Since Brad Treliving became Calgary Flames general manager in 2014, the club has done a great job at finding good players in the first round. Not only that, they’ve managed to find players that force their way onto the National Hockey League radar very quickly.
(18-year-old) Sam Bennett would’ve made the team in 2014 if not for the discovery of a shoulder injury that required surgery – and he still forced his way onto the playoff roster. Matthew Tkachuk barrelled his way onto the opening night roster in 2016. Juuso Valimaki was a late cut in 2017, but managed to beat out Brett Kulak for a roster spot in 2018.