Carson Carels: Flames' Top Defense Prospect

Calgary Flames strike gold at sixth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft with Carson Carels — a 17-year-old defenseman from the Prince George Cougars who’s already a two-way force. With 73 points in 58 games (doubling his prior season’s output) and a spot on Team Canada at the World Juniors, Carels brings elite skating, physicality, and puck sense to the table. A top-four defenseman in the WHL, he’s poised to contribute offensively and defensively at the NHL level. Set to join North Dakota alongside fellow prospect Cole Reschny, Carels slots in as a long-term cornerstone for Calgary’s blue line — a dynamic, high-impact player who can score, defend, and lead. 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/fb63d69886619bd7