The Calgary Flames desperately need elite talent.

And, if they remain in the bottom-three of the NHL, they should find that player.

Not only that, but arguably the best player available in the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft wants to join the Flames.

On Friday’s episode of Flames Talk on Sportsnet 960, Pat Steinberg revealed that he’s heard top prospect Gavin McKenna has a desire to join Calgary’s organization.

“Everything that I’ve been told from people that I trust quite well…he’s a Western Canada guy. He’s a Yukon guy and would love to play in Western Canada,” Steinberg said.

“I’ve been told multiple times that he’d love to play for the Flames. Like, he’s a guy that would play in Medicine Hat two hours away. And I have been told multiple times that Gavin McKenna would love to play for the Calgary Flames if they drafted him.”

Amidst a trying season for the Flames, the news that McKenna wants to join the Flames, and the fact that Calgary actually has a shot at drafting him, should provide a flicker of hope to the fanbase.

Not only that, but the likelihood that the Flames will draft him has increased, even if they don’t hold the number one pick.

McKenna’s performance at Penn State University in the NCAA hasn’t been terrible this season, as he’s posted 18 points in 17 games. However, he got off to a slow start, and his pace is well behind what other top draft-eligible prospects who’ve played in the NCAA have accomplished in recent years.

His pace is similar to what 2025 seventh overall pick James Hagens produced as a 17-year-old college freshman. By comparison, Macklin Celebrini had 64 points in 38 games before going number one overall to the San Jose Sharks. Even Adam Fantilli had 65 points in 36 games before being drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The World Juniors didn’t do much to cement his status as the surefire number one pick. Although he finished second in tournament scoring with 14 points in seven games, he wasn’t as consistent as top Swedish prospects Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Bjork.

While he’s still the consensus first overall pick, some scouting experts have listed him as the fourth or fifth best prospect available in the draft.

Calgary is currently the third-worst team in the NHL. Only the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets have worse records at the midway point of the campaign.