The Calgary Flames had three second-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. The first was the 36th overall pick, which they used to select Chase Harrington from the Spokane Chiefs. There were players like Mathis Preston and Markus Ruck still available, which made the pick interesting at the time. However, ever since being drafted, Harrington has been a standout performer. Whether it was at training camp, in the preseason, or back in Spokane, Harrington has been turning into a gem for the Flames.
Standout training camp
The Chiefs let him skip their training camp and head to Calgary for the Flames’ camp. That was Harrington’s first action with the Flames after being drafted, and he began to impress there. He stayed longer than most rookies do at training camp, plus, he skated with the group of primarily NHL players. He turned heads on the coaching staff and gave a great first impression before he was eventually sent back down to the WHL.
Spokane captaincy
Not long after, Harrington was named captain of the Spokane Chiefs for this season. The 18-year-old has spent all three of his years in the WHL with Spokane, making the playoffs every year. Harrington also joined fellow Flames prospect Cole Reschny in captaining their respective squads. Reschny was named captain of the University of North Dakota for this season.
Hot start to the season
In his first game wearing the C, Harrington delivered, scoring a goal and tacking on two helpers for three points in a 3–2 win. So far, he has recorded eight points—three goals, five assists—in six games, leading his team and putting him on pace for 90 points in his D+1 year.
Harrington has also continued his pest ways, not being afraid to be physical and mix it up. In those six games, he has 14 PIMs, which leads the Chiefs.
Play style
A lot of this success comes from Harrington’s style of play. He plays incredibly hard on the puck, battles in the corners and along the boards, and he also likes to crash the net looking for rebounds. Add in his energy and intensity, and he is exactly what Calgary is lacking in their lineup and prospect pool. Not only is he physical, but he is also a good finisher. He can convert on chances when he gets them for the most part.
The main aspect of his game is the physical side, however. He does the dirty work so others don’t have to, but he has also elevated the rest of his game to make it more complete. In all three zones, he is dependable and relentless on the puck, not giving the opposition an inch. He has already turned into a great pick, but if he can keep up this rate of progression, it will be another case of Craig Conroy and co. smashing a pick out of the park.
