Calgary Flames fans entered the 2026–27 season with low expectations as the organization begrudgingly committed to a rebuild at the tail end of last year. Despite playing only five games, those low expectations appear astronomical, with Calgary having the worst start to a season in their franchise’s history. Moreover, it’s the worst start to an NHL season in the last 30 years.
The Flames waived Connor Zary and Brayden Pachal last week, hitting the panic button a mere two weeks into the season. There is still plenty of time to turn things around, but the Flames appear destined for 32nd overall. With that in mind, we wanted to know (wayyyyy too early) how fans would want the Flames to handle the 2027 1st overall pick. We asked, you answered.
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If the Flames get 1st overall in 2027, what should they do?
We presented the poll below to our readers.
If the #Flames end up with the first overall pick in 2027, what would you do?
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) October 10, 2026
DuPont, no matter what
The overwhelming majority of respondents in this week’s poll think the Flames should take the best player available. The consensus 1st overall pick in 2027, Landon DuPont, was born and raised in Calgary, playing his minor hockey at Edge School. Landon is also the son of former Flames draft pick, Micki DuPont.
Although Micki didn’t have a substantial career in the NHL, playing the majority of his pro career in the AHL and in Europe, Landon is projected by some scouts to be better than Islanders former 1st overall pick, Matthew Schaffer.
DuPont was awarded exceptional status in 2024, becoming the first defenceman to earn underage status in the WHL, and only the second player to have achieved the honour behind Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard.
DuPont put up 60 points in 64 games for the Everett Silvertips as a 15-year-old. In his second season, he posted similar numbers, recording 73 points in 63 games before committing to the University of Michigan. To start this season, DuPont has continued his outstanding offensive production in the NCAA, recording over a PPG through his first three contests at 17 years old.
There is no question DuPont will be a game changer at the NHL level. The Flames would be silly not to select him if they get the first overall pick in 2027, regardless of the team’s lack of forward skill and depth.
Trade down for a Centre
Roughly 20% of respondents think the Flames should entertain trading the 1st overall pick and moving down in the 1st round to draft a centre. The Flames have struggled to recover their forward core since the departures of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in 2022. Despite numerous attempts to inject the team with veteran forwards, nothing has panned out, with zero playoff appearances since 2022–23.
After several difficult offensive seasons, the Flames are fielding one of the worst offensive depth charts in franchise history for 2026–27 and desperately need a number one centre. It’s by far the Flames’ biggest positional need, and the 2027 first round is chock-full of centre prospects. The snag is that none project as 1C’s. There are plenty of prospects down the middle, but none who would be described as the franchise prospect the Flames are seeking out.
If the Flames were keen on taking a Centre in the first round, they would have to look towards picks 3–5 where Saint John’s Centre Alexis Joseph will land. Even then, the Flames would be looking at a player of a similar calibre to the Flames’ 2025 first-rounder, Cole Reschny.
Take a Centre 1st overall
Roughly 10% of fans think the Flames should take a Centre at 1st overall, regardless of the player. While this draft class includes a healthy quantity of centres projected in the first round, it seems no one will compare with DuPont’s superstar calibre. There will be solid centres available, but none that will move the needle in Calgary the way a McDavid, Crosby, or MacKinnon would.
It would be nice to see the Flames fill an obvious hole in their depth chart, but drafting the best player available and exploring trade options to acquire a 1C is much more likely. Given the outlandishly premature assumptions made in this article, there is still plenty of time for opportunities to emerge as the season progresses. The Flames could look at moving one of their high-calibre defensive prospects for a first-line centre, as DuPont would add to an already impressive crop of former top-10 draft picks in the Flames’ defensive prospect pool.
Tough sledding
It’s going to be a frustrating season, Flames fans. But beggars can’t be choosers, and this fan base has done nothing but beg for a rebuild. It finally arrived, and the cost? Horrible hockey.
Keep your heads up, Flames fans; we asked for this one. Take it on the chin and don’t complain until we inevitably lose the draft lottery in May.
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