Folks, the Calgary Flames made a lot of selections at the 2024 NHL Draft. The event saw the Flames make 10 selections, which in turn helped the hockey club restock their prospect cupboards after a few lean years at the draft table.

Drafting is cyclical in nature, and we’ve seen the Flames go through cycles where they went several years without drafting a defenceman, and years in which they draft several. In the case of the 2024 draft, seven of the 10 players selected were already playing in one of the Canadian Hockey League’s member leagues… and then first-rounder Matvei Gridin was selected in the import draft.

As many as 13 Flames prospects could be playing junior hockey in Canada this fall, though it’ll more likely be closer to 11.

Here’s a handy rundown!

Basha finished third on the Tigers in 2023-24 in points – behind 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna and 20-year-old Oaziz Wiesblatt – and he’s really well-positioned for a big year in 2024-25. It’ll be his fourth full season in the Dub and the Tigers seemed poised for a strong year with so many big guns returning for next season.

A seventh-rounder from last year’s draft, Hurtig is joining the Hitmen and it’ll be interesting to see how it goes. To be blunt, the Hitmen lack a ton of star power. And while it’s uncommon for teams to carry “two-spotters” – players that use up both an import spot and an overage spot – Hurtig could find himself as a two-spotter if he makes himself into a useful WHLer this season. Think of Hurtig’s 2024-25 campaign as an audition.

Jamieson was third in scoring among Everett blueliners last season. He’s a 2005 birthday, so this coming season – his third full WHL campaign – could be important as the sixth-rounder tries to vie for a pro contract.

Laing was 12th in scoring among Prince George skaters last season as a rookie. He’s headed into his second full season and the nice thing is as a 2006 birthday he has two full seasons ahead of him before pro hockey becomes a possibility. He’ll have time to grow with the Cougars.

Let’s call a spade a spade here: Lipinski had a really good WHL season in 2023-24, leading the Giants in scoring and emerging as one of the top centres at the face-off dot in the entire circuit. But the Flames have oodles of forwards under contract, so he could be back in the Dub as an overager just due to the numbers game.

Honzek’s a first-round pick who had bad injury luck last season. He’s a developmental priority for the organization, so he’ll be given every chance to play in the pros this coming season. Returning to the WHL as an overager is a possibility, but it seems unlikely given his situation.

Gridin was just selected by Val-d’Or in the import draft and right now things seem to be pointing towards him playing with the Foreurs. We’ll see what happens.

Morin’s already played three seasons in the Q and the 2024-25 campaign is shaping up to be his fourth and final. He had good stretches last season but his numbers dipped, so hopefully he can turn that around and finish his junior career strong.

Battaglia was second on the Frontenacs in points last season, behind 20-year-old Paul Ludwinski. He seems well-poised to push for the team’s scoring lead in 2024-25. As a 2006 birthday, Battaglia has two years of the OHL ahead of him. (At least.)

Another 2006 birthday, Mews led all 67’s defenders in points last season and was third overall on the team. He’s got two seasons left in the O, and also seems well-positioned for a big 2024-25 season.

Misa led the Steelheads in points last season. He’s a 2005 birthday, so this coming season is an audition to see whether he goes back for an overage year in 2025-26 or if he can push for a pro gig with the Flames organization.

Parekh was the best blueliner in Canadian junior hockey last season. He led the OHL in points by a blueliner. He’s a 2006 birthday, so he has potentially two seasons left in the O, and we’re fascinated at how much more he could dominate the league offensively.

Brzustewicz is eligible to return to the OHL as an overager… but he was one of the top offensive blueliners in that circuit last season, and there’s really not much left for him to accomplish there.