Flames prospect Carels eyes one-and-done at North Dakota before turning pro
The sixth overall draft pick aims to jump to pro hockey by the end of next season, and the Flames are preparing contract space for a wave of young talent.
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Carson Carels has a clear blueprint: one year at the University of North Dakota, then straight to pro hockey with the Calgary Flames.
The sixth overall pick in last Friday's draft envisions himself leaving college after a single season to compete for games by the end of 2026-27. He's not alone. Cole Reschny (picked 18th in 2025) and Cullen Potter (32nd last year) both plan the same jump from their respective college programs next spring.
Flames GM Craig Conroy is prepared. "I have to save contracts for them, that's the first thing," he said Wednesday at the team's development camp. The Flames hold 42 contracts on their books, leaving room under the NHL's 50-contract limit to bring prospects on board when their college seasons end.
Conroy wants four or five contracts available when the college season closes. He's spoken with the prospects' coaches and confirmed that their teams support the early-exit plan — it gives young players something to chase.
Carels understands the leap ahead. "I think one year at North Dakota is going to be a good step for me to make it a step instead of a leap to this next level," he said. "I think UND is going to shape me to be a more complete player."
Ray Edwards, the Flames' director of player development, sees this wave coming. "There's a handful of guys who are going to force us to make decisions, and that's what we want," he said. The depth of talent on display at this week's development camp at Winsport is the highest it's ever been, Edwards added.
