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Flames Draft Joe Iginla With 65th Overall Pick

Tying the organization more closely to Jarome Iginla, the selection raises questions about its value compared with public scouting reports.

Overview

  • Calgary used the No. 65 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select 17-year-old forward Joe Iginla on Saturday.
  • Joe Iginla is the youngest son of franchise icon Jarome Iginla, who serves as a special adviser to Flames GM Craig Conroy.
  • Public scouting saw the choice as a reach because NHL Central Scouting ranked Joe roughly 200th among North American skaters and several major outlets did not list him.
  • Iginla is a right-shot forward listed at 5'10" and 170 pounds who posted 15 goals and 31 points in 59 WHL games while splitting last season between Edmonton and Vancouver and overcoming a midseason injury.
  • The pick reportedly used a selection Calgary acquired from Vancouver in the 2023 Nikita Zadorov trade and represents an organizational gamble on a young player with family ties and measurable upside.