Carson Carels: Flames' Top Defense Prospect

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 27, 2026 · 1m

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…