Calgary Flames Draft Top Defense Prospect

Calgary Flames just drafted Carson Carels sixth overall—the highest-drafted defenseman in franchise history. At just 18 from a town of 175 people, Carels sees himself as a gritty, two-way defender who thrives in physical play. His breakout came at Pilot Mounds Prep, then with Prince George Cougars, where he became WHL MVP, led Team Manitoba to a Cup, and earned international gold and silver. In 2025-26, he exploded offensively with 73 points in 53 games, earning All-Star honors and bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and World Juniors—all while playing alongside other Flames prospects. With Bahl already on the roster and Carels, Parekh, and others in the pipeline, the Flames are building a defense-first offense. Carels will spend summer back on the farm, possibly attending Calgary’s development camp, before heading to North Dakota for college hockey. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9ce2c343741a30aa