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Why the Flames’ future could arrive this spring
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
Ryan Pike
Jul 2, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 2, 2026, 00:09 EDT
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Friends, the Calgary Flames have made a lot of picks over the past four NHL Draft under general manager Craig Conroy. As development camp opened on Wednesday morning at Winsport and many of the organization’s future stars took to the ice, a few of the club’s most exciting prospects spoke with the media.
And the message was pretty clear: they’re aiming to join the National Hockey League roster soon. And by soon, it could be as soon as the end of the 2026-27 NCAA season – in March or April 2027, depending on how their college teams do in the national championship tournament.
Cullen Potter, the 32nd overall selection by the Flames in 2025 and heading to Michigan State University this fall as a transfer after an injury-shortened sophomore season at Arizona State University short, was asked if he had a timeline for when he would like to be in Calgary full-time.
“Obviously it’s not up to me. I mean, as soon as possible, really, I guess,” said Potter. “But I’ve got to take it one step at a time, and like I said, I’m just really looking forward to going to Michigan State and having a good year there.”
(He later added in a subsequent answer, “I’m just going to work my hardest and see what happens at the end of the year.”)
Cole Reschny, the 18th overall selection by the Flames in 2025, and in his second development camp after an impressive freshman season with the University of North Dakota, was asked if the goal was to be in Calgary at the end of the season.
“That’s the goal, yeah,” said Reschny. “I think one more good year at North Dakota, kind of develop me more as a player, as a person off the ice, my body in the gym, nutrition-wise. But that’s the goal to win a national championship there and then make the jump at the end of the year, hopefully get a couple games in and get that experience. But, no, that’s the goal.”
Carson Carels, the sixth overall selection by the Flames in last weekend’s 2026 NHL Draft and headed to join Reschny at North Dakota, was asked how long he anticipated playing in college.
“I think one year in UND,” said Carels. “I think it’s going to be a good step for me to make a step instead of a leap to this next level. And, you know, I think UND is going to kind of shape me to be a more complete player and continue my maturity as a player. So I think it’s going to be a good step, and I’m really happy going there.”
Flames general manager Craig Conroy, speaking with the media a bit later, mentioned when asked about their intentions to be with the Flames at the end of the season, that he has to keep contract spots open for them under the limit of 50 active contracts. He was subsequently asked about how many contract spots he wanted to keep open, with the Potter, Reschny and Carels trio and reigning NCAA leading scorer Ethan Wyttenbach (a 2025 fifth-round pick) mentioned as guys that might merit spots.
“Yeah, I mean, those are probably there,” said Conroy. “And we’d like to probably have one more because, you know, everybody, you’d like to have one more just in case. because, you know, I think Wyttenbach was a perfect example. Everybody wasn’t talking about him. He went in and led college hockey in scoring and put himself right in the mix. So, you know, probably four or five contracts would be ideal.”
Obviously leaping from college hockey to the NHL is really tough. But the performances we’ve seen from the Flames’ high-profile collegiate quartet suggests they may be ready for the challenge.
  • Potter has already played two seasons of college and he’s just 19 years old. He made his conference’s all-rookie team in 2024-25 in his 17-year-old season, has already represented USA Hockey and won medals at two major events, and is expected to push for a World Junior roster spot this winter.
  • Reschny was his conference’s rookie of the year at North Dakota in 2025-26, has represented Hockey Canada at four major events, including a bronze medal at last year’s World Juniors, and he’s expected to return to the World Juniors this winter with Canada.
  • Carels was a first-time conference all-star in the Western League this past season, and represented Hockey Canada (and medalled) at four major events prior to his 18th birthday, including last year’s World Juniors.
  • Wyttenbach was the story of the NCAA in 2025-26, making the jump from the USHL and emerging as one of college hockey’s best players. He was a Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist, his conference’s rookie of the year and first team all-star, and the national rookie of the year.
The Flames finished fourth from last in the NHL standings in 2025-26. There could be some long nights during the 2026-27 season, too. But based on what we’re hearing from the prospects and Conroy, the future could arrive in a big way this spring.

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