Barabanov was the 100th overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Barabanov was eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft following a so-so season in the USHL (15 goals and 39 points in 56 games) and wasn't selected. He played for OHL Saginaw in 2025-26 and was one of the league's top players, finishing with 28 goals and 91 points in 68 appearances, playing the entire campaign at age 19. An elite-level playmaker, Barabanov is without a doubt one of the smartest players in the entire draft. His skating isn't great, but he's displayed an ability to work well alongside talented linemates, and his passing skills will play at any level. Due to his age, Barabanov has less runway to work with than most. However, he could be an immediate contributor for UMass Amherst in the fall.
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Flames' Joe Iginla: Strange pick to start Round 3
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Iginla was the 65th overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Iginla becomes the third member of his family to be drafted into the NHL, following his father, Jarome, and his brother, Tij. Of course, it's only fitting that Joe ends up in Calgary, where his dad starred for so many years. That said, this is a very strange pick otherwise. Joe was the No. 200-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, and he managed just 15 goals and 31 points in 59 WHL games in the 2025-26 season. Iginla does have time on his side, as he won't turn 18 years old until August, but virtually no one projected him to go this high.
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Flames' Alan Shaikhlislamov: Grabbed by Flames in Round 2
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Shaikhlislamov was the 55th overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Blessed with an early September birthday, Shaikhlislamov was one of the youngest players in the entire draft. He spent last season in the Russian Jr. league, posting 18 goals and 35 points in 31 regular-season games for Toplar Ufa. Shaikhlislamov plays with a ridiculous amount of energy. He seemingly never stops moving and, as a result, is constantly causing havoc in all three zones. This is an intriguing selection for a Calgary team that has very few players like this in its prospect pool.
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Flames' Tobias Trejbal: First goalie taken in 2026
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Trejbal was the 42nd overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
In what is a down year for goaltenders, Trejbal was very clearly one of the best of the bunch. He arrived in North America this past season and dominated for Youngstown, going 30-9-3 with a league-leading 2.12 GAA and .916 save percentage. Trejbal was named USHL Goaltender of the Year for his efforts. At 6-foot-4, Trejbal has the ideal size all NHL clubs are looking for in their netminders these days. Oddly enough, Trejbal is taking the same path as 2023 Utah second-rounder Michael Hrabal, joining the USHL directly from his native Czechia before heading off to the University of Massachusetts.
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Flames' Chase Harrington: Links up with Flames in Round 2
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Harrington was the 36th overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Harrington recently completed his third season with WHL Spokane, completely changing his style of play in the process. He seemed to make a concerted effort to turn into a physical agitator, finishing with 105 PIM in 61 games after spending just 66 minutes in the box over his first 129 junior contests. Offensively, Harrington managed 28 goals and 57 points, a notable increase from the prior season, but by no means elite production. If nothing else, this grinding, competitive style he has come to embrace should help raise Harrington's professional floor. That is about all you can reasonably ask for from any prospect drafted outside the first round.
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Flames' Jack Hextall: Steady two-way pivot drafted 30th
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Hextall was the 30th overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Hextall plays a solid, yet unspectacular pro-style game. He's a 200-foot center who never cheats, and he's already strong on his skates and in his core, especially in possession. He protects the puck like it's his first born. None of Hextall's individual skills pop -- it's the complete package that makes him an appealing pro. Ignore the overly enthusiastic comps to Nick Suzuki. No one is Suzuki. Hextall will be a very good two-way pivot in the middle six. He could wind up being better than Peyton Krebs but probably not as good as David Krejci. Hextall is committed to Michigan State University for next season.
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Flames' Carson Carels: Big defender selected sixth overall
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Carels was the sixth overall pick by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Carels had an eye-popping season as a 17-year-old defender in the Western Hockey League in 2025-26. His 73 points, including 20 goals, in 58 regular-season games put him fourth on the scoring list from the blue line in the entire league, and his 32 power-play points (five goals, 27 assists) were second overall. Carels even made Team Canada for the World Juniors. He's big, skilled and physical. He skates well. And his shot is huge. Carels is the kind of number two defender that NHL coaches drool over. He won't deliver NHL offense like he did in junior. Instead, Carels profiles a bit like Ryan McDonagh or Jaccob Slavin, both of whom are defensive/shutdown stalwarts that can put up about 35-40 points in a great situation, deliver 125-140 blocks and flirt with 80-100 hits, all while being an anchor on a Stanley Cup team. These are high-floor, moderate-ceiling guys -- Carels has the skill to outscore both of those guys, simply because of his ability to run the second power play.
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Flames' Sam Morton: Signs two-way contract
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Morton signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Flames on Thursday.
Morton has made four NHL appearances across the past two seasons but has spent most of that time with AHL Calgary. Across 68 regular-season appearances during the 2025-26 season, he recorded 17 goals, 21 assists and 30 PIM.
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Flames' Rory Kerins: Re-ups with Calgary
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Kerins signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Flames on Thursday.
Kerins had another strong campaign with AHL Calgary in 2025-26, earning 22 goals and 35 assists over 56 regular-season outings. He's topped the 50-point mark in each of the last two years, but he has just nine NHL contests to his name in that span. Per Ryan Pike of Flames Nation, Kerins will need to play 71 NHL games in 2026-27 to retain restricted free agent status. If he does not, he'll become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent if the Flames don't sign him to another deal.
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Flames' Maxim Tsyplakov: Moved in trade
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Calgary acquired Tsyplakov and Simon Nemec from New Jersey on Tuesday in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round selection, a 2028 first-round pick and Etienne Morin, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Tsyplakov produced two goals, four points, 42 shots on net and 83 hits in 49 regular-season games between the Devils and Islanders in 2025-26. He will compete for a bottom-six role with the Flames during training camp.
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Flames' Simon Nemec: Flipped in three-player deal
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Nemec, along with Maxim Tsyplakov, was traded to the Flames from the Devils on Tuesday in exchange for Etienne Morin, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.
Nemec is set to be a restricted free agent come July 1, so the Flames will have to get to work on a new contract for the 22-year-old blueliner. It's unlikely to come cheaply, as the Slovak produced 11 goals, 15 assists and 101 shots in 68 regular-season games this year. With his new club, Nemec could be in line for minutes with the No. 2 power-play unit, setting him up to potentially reach the 30-point threshold for the first time in his NHL career.
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Flames' Kirill Zarubin: Inks entry-level deal
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Zarubin signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flames on Friday.
Zarubin had a 2.17 GAA and a .930 save percentage in 48 regular-season outings in 2025-26 with AKM Tula of the MHL, which is Russia's major junior league. Calgary selected Zarubin with the No. 84 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old will probably spend the 2026-27 campaign honing his game in the minors.
Flames' Theo Stockselius: Secures entry-level deal
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Stockselius agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with Calgary on Monday.
Stockselius made the jump to the professional ranks this season, logging 16 regular-season games for Djurgardens IF of the SHL, though he produced just one helper. The 18-year-old center was significantly more productive with the club's junior team, notching 16 points in 11 games. While Stockselius could come over for training camp ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, it's likely he'll be loaned back to Djurgardens unless he really impresses in camp.
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Flames' Andrew Basha: Four assists in season-ending loss
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Basha logged four assists in WHL Medicine Hat's 7-6 loss to Prince Albert in Game 6 on Sunday.
Basha's performance wasn't enough, as the Tigers are out of the WHL postseason with this loss. He produced three goals, 18 helpers and a plus-1 rating across 15 playoff contests. The 20-year-old forward started 2025-26 with AHL Calgary before returning to the junior ranks in January. He'll be a full-time pro with the Wranglers in 2026-27, but it could still be a couple of years before he's ready to help the Flames.
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Flames' Dryden Hunt: Three more helpers Saturday
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Hunt notched three assists in AHL Calgary's 7-5 win over Colorado on Saturday.
Hunt only got into three NHL games this season, failing to record a point while adding nine hits and four blocked shots. He was at his best as a veteran leader for the Wranglers, putting up 18 goals and 63 points over 52 appearances. Hunt is under contract for 2026-27 and will likely operate in a similar capacity next year.
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Flames' Rory Kerins: Garners three assists
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Kerins recorded three assists in AHL Calgary's 7-5 win over Colorado on Saturday.
Kerins went scoreless over four NHL outings this season, including two right at the end of the Flames' campaign. He's been excellent in the AHL, ending the season with 22 goals, 57 points and 118 shots on net over 56 appearances. Kerins will likely get a long look in training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season.
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Flames' Dryden Hunt: Earns three points Friday
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Hunt scored a goal and added two assists in AHL Calgary's 5-2 win over Colorado on Friday.
Hunt reached the 60-point mark for the year with this performance. He's at 18 goals, 42 assists, 132 shots on net and 64 PIM across 51 appearances for the Wranglers this year. The 30-year-old forward is under contract for 2026-27 and should continue to serve mostly as an AHL veteran who can fill in at the NHL level if necessary.
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Flames' Martin Pospisil: Playing for Slovakia
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Pospisil will join Slovakia for the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan reports Friday.
Pospisil had one goal and two assists over 22 appearances with the Flames in 2025-26 after playing 81 games in 2024-25. He missed the first 49 games of the season with an undisclosed injury and never got untracked all year. Pospisil will look to fill out a bottom-six role next season, as he still has two years remaining on the three-year deal he signed in July of 2025.
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