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FN Draft Profiles: Could Adam Novotny be the Flames’ ideal second, first-round pick?
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Photo credit: Brandon Taylor/ OHL Images
Adrian Kiss
Apr 22, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 22, 2026, 00:59 EDT
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It’s such a luxury for the Calgary Flames to have two first-round draft picks this year. With the majority of the focus surrounding the higher of the two picks, the second pick probably hasn’t had the consideration it deserves.
Holding Vegas’ unprotected first-round pick, the Flames were looking to benefit from a somewhat down year from the Golden Knights. It was looking like the pick could have been relatively high until they went in a heater winning seven of their final eight games and winning the Pacific Division. At this point, the draft pick should fall somewhere in the 25th-to-28th overall range — a draft position the Flames are all too familiar with.
There are a number of quality prospects who could end up becoming Flames around that spot in the draft. The first round projects to have a good mix of North American and European-born players. One intriguing European name who has been tearing it up in North America is Czech-born forward Adam Novotny.

Scouting report

Hailing from Kobylice, Czechia, Novotny made the jump to North America after being taken in the first round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft. This is the same import draft that saw current Flames forward Matvei Gridin move across the pond as well.
The 18-year-old has a solid frame, standing at six-foot-one and weighing 204 pounds. Novotny is a left-shot winger known for his elite shot and 200-foot game.
Liam Staples from McKeen’s Hockey had nothing but good things to say about Novotny’s shooting ability:
“A clear calling card in Novotný’s game is his pro-level shot. His deceptive release can make it unpredictable for goaltenders to read. He is so skilled at being able to thread pucks through lanes to the front of the net. His accuracy makes him a threat from anywhere on the ice. Novotný shows torque on his one-timer but relies more heavily on a hard wrist shot or snap shot.”
Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino had more to say about his shot and game as a whole:
“He is a team-first player, who works tirelessly on his game both in the gym and on the ice. He plays a hard and honest game. In OHL competition, his strength allows him to clear space and produce top-level numbers. He rarely passes up a shooting opportunity and doesn’t need much time to really rip a puck.”

The numbers

Novotny’s first season in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes has been very good, recording 34 goals and 31 assists to sit 27th overall in OHL scoring and second among Europeans in the league.
Novotny has played a role for Team Czechia in the last two World Junior Championships as well. Two years ago, he recorded a goal in seven games and then followed that up this year with three assists in seven games on his way to a bronze and silver medal at the tournament.

Availability and Fit

The general consensus is that Novotny will be picked between the 10th and 15th overall range, though some prospect rankings have him going as late as 23rd overall. Novotny falling that far back in the draft is probably unlikely, but stranger things have happened. If this is the case, the Flames would be extremely lucky to get this player later in the draft.
A left winger may not be the highest of priorities at the upcoming draft, though it’s still a position they could improve upon depth-wise. Long term at that position, you have Jonathan Huberdeau, Yegor Sharangovich, Matvei Gridin and Connor Zary. Then you also have Blake Coleman, who isn’t likely to remain a Flame in the long run, as well as young players like Sam Honzek and Brennan Othmann, who will look to claim roster spots going forward.
Regardless of who the Flames already have at that position, sometimes you just have to take the best available player. If Novotny is available when the Flames make their second first-round pick, there is a good chance he’ll be the best player available.
The Flames need scoring, and if Novotny can bring that elite shot with him to the NHL, it may be hard to pass on him if he’s available. There are a lot of things to like in his game, and he has a really solid foundation to be a top-six forward in the NHL.
Do you think the Flames have any shot of drafting Novotny? Should they even take him if he is available? Let us know in the comments below.

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