 2000s.
