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The Calgary Flames drafted defenseman Carson Carels with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.
Carels was ranked the No. 3 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting behind forward Gavin McKenna and defenseman Chase Reid. He recorded 20 goals, 73 points, and 66 penalty minutes in 58 games this season with the WHL's Prince George Cougars. Carels added one goal and 10 points in 10 playoff contests.
His 1.26 points per game in the regular season made for the highest scoring rate by a draft-eligible WHL defenseman since Scott Niedermayer in 1990-91.
Carels featured in a depth role for Team Canada at the world juniors in January. He had one assist in five games.
The Manitoba native has drawn comparisons to Boston Bruins rearguard Charlie McAvoy. Carels - listed at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds - pointed to his physicality and all-around game when asked what differentiates him from the other top blue-liners in the class.
"I think just that extra bite and aggressiveness I bring and how I want to win all the time," Carels told NHL.com's Mike G. Morreale. "I have that playoff mentality all year and I feel that's something that separates me. Everyone has their own strengths and everybody does them extremely well among this defensive group, but I think I'm just one of the more complete players and complete defensemen that plays a two-way game."
Carels is headed to the University of North Dakota in the fall.
