Flames Stockpile Draft Picks, Shattering Records

0:00It's April 7. This is Calgary Flames News Today. Your AI-powered team coverage. Since Craig Conroy took over as Flames General Manager back in May 2023, they've stuck to his plan of rebuilding through the draft. Right now, with just days left in the 2025-2026 regular season, Calgary controls 11 picks in the 2026 NHL. Draft. That includes two first rounders at third overall and 18th overall from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Noah Hanuffin deal. They're loaded in the early rounds, too, with four second round picks at 35th, 36th from the Rangers via Utah in the Mackenzie Wegar, trade, 52nd, and 54th from the Senators also through Utah. Then it rolls on with third rounders at 65th from Vancouver in the Nikita's Adora swap, 67th own, 4th at 99th, 5th at 1, 131st, and 6th at 163rd. Things are buzzing because this puts the Flames on pace to shatter some draft records.

1:02They've never had more than 10 picks in the 7-round era, which they hit last year. Now they've got six in the first two rounds, topping their previous high of four and eight through three rounds, blowing past the old mark of six. Looking back, the Flames hit three first rounders once in 2013, and this would be their third straight year with multiples. Recent drafts like 2024 brought talents like Zayn Perrek, 9th overall, showing quality alongside quantity. All this ammo has folks wondering if they should trade up for a superstar or spread the wealth, especially after strong halls lately. Either way, Conroy stacking the deck for the future.