The 2026 NHL Draft is in the books, but the Calgary Flames made their biggest move before the first pick by acquiring Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils. We break down the blockbuster trade, recap Calgary’s nine-player draft class led by Carson Carels and Jack Hextall, and discuss why Craig Conroy’s long-term vision is beginning to take shape.

We also look ahead to free agency, debate which players the Flames should re-sign, discuss whether Calgary should make any additions on July 1, and explore what comes next as the rebuild continues.

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Mentioned in this episode: 2026 Entry Draft, Alan Shaikhlislamov, Blake Coleman, Bode Laylin, Carson Carels, Chase Harrington, Clark Bishop, Connor Zary, Daniil Miromanov, Devin Cooley, Dustin Wolf, Egor Barabanov, Jack Hextall, Jake Bean, Joe Iginla, John Beecher, Jonathan Huberdeau, Justin Kirkland, Kevin Bahl, MacKenzie Weegar, Matthew Coronato, Maxim Tsyplakov, Michael Backlund, Morgan Frost, Nazem Kadri, Rasmus Andersson, Rory Kerins, Ryan Lomberg, Sam Morton, Simon Katolicky, Simon Nemec, Tobias Trejbal, Victor Olofsson, Yegor Sharangovich, Zayne Parekh