Looking for blueliners? 10 potential targets for the Flames at the 2024 NHL Draft (2024)

Last week, Calgary Flames director of amateur scouting Tod Button revealed that the team had seven defencemen it was considering taking with the ninth overall pick.

So we know that blueliners are on the Flames’ mind, even after a year that saw them bolster their stable of young d-men as they traded away veteran after veteran.

And by all accounts, this weekend’s draft has a lot of interesting talent on the blue line.

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Here are 10 potential targets …

Sam Dickinson

The Flames could consider at … No. 9 overall

Look, it’s entirely possible that Dickinson will be off the board long before the Flames step to the podium. There’s a consensus that the London Knights blueliner is one of the best defencemen in the draft, but there’s a considerable amount of variance in how the top guys are ranked. What’s clear is there are a lot of scouts who really, really like Dickinson. At 6-foot-3 and 195 lb., Dickinson is described as being about as well-rounded as they come. He put up 70 points in 68 games in the OHL this season and earned praise for his poise and puck-moving. He’s also proven to be dependable in his own end and more than willing to engage in the physical side of the game.

Zayne Parekh

The Flames could consider at … No. 9 overall

Parekh put up the type of numbers this year that make you pause for a second and make sure you’re seeing them with clear eyes. Playing for the Saginaw Spirit, Parekh scored 33 goals and added 63 assists in 66 games, recorded 11 points in 13 playoff contests, and helped the OHL club capture the Memorial Cup. He’s an offensively-minded blueliner who remains solid in his own end and has exceptional hockey IQ. His confidence and aggressiveness makes him “high-risk, high-reward” in the words of one scout, but should the Flames take him fans will surely be dreaming of a day when he’s manning the power-play.

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Carter Yakemchuk

The Flames could consider at …. No. 9 overall or slightly later in the first round

Yakemchuk wouldn’t need an introductory tour of the Saddledome, at least. The 6-foot-3, 201-lb. defenceman has been skating on the blue-line for the Calgary Hitmen for the past couple seasons, so it will have been awfully easy for Flames scouts to get an extensive understanding of his game. FC Hockey described Yakemchuk as having a “proactive style” that sees him jump into plays and move constantly in the offensive zone, and that saw him score 30 goals and add 41 assists in 66 games this season. He’s still improving on the defensive end and many experts have him going a few picks later than No. 9, but the Flames will know absolutely everything there is to know about Yakemchuk. Maybe that familiarity works in his favour.

EJ Emery

The Flames could consider at … No. 28 overall

The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau has Emery ranked 39th among North American skaters, but around the league there seems to be a consensus that the dual Canadian-American citizen is going to go a lot earlier in the draft. He played for the U.S. National Team Development Program last year and is going to be suiting up at the University of North Dakota next season. He dazzled at the NHL Scouting Combine and at 6-foot-3 and 185 lb., he’ll likely bulk up over the coming years. With an already effective game in his own zone, scouts are projecting him to be a solid shutdown defenceman.

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Charlie Elick

The Flames could consider at … No. 28 overall

A lot of the guys on this list are here because of their offensive games, but with Elick, it’s about his defence and physicality. The Calgarian spent time with the Edge School program before joining the Brandon Wheat Kings and earned a reputation for being one of the toughest opponents to play against in the WHL this season. His offensive numbers — four goals and 27 points in 65 games — don’t jump out at you, but he’s 6-foot-4, weighs 203 lb. and his defensive awareness and positioning are elite. Scouts also believe there’s room to grow with his two-way game, so there’s upside here.

Jesse Pulkkinen

The Flames could consider at … No. 41 overall

A lot can change in a year. In 2023, Pulkkinen went undrafted. This year, the big Finn is considered one of the more intriguing defencemen available. Part of that is that he’s 6-foot-6 — can you imagine a Twin Towers situation with Pulkkinen playing next to the 6-foot-6 Kevin Bahl? — with a long stride and solid puck control. He’s a year older than a lot of the guys in the draft, but despite being a late bloomer he has real potential as a two-way defenceman. He put up 28 points in 18 games for the JYP under-20 team in his homeland last season before scoring twice and adding six assists in 29 games for the JYP senior team.

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Harrison Brunicke

The Flames could consider in the second round

Whenever Brunicke skates in the NHL for the first time, he’ll be making history as the first skater born in South Africa to ever play in the world’s top hockey league. Now, Brunicke did move to Calgary when he was two years old, so his hockey education happened in Canada, but the South Africa connection would still be very cool. Brunicke skyrocketed up many draft boards over the past year after finding his groove with the Kamloops Blazers. He’s 6-foot-3, weighs 183 lb. and showed real progress, putting up 10 goals and 11 assists in 49 WHL games.

Aron Kiviharju

The Flames could consider in the second round or beyond

There is some risk attached to a guy like Kiviharju because he only played in seven games this season due to a knee injury that required surgery. Inevitably, that meant he dropped down most boards and it’s hard to really get a read on where his game’s at heading into draft night. Prior to the injury, though, his skating had the Finnish defenceman very high on a lot of lists. At 5-foot-9, he isn’t big, but he’s got elite offensive abilities and Grade A playmaking skills. Scouting reports suggest his defensive game needs work and the injury will undoubtedly scare off some teams. But whoever takes him will feel like they might have wound up with one of the steals of the draft if his development gets back on track.

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Marek Howell

The Flames could consider in the later rounds

This Calgary native is expected to be selected in the later rounds. The son of Calgary Dinos head coach Mark Howell, the 6-foot-3, 200 lb. defenceman came up through the Calgary Royals program and has split his WHL time between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Vancouver Giants, who acquired him prior to last season. While he only put up 12 assists in 61 games in 2023-24, Howell is light on his feet and solid in his own end. It probably doesn’t hurt that the Flames took two of Howell’s teammates with the Giants in last year’s draft, so their scouts surely got a good look at him when they were checking in on Samuel Honzek and Jaden Lipinski.

Matt Lahey

The Flames could consider him in the later rounds

Lahey spent the past two seasons with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL and was that league’s top-ranked defenceman on the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings heading into the draft. He’s committed to playing at Clarkson University next year. At 6-foot-5 and 203 lb., he’s got the size to make an impact in the pros. While he only put up 19 points in 54 games this season, he’s been lauded for his puck-moving ability.

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