Welcome to The Win Column 2026 Calgary Flames Prospects Rankings. Ranked 10th on our list is the 42nd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft: Tobias Trejbal.

Who is Tobias Trejbal?

PositionAgeYear DraftedRound Drafted2026 Ranking2025 RankingG182026Round 210Not ranked

Trejbal is a goaltender that the Flames actually traded up for in the second round. He’s clearly a goaltender that the Flames think highly of, but will his game be enough to crack the big leagues? Only time will tell.

Trejbal’s development so far

Season Team LeagueGPGAASV%SO2023-24HC Litvínov U17Czechia U17313.19.89432024-25HC Litvínov U20Czechia U20382.33.93072025-26Youngstown PhantomsUSHL422.12.9163

For the past three seasons, Trejbal has shown immense growth and development in his game. His numbers just keep getting better, as he had a solid performance in his first season in North America with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. It’s expected that he’ll continue to get better as he develops more in the West.

Trejbal’s Strengths

Size and net coverage

Trejbal’s most obvious asset is his NHL-calibre frame. Standing around six-foot-five, he naturally fills a significant portion of the net, making it difficult for shooters to find openings even when he is square to the puck. His size allows him to challenge shooters aggressively while still recovering into position, and he does an excellent job using his frame to eliminate high-danger scoring areas. Unlike some larger goaltenders, he generally stays controlled in his movements rather than relying solely on his size to make saves.

Overall athleticism and lateral mobility

Despite his size, Trejbal moves exceptionally well across the crease. He displays strong lateral quickness, allowing him to push efficiently from post to post and track east-west puck movement without losing his balance. His mobility helps him stay competitive against cross-ice passing plays and one-timers, an increasingly important trait in today’s NHL. Scouts have consistently praised how fluid his movements are for a goaltender of his stature.

Trejbal’s Weaknesses

Rebound management under pressure

Although Trejbal has shown encouraging rebound control, it can become inconsistent during extended defensive-zone sequences. When facing multiple shots in quick succession, he occasionally leaves rebounds in dangerous areas instead of directing them safely into the corners or smothering the puck. NHL shooters are much quicker to capitalize on loose pucks, so continuing to improve his rebound placement under pressure will be an important step in his development.

Puck handling

Trejbal’s puck-handling remains a work in progress. While he is capable of stopping rims and making simple outlet passes, he is not yet a goaltender who consistently acts as a third defenceman during breakouts. There are times when he hesitates leaving his crease or misjudges pucks around the boards, allowing opposing forecheckers to extend offensive-zone time. Improving his confidence and decision-making with the puck will help his future teams break pressure more efficiently and reduce time spent defending.

Trejbal’s next steps

Trejbal will be playing the USHL next season, and he aims to make the transition to pro hockey. There frankly is no reason to rush Trejbal’s development, as he’s adjusted to North American hockey quite well. Eventually, the expectation will be that he’ll make a push towards the AHL, hopefully taking his game to the next level.

NHL projection

Ceiling: NHL starting goalie (1A)

Likely Outcome: 1B goaltender/high end backup

Floor: NHL backup/organizational goalie

NHL timeline projection

Goaltenders often take longer to develop, so don’t expect Trejbal to play NHL games anytime soon, as his development in North America will dictate his path towards the big leagues.

See our other articles on our list of prospect rankings for 2026:

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