Could the Flames draft one of the upcoming generational prospects?

The 2025 NHL Draft concluded just over a month ago, so it may be too early to look ahead to 2026 and 2027. However, the top-end talent in those drafts is incredibly tantalizing.

Matthew Schaefer, who was the first overall selection in June, is an awesome prospect, but is far from generational, and frankly, pales in comparison to projected top picks in 2026 (Gavin McKenna) and 2027 (Landon DuPont).

You’ve probably already heard of McKenna, who competed at the 2025 World Junior Championship just days after his 17th birthday.

As a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League, McKenna has been extraordinary, posting 244 points in only 133 games, all before his draft-eligible season.

Last season, the 6’0″, Whitehorse native was named CHL Player of the Year, joining Sidney Crosby and John Tavares as the only under-18 winners of the award.

He also carried the Tigers to a WHL Championship in 2025, on the back of his mind-boggling 38 points in 16 playoff games.

McKenna is set to make the move to the NCAA next year, where he’ll join Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa at Penn State.

Landon DuPont is a lesser-known name and is not eligible until the 2027 NHL Draft. A Calgary native, DuPont became the third defenceman ever to be granted exceptional status in the CHL.

As a 15-year-old, DuPont racked up 75 points in 74 total games during his rookie season with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, staggering numbers for a defenceman of his age. His blueline partner for much of the season was Eric Jamieson, a Flames prospect.

The right-shot blueliner is the heavy favourite to be first off the board in 2027, and if he continues on this trajectory, he’ll become one of the highest-touted defensive prospects in NHL history.

As you may know, Calgary has never picked 1st overall; in fact, they’ve never even made a top-three selection, and in all likelihood, that won’t change over the course of the next two seasons.

However, considering the current state of the team, their chances of landing a phenom at the draft are not astronomical. Although they had some unexpected success last season — almost solely on the back of an unbelievable rookie campaign from Dustin Wolf — this is still a team whose best players are aging, and whose number two defenceman is likely on his way out.

Plus, the Flames are certainly due for some luck at the draft lottery.

All things considered, it’s hard to be confident that the Flames will absolutely be a better team in either of the next two seasons, and they’re likely a Wolf regression or injury (knock on wood) away from being a bottom-10 team, and owning a valuable lottery ticket.

It’s also worth noting that Calgary owns Vegas’ 2026 first-round pick (unprotected), which they acquired in the Noah Hanifin deal, and although you can probably already staple that pick to the back half of the first round, crazier things have happened in the NHL.