Flames Draft Jack Hextall 30th Overall – The Hockey Writers – Calgary Flames

With the 30th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames have selected Jack Hextall from the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL.

About Jack Hextall

Jack Hextall is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound center from Rolling Meadows, Illinois. He put together an impressive season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 59 games, he recorded 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points. He established himself as one of the top two-way forwards available in this year’s draft class. His combination of offensive production, hockey sense, and responsible play away from the puck made him a steady riser throughout the season.

The 18-year-old comes from one of hockey’s most recognizable families. He is the son of Cory Hextall, who is cousins with Ron Hextall. Despite the famous last name, Jack has carved out his own path, developing into a highly regarded prospect thanks to his complete, well-rounded game.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

Hextall has a real willingness to drive to the net. He has nice hands, sets up plays, and is a legitimate power-play weapon. His elite hands on the rush allow him to enter the offensive zone with control and create chances at full speed. His wrist shot is accurate, and he’s not afraid to score in the hard or “dirty” areas.

He’s highly competitive, has a high motor, and is almost always in the right spots, a true sign of a guy who just understands how to play hockey. He also wins puck races through hard forechecking and plays with underrated vision by finding teammates when under pressure. Finally, he’s strong on faceoffs and can be trusted in most situations.

Read his full prospect profile here.

What This Means for the Flames

The Flames have made it clear throughout their rebuild that they want to add high-skill, high-character players to their prospect pool, and selecting Hextall fits that approach well. The two-way center immediately adds depth down the middle, giving the organization another intelligent and versatile forward with middle-six upside. His strong hockey sense, competitiveness and ability to contribute in various situations make him the type of player Calgary needs.

Long term, Hextall could become an important piece of the Flames’ next core. While he’ll spend time developing at Michigan State before turning pro, his mature all-around game gives him a solid foundation to build on. He projects as a two-way center who can complement Calgary’s skilled young forwards. For a team still working to stockpile talent and build sustainable depth, Hextall is a great draft pick.