Calgary Flames NHL Draft picks tracker: Grades, fits and analysis

Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Calgary Flames’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.

2024 Draft Grade: A-

Calgary’s draft will mostly be known for drafting its potential PP1 quarterback in Zayne Parekh, but I thought the Flames went to work after taking him, too. In the top three rounds, they chose players I like a lot. In particular, they drafted a lot of skill and a goalie in Kirill Zarubin, who I think has a lot of NHL traits. They also got one of my favorite later-round prospects in Hunter Laing. It would not surprise me to see two or three NHL regulars come from this class.

Draft Class

9. Zayne Parekh, RHD, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

February 15, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 181 pounds

Tier: Top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Player comparable: John Klingberg

Analysis: Parekh is an extremely talented offensive defenseman who was the best defenseman in the OHL this season. He has a ton of skill and hockey sense. When the puck is on his stick he beats opponents one-on-one often. His brain operates differently from other players on the ice in how he sees the ice and can take an extra second with the puck to create a scoring chance. He skates well and can attack with his speed and skill. He has strong edge work and top speed and is very elusive off the blue line. He also has an excellent point shot being a constant goal-scoring threat. The big issue with Parekh is his play away from the puck. He gives half-efforts at times defensively and doesn’t engage physically. I’ve seen worse defenders though. He picks off a lot of passes and makes stops but will likely never be a tough minutes defender. He projects as a top pair/PP1 type who may need to be deployed away from opponents’ top forwards.

Thoughts on the pick: Parekh is a super smart defenseman, arguably the smartest player in the entire draft. This is a bit of a swing by Calgary given his defensive issues, but he’s exactly what they need in their organization, as a potential top PP/top pair defender who can be a star if he truly hits. I’m a bit surprised they looked his way over Zeev Buium though given the similar profiles.

28. Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

March 1, 2006 | 6′ 1″ | 185 pounds

Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Player comparable: Yegor Chinakhov

Analysis: Gridin was a top scorer in the USHL this season. The talent is obvious in Gridin’s game. He’s a strong skater with excellent offensive skills. He routinely beats USHL defenders with his one-on-one play and can improvise well with the puck. He’s a strong playmaker and finisher who can generate a lot of offense. His effort level is just OK and he can play on the perimeter too much. He did kill penalties at times in the USHL though and I think his compete and consistency are good enough to be a solid pro.

Thoughts on the pick: Gridin had a huge year in the USHL and played his way from relative unknown into a late-first-round pick. He’s a great goal-scorer with good speed, skill and a pro frame. He projects as a top-nine wing who can score goals in the NHL. Calgary has a lot of quality wing prospects but Gridin is just as good as many of them.

41. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

November 8, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 187 pounds

Tier: Has a chance to play games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Basha was a big part of a great Medicine Hat offense this season and posted big scoring numbers. Basha is a winger with a ton of skill and playmaking ability. He has the hands to break open shifts. He beats a lot of defenders one-on-one and does so at full speed. He can make difficult passes on the move and when the play slows down in the offensive zone. He can score goals but has more of a pass-first mentality. Basha has the offensive talent to score as a pro, but whether he can handle the physicality of the NHL will be a question. He competes hard enough but isn’t overly physical, is 5-foot-11 and doesn’t create a ton of offense at the net. For those reasons, I’m more skeptical of his NHL projection than some even if I see the path to getting games.

62. Jacob Battaglia, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

March 17, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 205 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Battaglia was an important and productive player for Kingston and has developed quite well since being picked in the second round of his OHL Draft. He’s very offensively talented. Battaglia has the quick hands and high-end creativity to make a lot of things happen with the puck. He often beats defenders with his one-on-one play. He also is a strong playmaker who makes tough plays in traffic and off the perimeter. His pure effort level isn’t amazing off the puck, but it’s good enough. He plays fast, is a strong skater and has a play style that could translate into a bottom-six wing.

74. Henry Mews, RHD, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

March 9, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 185 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Mews had a slightly underwhelming draft-eligible season, sliding after coming in as a potential top prospect and after a great Hlinka Gretzky in the summer. He’s very intelligent with the puck. Mews shows good poise and creativity making plays on top of a strong point shot. He skates well and can both skate and pass pucks out of trouble. He got his points this year, but the issues for him this season were defensive. He struggled in his own end, getting pushed around physically. He was a decent defender coming up so I wonder if he can bounce back in that regard. He’s skilled enough to get NHL games but will need to round out his play, especially as an average-sized player.

84. Kirill Zarubin, G, AKM Tula (MHL)

September 20, 2005 | 6′ 4″ | 179 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: Zarubin was a very good junior goalie in Russia including a strong postseason for Tula. He’s a good-sized goaltender, measuring in at 6-foot-3 and looks a little bigger arguably. He has clear NHL lateral quickness in net. He explodes across the crease when he needs to make a difficult save. He’s fast, but controlled in his movements not oversliding pucks that much. He’s a smart goalie who anticipates the play well. The only real issue I have with Zarubin is his tendency to let in long-range goals, but everything else looks like an NHL goaltender.

106. Trevor Hoskin, C, Cobourg Cougars (OJHL)

May 18, 2004 | 6′ 1″ | 172 pounds

Analysis: Hoskin is a great skater who played very well in the OJHL but he’s an old player for that league and there are major questions on whether his offense will translate.

150. Luke Misa, C, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

November 25, 2005 | 5′ 10″ | 165 pounds

Analysis: Misa was a top scorer for the Steelheads this season. He’s a very talented offensive player. His skating is excellent, with the first step and top speed to skate at the highest level. Misa can create on the move, with very good hands and offensive instincts. He’s more of a passer than a shooter. Misa competes well enough and has played some center in the OHL, but his game lacks physicality and he can be a bit of a perimeter forward at times. It’s that reason why I’m unsure what his NHL role is. He’s talented, but it’s not an eye-popping talent for a smaller forward and he’s not amazing off the puck.

170. Hunter Laing, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

May 16, 2006 | 6′ 6″ | 192 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Laing played his first season in the WHL, getting a regular role on a top Prince George team. He’s intriguing as a 6-foot-5 wing with some offensive skills. He’s not going to lean into opponents often, but he can use his big frame to create at the net and maintain puck possession. He’s not a great playmaker but he sees the ice well enough. The main issue with Laing will be his feet. He’s a rough skater, especially by NHL standards but if he gains even a half step he could become a legit prospect.

177. Eric Jamieson, LHD, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

July 15, 2005 | 6′ 3″ | 203 pounds

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Jamieson had a quality second draft-eligible season playing real minutes for Everett. He produced decent offensive numbers despite little power-play time. Jamieson’s intrigue as a pro prospect comes down to his athleticism. He’s quite a mobile skater for a 6-foot-3 defenseman. He can easily jump into attacks and be a threat in transition. He closes well on checks due to his feet, but he’s also a hard-to-play-against type who wins a lot of battles. Jamieson’s puck play won’t inspire, but it’s good enough to have a chance to play NHL games.

Beat writer’s analysis

The Flames emphasized scoring, speed and skill with their 10 draft choices. It began with their Day 1 haul of Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin. It continued on Day 2 with picks like Andrew Basha, Jacob Battaglia, Trevor Hoskin, Henry Mews and Luka Misa. Hunter Liang, Eric Jamieson and Kirill Zarubin round out their 2024 draft class.

The hope is that most of these players can translate into dynamic, skilled scoring options at the next level. The Flames knew they needed more of those players in their prospect pool and the draft order fell in their favor, notably with value picks like Mews and Misa. It’s a great draft for a team that entered the weekend in need of a game-breaker and more overall quality in their stable. — Julian McKenzie

(Photo of Zayne Parekh: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)