Team

Betting

FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA

How the Flames’ and Oilers’ prospect training camp rosters compare

Photo credit: Medicine Hat Tigers

By Ryan Pike

Sep 13, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 13, 2026, 00:11 EDT

Comments

Since Craig Conroy became general manager of the Calgary Flames in May 2023, his club has made 33 draft choices. Up the road, the Edmonton Oilers have made 20. In the same span, though, Edmonton’s appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals.

The contrast in directions between the two Alberta hockey clubs will be pretty apparent when they clash in the NextGen Showcase on Monday evening in Calgary. The Flames have leaned into a rebuilding process, while the Oilers have been in full “burn the boats!” mode for the past handful of seasons.

As a result? The Flames have a prospect crop that’s drawn renown around hockey, while Edmonton’s draws reactions along the lines of “Well, yeah, but look at their NHL roster…”

With college and European prospects unavailable, here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of who each club is bringing to their rookie camps.

NHL Draft choices made by the two teams

Flames

Oilers

G Arsenii Sergeev [2021; 7th round / 205th]
F Aydar Suniev [2023; 3rd round / 80th]
D Axel Hurtig [2023; 7th round / 208th]
F Matvei Gridin [2024; 1st round / 28th]
F Andrew Basha [2024; 2nd round / 41st]
G Kirill Zarubin [2024; 3rd round / 84th]
D Mace’o Phillips [2025; 3rd round / 80th]
D Jakob Leander [2025; 7th round / 208th]
F Chase Harrington [2026; 2nd round / 36th]
F Joe Iginla [2026; 3rd round / 65th]
F Simon Katolicky [2026; 5th round / 132nd]
D Bode Laylin [2026; 6th round / 164th]

G Samuel Jonsson [2022; 5th round / 158th]
D Beau Akey [2023; 2nd round / 56th]
G Nathaniel Day [2023; 6th round / 184th]
G Eemil Vinni [2024; 2nd round / 64th]
F Connor Clattenburg [2024; 5th round / 160th]
F William Nicholl [2024; 7th round / 196th]
F David Lewandowski [2025; 4th round / 117th]
F Rudolfs Berzkalns [2026; 2nd round / 58th]
D Andrew Robinson [2026; 5th round / 133rd]
F Caden Harvey [2026; 6th round / 180th]
G Ryan Cameron [2026; 7th round / 212th]

Matvei Gridin is the only homegrown first-round draft choice from either team.

In terms of players selected in the first three rounds, the Flames have a 7-3 edge.

The Flames have 12 picks representing five drafts. The Oilers have 11 picks representing five drafts.

Trade acquisitions

Flames	Oilers
D Abram Wiebe (VGK) F Jonathan Castagna (UTA)	F Isaac Howard (TBL)

The Flames acquired Abram Wiebe (a 2022 seventh-round pick) from Vegas in the Rasmus Andersson trade, and Jonathan Castagna (a 2023 third-round pick) from Utah in the MacKenzie Weegar trade. The Oilers acquired Isaac Howard (a 2022 first-round pick) from Tampa Bay for Sam O’Reilly.

When you add in trade acquisitions, first-round picks are even at 1-1, then Flames have an 8-4 edge in picks from first three rounds, and a 14-12 edge in drafted players at this camp.

Free agent signings

Flames	Oilers
F Tyson Gross (NCAA)	F Quinn Hutson (NCAA) F Viljami Marjala (Finland) F Owen Michaels (NCAA) F Josh Samanski (Germany) D Damien Carfanga (NCAA) D Tomas Cibulka (Czechia)

Perhaps it’s because they’ve traded so many high draft picks away, but Edmonton has been one of the most active teams league-wide in signing free agents from Europe or college hockey. Because the Flames have so many high-end draft choices, they’re less attractive as a free agent destination.

AHL signings

Flames/Wranglers	Oilers/Condors
G Semyon Konopsky G Owen Say D Kent Anderson D Kyle Walker F Ryder Boulton F Will Dineen F Carter Wilkie	D Zach Bookman D Samuel Sjolund F Rhett Pitlick F Simon Tassy

Both teams have brought a handful of players signed to AHL deals for the Calgary Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors.

Try-out invites

Flames	Oilers
F Riley Boychuk (WHL) F Brett Olson (WHL)	F Weston Cameron (OHL) F Olli Wahlroos (WHL) D Kyle Heger (WHL)

Finally, each club has filled out their camp roster with some undrafted junior players brought in on try-outs.

Which team’s prospects training camp roster do you like better? Let us know in the comments!

PRESENTED BY THE DFO CALGARY NEWSLETTER

Never miss what matters in the game. From lineup changes to breaking trades and must-read analysis, Daily Faceoff Calgary delivers the insight serious hockey fans rely on—straight to your inbox. Sign up for the Daily Faceoff Calgary newsletter!