The Calgary Flames had a weekend to remember, making some strategic moves to strengthen their lineup for the future. After a Friday night that saw them snag Carson Carels, a defensive powerhouse, at the sixth overall spot, and then secure a promising center in Jack Hextall at No. 30, the Flames continued their draft magic into Saturday morning.
Armed with three second-round picks, two in the third, and a few more down the line, the Flames were poised to deepen their prospect pool significantly. And they did just that.
One of their notable picks was Harrington, standing tall at 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 201 pounds. While he might not be the offensive engine at the top of the NHL lineup, Harrington is all about grit and grind.
Hailing from Prince George, B.C., he’s coming off a season where he netted 28 goals and dished out 29 assists over 61 games. His physicality and relentless play along the boards make him a valuable asset for any third line.
But the Flames weren’t done yet. In a savvy move, they traded their No. 51 and 68 picks to jump up to No. 42, where they nabbed Tobias Trejbal, the USHL’s goalie of the year.
While goaltending might not be an urgent need for the Flames, landing Trejbal was a coup. Many had him pegged as a first-round talent, and he was widely regarded as the top goalie in this draft class.
The Czech native boasts a 2.12 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage, and he's set to join the University of Massachusetts next year.
Trejbal’s addition bolsters an already impressive lineup of young netminders in Calgary’s system, which includes Kirill Zarubin, Arseni Sergeyev, and Owen Say. And let’s not forget about Dustin Wolf, who’s still very much a part of the Flames' future plans. With these strategic picks, the Flames are not just building for today but setting the stage for a strong tomorrow.
In Other News...
Canucks Eyeing Familiar Blue-Line Reunion Fans Will Definitely Debate
The Canucks are keeping an eye on the veteran side of their blue line again, and Ian Cole is a familiar name in that search. According to Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK, Vancouver is interested in the pending unrestricted free agent defenseman after his one-season run with the club in 2023-24, a stretch that left the Canucks with a clear sense of what he can and cannot bring. Cole has continued to be a useful contributor in recent seasons, which only adds to the appeal for a team looking to steady its back end.
There is also a roster wrinkle building around Pierre-Olivier Joseph, with Vancouver expected not to issue him a qualifying offer, which would push him toward free agency. Put together, the two moves hint at a blue-line reset that favors experience and familiarity, even if the debate in Vancouver will come down to whether that is the right mix for a team trying to stay competitive while reshaping its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks May Be Near Their Biggest Pettersson Decision Yet
The Elias Pettersson trade chatter around Vancouver has a very real business side to it, and that is what makes this one different from the usual offseason noise. Pettersson is tied to the Canucks through the 2031-32 season, and his cap hit is large enough to make any move complicated before it even gets to the hockey fit. For a team trying to keep its options open heading into free agency, that kind of contract can quickly become the central issue.
What makes the situation even trickier is the timing. July 1 is creeping closer, and the longer the offseason goes, the fewer paths there may be to create real salary cap flexibility. Vancouver could always try to make the numbers work in a variety of ways, including retaining some salary, but as of now there is still no confirmed deal and plenty of uncertainty about whether this is a true market or just a difficult one to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Just Made Another Forward Move Fans Will Want To See
The Predators have continued to reshape their forward group this offseason, and the latest move gives them another cost-controlled option with some runway left on his contract. Nashville brought in Nils Hoglander from Vancouver for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft, adding a winger who still has two years left at a $3 million cap hit per season before reaching unrestricted free agency in 2028.
For a Predators front office that has already added Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Adam Edstrom, the deal fits the broader pattern of stacking depth while keeping plenty of flexibility. Nashville still has nearly $17 million in cap space heading toward free agency, so the move raises the question of whether this is another incremental piece or just the latest step in a much bigger offensive shuffle. [Read more 🡒]