The Calgary Flames have put pen to paper with one of their most exciting prospects.

On Tuesday evening, the Flames announced that they’ve signed forward Chase Harrington to a three year entry-level contract carrying an average annual value of $1.075 million.

The 18-year-old Harrington was selected by the Flames in the second round, 36th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft.

A product of Prince George, British Columbia, Harrington is just entering his third full season with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs. He joined the Chiefs after being selected eighth overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft after being a standout with the Delta Hockey Academy. After dipping his toe in with a call-up in 2022-23, he became a full-time WHLer in 2023-24 and he’s progressed into being one of the more impactful players in that circuit.

Harrington was a standout at Flames camp, impressing with his pace, physicality and attention to detail. He even got into a pre-season game in Seattle. Harrington was named Spokane’s captain on Saturday and celebrated with a Gordie Howe hat trick. He’s a contender for a spot on Canada’s national junior team for the upcoming World Juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer this winter.

For Harrington, signing an entry-level deal closes the door on any potential college hockey opportunities. But his long run in Flames camp, including his exhibition game, probably showcased to both him and the Flames that he’s not that far away from going pro, so in that sense… why not sign?

From the Flames perspective, getting pen to paper with Harrington is a nice little coup. Harrington was one of the older first-time eligible players in the 2026 class, as an Oct. 30 birthday. Because of that, he’s what hockey people “a late birthday,” and because of that under the collective bargaining agreement’s entry-level “slide rule,” his deal is eligible to slide for both the 2026-27 season and 2027-28 season unless he plays in 10 NHL games in either year. And because he’s a 2007 birthday, he’s eligible to be a full-time AHLer starting with next season.

So that means that if Harrington goes pro next season, he could play an entire AHL season without tolling a year on his entry-level contract. Recent draft choices like Sam Honzek, Andrew Basha and Connor Zary did the same, and these types of signings give the Flames a bit of developmental and contractual runway… and give the player a chance to make pro money faster than if they went to college or otherwise delayed their signings.

Long story short: Harrington’s signing is a great feather in the cap of a very promising young player… and a nice bit of work for the Flames, too.

The Flames begin their 2026-27 season on Thursday at home against the Seattle Kraken.