5 Flames Prospects Who Should Soon Be in the NHL

As the Calgary Flames continue their first true rebuild after the failed retool in 2022 when they brought in Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri, there is one major blessing, and that is a highly touted prospect pool that will help turn things around for the Flames as the seasons go by. 

As the 2026-27 hockey season gets underway, this list looks to highlight players who have real chances of making the Flames roster within the next couple of seasons, if not by the beginning of 2027-28, that aren’t already playing professionally. 

Cole Reschny, Centre

Cole Reschny is a dynamic centre who was just named the youngest captain in University of North Dakota history following a terrific freshman campaign that saw him record the third most assists by a freshman in the 21st century for UND. Reschny was drafted 18th overall by the Flames in the 2025 Draft. 

Reschny separates himself from the rest of the prospects on this list for his elite-level speed paired with playmaking that could probably land him a spot on the team as early as this season once the college one concludes. Throughout his freshman season, he showed elite playmaking and carried forward all the way to the Frozen Four, where his team fell to the Wisconsin Badgers. Look for Reschny to make a big impact not just at UND this season but also at the World Junior Championship, where he could very possibly also be the captain. 

Carson Carels, Defenceman

Sticking with UND, no Flames prospect list can’t include their best defensive prospect, Carson Carels, now that Zayne Parekh has made the roster. If you want to know the type of player you’re getting in Carels, he chose not to attend the 2026 Draft but rather stay home on his family farm in Cypress River, Manitoba, with a population of just 175 people. 

Carels is the perfect example of the elite modern defenceman. He can carry the play up the ice and jump in the rush when needed, as he collected 73 points in 58 games last season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), but also has exceptional defensive awareness and IQ that allow him to utilize his big frame to crush opponents and keep them to the outside. He also made the Team Canada World Juniors roster as a 17-year-old, which is out of the ordinary for a nation typically stacked with already-drafted players, as Carels was only the 14th ever to do so. Look for him to play a big role as a freshman on a highly ranked UND team.

Alan Shaikhlislamov, Left/Right Wing

Alan Shaikhlislamov was the Flames’ fifth selection of the 2026 Draft, yet still a second-round pick, to show how much the team is stacking their prospect pool for the coming years. Shaikhlislamov was one of the youngest players in his draft class, being born on Sept. 4, 2008. 

What stands out the most about Shaikhlislamov is his shot and scoring touch. So far in the MHL, Russia’s premier junior hockey league, he has recorded seven goals and 12 points through his first nine games with Tolpar Ufa. Last season, he got off to an extremely hot start, which earned him a call-up to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to play with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. He does have some areas to work on, such as his foot speed and defensive zone awareness, but he made great strides in those areas as last season finished, and both already look better to start this season, so another KHL call-up is certainly something to look out for.

Ethan Wyttenbach, Left Wing 

What makes Ethan Wyttenbach such an intriguing prospect is the incredible upside he has already shown in just one year after being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 Draft. For reference, Wyttenbach led the entirety of the NCAA in scoring last season as a true freshman at Quinnipiac University. 

Oddly, his freshman year was the best of his young hockey career, as his stats have never stood out as someone who would fall into the “top prospect” category, but after a good showing in his one year in the United States Hockey League (USHL), recording 51 points in 44 games, he has been on a tear. This past summer, he was invited to play for Team USA at the World Junior Summer Showcase, where he led the tournament, scoring six goals and 12 points in six games. With his game only continuing to get better and a big sophomore season ahead, Wyttenbach may become the steal of his draft class. 

Henry Mews, Defenceman

The oldest of the players on this list is defenceman Henry Mews, who is entering his sophomore season at the University of Michigan. The third-round selection of the 2024 Draft is an offensive-minded defenceman who is always looking for ways to get the puck up the ice quickly or jump in the play once in the offensive zone. His freshman season came to a sudden end very early on after only playing 10 games and recording nine assists, due to an ACL injury. The injury kept him off the ice from November to March of this year. 

Mews makes this list for a couple of reasons; firstly, it will be very interesting to see how he handles game action after being out for nearly a year. Secondly, Michigan is a very well-put-together team with a lot of highly touted players such as projected 2027 first-overall pick Landon Dupont, so it is important he showcases his offensive prowess early on so he does not fall on the pecking order of defencemen. If he can get back to the level he was playing at in his final season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he recorded 82 points, the third-best in the league, he will be just fine. 

These are just five players of a very deep prospect pool for the Flames, and as the next few seasons go by, Calgary’s roster will soon be built around these up-and-coming stars as they push for the playoffs once again.