Welcome to The Win Column 2026 Calgary Flames Prospect Rankings. This year we’ll be ranking the top 15 prospects in the Calgary Flames organization. First up, our honourable mentions. These players were right on the cusp of making our top 15 and still deserve a shout-out.
Kirill Zarubin was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft, while Alan Shaikhilislamov was selected in the second round of the 2026 draft.
| Position | Age | Year Drafted | Round Drafted | 2026 Ranking | 2025 Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 20 | 2024 | 3rd | HM | Not ranked |
| Position | Age | Year Drafted | Round Drafted | 2026 Ranking | 2025 Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW | 17 | 2026 | 2nd | HM | Not ranked |
Zarubin is currently one of the youngest goaltenders in the entire organization, with only Tobias Trejbal being younger. Shaikhlislamov, meanwhile, is actually the youngest player in the entire organization. The Russian forward is still just 17 years old and won’t turn 18 until September.
Development so far
| Player | Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Shaikhlislamov | 2025-26 | Tolpar Ufa | MHL | 31 | 18 | 17 | 35 |
This past season, Shaikhlislamov’s production took a big step. He started the year with a five-game goal-scoring streak before suffering an injury that cost him 22 games. When he eventually returned at the beginning of January, he struggled to get back up to speed at first. Luckily, by the end of the year, his offence started coming around again, and he finished the season with 35 points in 31 games. The total ranked fourth on his team in scoring.
| Player | Season | Team | League | GP | W | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirill Zarubin | 2025-26 | Tolpar Ufa | MHL | 48 | 26 | 2.17 | .930 |
Zarubin also spent the 2025-26 season in the MHL, his fourth straight year in the league. To keep it short, he was spectacular. Among goalies with at least 40 games played, his save percentage ranked second in the entire MHL, while his GAA ranked first. He also racked up an impressive 26-13-3 record for good measure.
Why they’re notable prospects
The Flames have a ton of depth in their prospect system right now, so what makes these two stand out as honourable mentions?
Shaikhlislamov’s offensive prowess
Shaikhlislamov’s biggest strength is no doubt his skill on the puck. He possesses strong hands and can show flashes of dynamic skill by creating chances for both himself and his teammates. He does a great job of creating space in the offensive zone to create good looks for his team. Shaikhlislamov also already has a pro-level shot and can beat goaltenders cleanly from all over the ice. It’s not often you hear scouts call a 17-year-old’s shot NHL-ready.
At just 17 years old, the runway is huge for Shaikhlislamov. His upside and offensive ability are what make him worthy of an honourable mention despite how many other options there are in the Flames system right now.
Zarubin’s consistency
Goalies are voodoo, but Zarubin has had some surprising consistency over the past couple of seasons. He has faced a ton of shots in the MHL but always finds a way to end the season with some solid numbers across the board. His MHL save percentages over the past three seasons are as follows: .930, .935, and .944.
At 6’3″, he also offers great size for a goaltender, and he knows how to use it to his advantage. This is a goaltender who has all the makings of a pro-level option one day.
NHL Projection
Shaikhlislamov
Ceiling: Second line, offensive winger
Likely Outcome: Bottom six, offensive winger
Floor: AHL winger
Zarubin
Ceiling: NHL backup
LIkely Outcome: AHL starter
Floor: AHL Depth
NHL timeline projection
Zarubin recently signed to come over to North America and will be making his North American debut in 2026-27. Still just 20 years old, don’t expect the young goaltender to be pushing for NHL starts or at least another three years.
Shaikhlislamov, meanwhile, is a big-time project prospect. He hasn’t even turned 18 years old and will require a few years of development. I wouldn’t expect to see him pushing for NHL minutes for another four to five years at least.
