In another tank year, it’s hard to find reasons for optimism looking at the Calgary Flames right now. The team is coming off a season where they should’ve drafted higher but the NHL lottery is just that–a lottery that rewards the same teams over and over again. Yet mid-way through a rebuild, and buried beneath the losing, is a foundation that could eventually become the foundation of a very good hockey team: the defence.

Craig is on to something that would make Darryl Sutter proud: defence wins championships. Nobody preached this louder than Dar Sut. And now, following this year’s entry draft, dare I say it, the Flames have the strongest D core, at least in ceiling potential, since the ’89 Championship. Definitely not in championship form today, but the pieces that make this current version of the Flames D perhaps the strongest ever….

Kevin Bahl – Šimon Nemec
Zach Whitecloud – Zayne Parekh
Jake Middleton – Hunter Brzustewicz
Yan Kuznetsov – Brayden Pachal
soon…. Carson Carels (LW)

Of course, there’s still a few years of development, especially to onboard this year’s first overall pick Carson Carels. But if 2 of 4 (Parekh, Carels, Brzustewicz, X) hit their ceilings, Calgary could eventually possess one of the deepest and most talented defensive groups in the NHL.

The transformation began two years ago when Zayne Parekh became available.

Parekh: Elite Offense

When Calgary selected Parekh ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, the organization was betting on elite offensive ability from the back end. His greatest weapon has always been his ability to move the puck, create offence and operate as a power-play quarterback.

That offensive talent remains arguably the most exciting part of Calgary’s defensive future.

Parekh has the skating and puck skills to become a defenceman who changes how opponents defend the Flames. He can drive play from the backend. He can carry the puck through the neutral zone, create controlled entries and distribute it into dangerous areas. I can’t remember the last time the Flames had an offensive talent like Parekh on the back (Phil Housley out of his prime maybe? LOL).

Can he ultimately defend NHL players? He will need to improve this side of his game, and add some muscle to his frame, but the tail-end of last season demonstrated he certainly can.

Plus, Parekh does not need to become everything himself.

He needs the right partners.

1st Rounder – Carson Carels

The Flames’ newest first-round selection at sixth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, Prince George Cougars defenceman Carson Carels, was a surprise to some. The Flames have adopted the ‘best player available’ mentality even though what’s missing from the prospect pools is elite offensive talent. Nonetheless, once touted as the best defenceman in the draft (and maybe still is), the Flames added a LH defensive prospect who can potentially complement an offensive player such as Parekh.

Carels is not simply a big defensive defenceman whose job will be to clear the crease and punish opponents. The NHL’s draft profile described him as an all-around defenceman with offensive talent, physicality, great skating, and sound defensive instincts. He can play in all situations, transport the puck, distribute it effectively and potentially run a power play 2. His 2025-26 WHL season produced 20 goals and 53 assists for 73 points in 58 games, an enormous offensive season for a defenceman.

The club has high aspirations of a future Carels – Parekh tandem for years to come.

Think about it, if Parekh becomes the dynamic offensive driver at the NHL level, Carels could eventually provide the balance on the other side while still putting up points. He has the mobility to defend with speed, the size and physical element to handle difficult matchups, and the puck skills to contribute offensively.

Carels is not expected to immediately step into the NHL from college. But he is slated to be an eventual top-pairing defenceman in roughly two to three seasons.

Nemec Acquisition

Another draft day acquisition saw a young RH defender from NJ come to the Flames via trade.

In June, Calgary acquired Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils along with forward Maxim Tsyplakov. Nemec was the second overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, and at only 22 years old, he already has NHL experience. In 68 games during the 2025-26 season, he recorded a career-best 26 points, including 11 goals and 15 assists. Problem in NJ was he was buried behind a logjam of D men. In Calgary he’ll play 1st pairing minutes.

Nemec’s ceiling remains a question. A 22-year-old former second overall pick who has already established himself in the NHL should not be viewed as a finished product. His 26-point season demonstrated that there is offensive ability that could expand given more ice.

The best-case scenario is that Nemec becomes a legitimate top-four, perhaps even top-pairing, two-way defenceman.

If that happens, Calgary’s future blue line starts looking considerably more serious.

A Defence That Grows Together

The exciting part of Calgary’s defensive rebuild is that the pieces don’t all need to become superstars.

Imagine a future blue line featuring Parekh, Carels and Nemec, with Hunter Brzustewicz and other young players pushing for NHL jobs behind them.

Parekh provides elite offensive creativity.

Carels provides size, defensive intelligence, mobility and two-way balance.

Nemec brings NHL experience, puck-moving ability and the pedigree of a former second overall selection.

Brzustewicz adds another highly regarded young right-shot option.

The Flames already have nine NHL defencemen on their roster heading into 2026-27, including Parekh, Nemec, Brzustewicz and established players such as Kevin Bahl and Jake Middleton. That creates competition and, more importantly, allows Calgary to develop its younger players without forcing every prospect into a role before he is ready.

That is how a defensive core should be built.

Not overnight.

Not through one giant free-agent signing (although Nemec is arguably one). But through layers of talent arriving at different stages of development.

The Potential Is Real — But…

Of course, projecting a future elite defence is easy. Getting there is much harder.

Parekh still needs to become more reliable defensively. Carels has yet to play a professional game. Nemec still has to prove that his ceiling matches the potential expected of a former second overall pick.

And Calgary desperately needs to find more offence elsewhere in the lineup. Defence may win championships, but you have to score goals.

The current product may be frustrating. The standings may continue to be ugly. But there is a difference between being bad with no future and being bad while accumulating legitimate building blocks. Plus, another top 5 pick this coming season would add to the already stocked cupboards (although another defenceman???).

As it stands, Calgary’s defence could go from a weakness to the identity of the franchise.