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FN Draft Profiles: Carson Carels could be the ideal long-term partner for Zayne Parekh
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
Mike Gould
Jun 5, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 5, 2026, 00:40 EDT
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It’s June, the sun is (finally) shining again, and we’re now less than four weeks away from the 2026 NHL Draft.
Of course, after losing last month’s draft lottery, the Calgary Flames currently possess the No. 6 overall pick. But they’ve had plenty of success at that spot in the past, and they’ll have a golden opportunity to use that pick to add a very special young player to their organization on June 26.
By consensus, most of the top defence prospects available in this year’s draft shoot right. But the Flames could really stand to add a lefty to pair with Zayne Parekh or Hunter Brzustewicz in the long run, and Prince George Cougars alternate captain Carson Carels could be exactly what they need in that regard.

What do scouts say about Carson Carels?

With his late June birthday, Carels is one of the younger players available in this year’s draft, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the way he plays the game. He’s an imposing, mature defenceman with legitimate shutdown ability, strong skating, and just enough offensive pop to tide you over. In other words, he’d be a great complement for Parekh.
Carels is a farm boy from Cypress River, Manitoba. He’s incredibly strong and difficult to beat in a one-on-one battle. He also boasts a heavy shot, as well as a genuine willingness to bowl over his opponents when necessary. Most scouts agree that he has top-pair potential, with some going as far as to say he could be a No. 1.
Here’s Daily Faceoff prospect guru Steven Ellis’s take on Carels, whom he ranked fifth overall back in April:
Some people have really discounted Carels this year for some reason. Big mistake. Carels was not only one of the best young defenders in the WHL, but he was one of the best defenders in the entire CHL, period. He’s built like a tank – he’s a farm kid who raises hundreds of cattle. Carels’ defensive awareness, two-way skill, strong physique and high-end hockey sense make him truly high-end. I liked him at points during the World Juniors, and I think he really has the skillset to be a top-pairing defender.
Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino ranked Carels at No. 6 last month and described him thusly:
Has been a leader at every level and continues to do the same as a young player on a perennial playoff team in Prince George, where he commands the respect of his teammates. He can eat a ton of effective minutes and has a presence at both ends of the ice. After missing two games in Round 1 of the playoffs, he has since returned with a vengeance, playing big minutes in all situations and producing points as well.
And in their newly published draft guide, the team at Elite Prospects harboured few reservations about the No. 4-ranked Carels:
After a successful draft-minus-one season playing the 16th-most minutes per game in the WHL, Carson Carels entered his draft year stronger, more daring, and ready to take an even larger role.
Carels put in yeoman’s work on the Prince George Cougars’ blueline – his average of 27:32 per game led the league by nearly a full minute, per InStat Hockey. Carels’ production exploded in the second half, scoring at a 1.35 point-per-game clip, including a 28-game stretch where he went pointless just twice.
For someone who won’t turn 18 until three days before the draft, Carels sure had a 2025-26 season to remember. He was outstanding, and the Flames will be somewhat fortunate if he falls outside the top five.

How did Carson Carels perform in 2025-26?

Carels finished the 2025-26 season with 73 points in 58 games with the Cougars, tying for second on the team in scoring with Brock Souch, a 19-year-old forward who played in nine more games. He was one of six Cougars players, but the only D, to reach 20 goals on the season, and led the club with more than 27 minutes of ice time per game.
Among all WHL defenders, Carels finished in a tie for fourth in points with projected 2027 No. 1 pick Landon DuPont. He was one of only six WHL rearguards to score 20 goals, alongside Bryce Pickford (who lapped the field with 45), Jonas Woo, Daxon Rudolph, Ethan MacKenzie, and Aiden Zipirick.
Carels also skated in five out of seven games for Team Canada at the 2026 World Juniors, collecting one assist while averaging around 10 minutes of ice time. He should play a significantly larger role at the 2027 tournament.

Would Carson Carels be a fit with the Calgary Flames?

It remains to be seen whether Carels will be there for the Flames with the No. 6 pick. He’s a big, mean, two-way defender. Sure, he isn’t a righty, which most teams tend to covet when given the choice (given their relative scarcity), but he’s exactly what the Flames need. Adding Carels to a defensive group already led by Parekh, Brzustewicz, and Kevin Bahl would be perfect for both player and team.
Virtually everyone in the public scouting sphere views Carels as a slam-dunk top-10 pick. TSN’s Craig Button has him at No. 3; the Elite Prospects team has him at No. 4; and Daily Faceoff‘s Steven Ellis, Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala, and the McKeen’s Hockey team all rank him at No. 5. The NHL’s Central Scouting Service has Carels as the third-ranked North American-skater in the draft.

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