Why aren’t they flames picking up Kotkaniemi for cheap? They have the cap room.
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FlamesNation Mailbag: Reflecting on a busy draft
Photo credit: Mike Gould
It’s a busy time of year, pals!
The 2026 NHL Draft has come and gone! Qualifying offers for pending restricted free agents are due on Monday by 3 p.m. MT. Then free agency begins on Wednesday at 10 a.m. MT. As we continue through a busy stretch, let’s check in with our pals with the mailbag!
The Flames have lots of cap space, definitely. They also have a lot of bodies slated for their NHL roster… and lots of players pushing on the AHL level for NHL chances. And lots of players at the collegiate level, for example, who are hoping to make that jump – perhaps even directly to the NHL.
I wouldn’t rule out the Flames buying low on a player, but if that addition might crowd out some kids, I think that factors into the risk/reward calculations of those sorts of decisions.
If Carson Carels has a strong camp and preseason and looks NHL ready should or would the Flames make a roster spot for him to play right away given we’re in rebuilding mode?
Carson Carels has committed to attend the University of North Dakota for the fall. Once you’re a bonafide college student, you cannot attend NHL training camps without losing eligibility. (You can attend development camps in the summer, but with very specific rules about stipends, gifts and compensation.)
That said, I suspect the Flames and Carels will have a chat about the best place for him to play this coming fall. I suspect it’ll be North Dakota, but I’m quite good at being wrong, so we’ll see what pans out.
What prospects do you see getting a chance playing NHL minutes this season that haven't wet their feet yet?
If we’re sticking to plays with zero NHL experience: I’m going with Jonathan Castagna. He’ll probably start the year with the Wranglers, but I’m bullish on his potential to push for NHL minutes.
More broadly speaking: I suspect that one or more of Cole Reschny, Ethan Wyttenbach and Cullen Potter sign NHL deals at the end of the college season. At least one of them probably goes right to the NHL to burn the first year of their deals, right?
It could be a fun season in terms of players getting NHL opportunities that either haven’t had them before, or maybe only had cups of coffee with the big club.
The Nemec trade and this draft have me excited for the Flames future but I also lament that we have to pay Huberdeau for another five seasons. What do you think is the best thing to do with him that doesn’t include playing him for the next five seasons?
I know that Jonathan Huberdeau’s contract isn’t great, but I think folks are forgetting how effective he was from around January 2024 through much of the entire 2024-25 season. He’s probably not a 100-plus point NHLer anymore, but he’s smart, he’s adaptable, and he really seems like he wants to help his young teammates (and the team) progress.
In the history of the game, there’s been plenty of older guys who are just there to collect a paycheque. I wouldn’t put Huberdeau in that category. Given him a chance to get his game back now that he’s gotten his hip repaired.
Is Jack Hextall’s ceiling a 3rd line centre?
I need to dive into his game a bit more to build a more nuanced opinion, but I’m hearing second or third-line centre, depending on how he develops.
What’s the ask in a trade for Coleman?
If I’m the Flames, I want to see if I can get a first-round pick or a second-round pick and a decent prospect. Especially if they’re retaining salary. I don’t know what the exact ask is, but that’s probably what I would be asking for.
Where would you rank Trejbal among all goalies that are not in the NHL yet (league wide)?
I am not a goalie expert, but since Tobias Trejbal was the USHL’s goaltender of the year, let’s compare his statistical performance in 2025-26 to the top goalies from the Canadian Hockey League’s three member leagues.
- In the OHL, Ottawa’s Ryder Fetterolf (18) went 29-9-3 with a 2.07 goals against average, .923 save percentage and six shutouts.
- In the WHL, Prince George’s Joshua Ravensbergen (19) went 32-13-0 with a 2.51 goals against average, .919 save percentage and four shutouts.
- In the QMJHL, Moncton’s Rudy Guimond (21) went 40-7-3 with a 2.27 goals against average, .922 save percentage and three shutouts.
- In the USHL, Trejbal (18) went 30-9-3 with a 2.12 goals against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts.
There are differences between the leagues so it’s tough to say “Player X is the best,” but Trejbal’s statistical performance compares well. I’m fascinated to see how he does in college next season.
It isn’t really a question. But when you map out the Flames line up in 2028-29. You begin to see that the Flames have too many prospects. You could make a full 12 man forward group and 6 just from the 1st, 2nd round picks and signed ELC from the past 4 years. Wanna map it out?
Not everybody is going to make it.
The Flames have a bunch of promising, exciting players in their system, across virtually every position. But not everybody is going to make it. They seem set in goal with Dustin Wolf. They seem set on the blueline between Simon Nemec, Carson Carels, Kevin Bahl and Zayne Parekh. Their forward group seems promising between Matt Coronato, Matvei Gridin, Sam Honzek, Cole Reschny, Jack Hextall, Cullen Potter and Ethan Wyttenbach. But hockey never goes precisely how you want it to go – that’s the fun of it, too – and there could be curveballs and surprises along the way.
What was your impression of the draft? And what might free agency be like for the Flames?
I really liked the Flames’ draft. I thought Carson Carels is exactly what they need. I really enjoy the jam and versatility that Jack Hextall and Chase Harrington bring. I really like Tobias Trejbal as a young goalie. I really like Egor Barabanov as a mid-round pick-up. I really like getting Simon Katolicky where they got him.
They made a lot of interesting picks and I’m fascinated to see how things go.
How many years and AVV are you hearing for Nemec?
Disclaimer: I have heard nothing.
However, I would think about doing a two or three year bridge at around Kevin Bahl’s cap hit ($5.35 million) and then give Simon Nemec a bit of runway to get a longer-term, bigger deal. My big question is “What is he within the Flames system?” If the answer is “Quite good,” then you chuck a long-term deal at him.
Rank these players by most likely to least likely on the team by training camp Whitecloud Zary Coleman Frost
Most likely to least likely to be with the Flames by September: Zach Whitecloud (most), Morgan Frost, Blake Coleman, Connor Zary (least).
Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/BlueSky at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan.Pike [at] BetterCollective.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
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