Way, way back in the early 2000s, the Calgary Flames were not particularly good at drafting and development. Heck, they weren’t particularly great at it when the 2000s turned into the 2010s. But quietly, the 2015 NHL Draft has emerged as one of the most productive crops for the Flames in decades.
The 2015 class, at a glance
At the time, the 2015 NHL Draft seemed like it would be notable for the Flames in terms of the picks they didn’t make. Due to Brad Treliving’s trade deadline wheeling and dealing, the Flames had a ton of picks available.