The Calgary Flames have endured a brutal start to the 2026-27 season, but there are already some encouraging signs when it comes to the organization’s future.
After moving out several veterans during the 2025-26 campaign and into the summer, Calgary entered the season facing plenty of growing pains. The Flames have certainly experienced those early on, sitting last in the NHL with two points through six games and a minus-17 goal differential.
Tuesday night’s victory provided a much-needed bright spot, but there’s still a long way to go for this group.
Fortunately, the Flames have several promising prospects working toward becoming part of the solution. While most are still developing outside the NHL, a handful have wasted little time making their presence felt this season.
From a 2026 draft pick lighting up the WHL to a fifth-round selection continuing to build on a remarkable freshman campaign, here are four Flames prospects off to excellent starts in 2026-27.
1. Chase Harrington
- Drafted: 36th overall (2026)
- Position: LW
- Stats: 7 GP, 6 G, 7 A, 13 PTS (Spokane Chiefs/WHL)
Chase Harrington has wasted little time showing why Flames management is so high on him.
HAT TRICK HARRINGTON
Chiefs up 3-0#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/DBK1r7Aj9d
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) October 14, 2026
The 18-year-old impressed during Calgary’s training camp and even earned an opportunity to suit up in a preseason game before being reassigned to the WHL. Shortly after returning to Spokane, he was named captain of the Chiefs, another encouraging development for the young forward.
Harrington has backed that up with an outstanding start to his fourth WHL season. He has six goals and 13 points through seven games, putting him among the league’s leading scorers.
It’s still early, but the start is an encouraging one for a player the Flames hope can eventually become an important part of their forward group.
2. Alan Shaikhlislamov
- Drafted: 55th overall (2026)
- Position: RW
- Stats: 12 GP, 9 G, 8 A, 17 PTS (HC Tolpar Ufa/MHL)
Alan Shaikhlislamov is another recent Flames draft pick who appears to be taking a significant step forward this season.
The Russian winger showed promise with HC Tolpar Ufa in 2025-26, recording 18 goals and 35 points in 31 games. He’s already threatening to surpass those totals this season, however, having collected nine goals and 17 points through his first 12 games.
Alan Shaikhlislamov (CGY) scores his ninth goal of the year, 17 points in 12 games.
Tolpar was demolished 10-2 by AKM-Yunior. pic.twitter.com/yZ3no33mRI
— dylan griffing (@GriffingDylan) October 12, 2026
Both marks lead his team by a significant margin, making his early production particularly encouraging.
Shaikhlislamov is still a developing prospect, and translating his offensive success to the North American game will be another challenge down the road. For now, though, the Flames have plenty of reason to be excited about the 2026 second-round pick’s progression.
3. Ethan Wyttenbach
- Drafted: 144th overall (2025)
- Position: LW
- Stats: 4 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS (Quinnipiac/NCAA)
Ethan Wyttenbach’s remarkable freshman season at Quinnipiac University appears to have been no fluke.
The undersized winger exploded onto the NCAA scene in 2025-26, leading the nation in scoring with 59 points in 40 games. That kind of production from a fifth-round pick has understandably raised expectations for what he could eventually bring to the Flames.
So far, Wyttenbach hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
Ethan Wyttenbach has two points for Quinnipiac and they’re not even done the 1st period. pic.twitter.com/MvVN7iHaFh
— Robert Munnich (@Robert_Munnich) October 9, 2026
Through four games in his sophomore season, the 19-year-old has three goals and eight points, picking up right where he left off last year. Maintaining that pace will be difficult, but his ability to produce at the college level is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
If he continues to build on that success, the Flames could eventually have a decision to make about bringing him into the professional ranks. An NHL debut before the end of the 2026-27 season remains a possibility, although plenty of hockey remains between now and then.
4. Jack Hextall
- Drafted: 30th overall (2026)
- Position: C
- Stats: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 PTS (Michigan State/NCAA)
Selected 30th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, Jack Hextall is viewed as a potential middle-six forward at the next level. Questions about his offensive upside were part of the conversation surrounding his draft profile, making his early production at Michigan State particularly encouraging.
Hextall has recorded two goals and four points through his first two collegiate games. It’s an excellent start for a player adjusting to a new level of competition, even if the sample size is far too small to draw any major conclusions.
Second of the weekend for Jack Hextall makes it 5-1! pic.twitter.com/wyCgmhuVR2
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 11, 2026
The key now will be seeing how he handles the inevitable challenges of his first college season. If he can continue to develop his offensive game while adjusting to the demands of NCAA hockey, the Flames could have a promising young centre on their hands.
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