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Flames select Keaton Verhoeff in The Athletic’s latest 2026 NHL Draft mock
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Jun 2, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 2, 2026, 00:08 EDT
Less than four weeks out from the 2026 NHL Draft, the full first-round order is nearly set.
This year, the Calgary Flames will select sixth overall, after falling two spots through the draft lottery. The Flames also own the first-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, who are currently in the Stanley Cup Final. This means they will have an additional pick in the first round at 30th or 31st overall.
Ahead of the draft, a number of NHL experts have said they believe the Flames will select defenceman Carson Carels at sixth overall, but it is not unanimous. On Monday, The Athletic‘s Corey Pronman put out the outlet’s latest first-round mock draft. And while his colleague Scott Wheeler previously predicted the Flames would get Carels, Pronman is not in agreement. Pronman has Carels going at fifth overall to the New York Rangers, with the Flames using the following pick to take University of North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff:
Calgary needs everything right now in its rebuild, except probably a power-play QB after taking Zayne Parekh. Verhoeff’s combination of size, feet and offence will be hard to pass up at No. 6.
Verhoeff has bounced around mock drafts this season, seen earlier this year as a potential top pick. Through 36 NCAA games this year, he registered six goals and 14 assists. The prior season, he had 21 goals and 24 assists in 63 games in the WHL with the Victoria Royals.
Meanwhile, the 30th/31st overall pick is harder to predict, but Pronman’s mock draft has the Flames targeting Swedish defenceman William Håkansson:
Calgary adds a massive, highly competitive defenseman in Håkansson with its second pick. He moves very well for his size, plays the body aggressively and excels at killing plays defensively. While his offensive ceiling and puck play are limited, his high-end compete level and physical tools project him as a highly dependable NHL defender.
If the Flames follow Pronman’s model, this would mean taking two big blueliners in the first round. Verhoeff stands at 6-foot-4, 212 lbs., while Håkansson measures 6-foot-4 and is currently listed at 207 lbs.
Give us your thoughts, would you be satisfied with Verhoeff and Håkansson as Calgary’s first-round selections?
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