The Calgary Flames surprised many by selecting Joe Iginla, son of franchise legend Jarome Iginla, 65th overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. While Jarome Iginla is now a special advisor to Flames GM Craig Conroy, Joe expressed that his father had no direct influence on the selection. "The first thing he said was that he had nothing to do with that," Joe Iginla shared, eager to carve out his own path with the team his father captained for nine seasons.
Iginla, who spent the past WHL season split between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Vancouver Giants, recorded 15 goals and 31 points in 59 games. His draft stock was a point of discussion, with NHL Central Scouting ranking him 200th among North American skaters, a position that led some to view the pick as a reach. Iginla, however, appears undeterred. "Obviously, haters are gonna always say something, and people will say something about your dad, but I feel like at this point in my career, I've heard about every insult and chirp there is about my dad. So I'm just gonna go out there and try to prove them wrong," he stated, ready to face the pressure that comes with the Iginla name in Calgary.
The Flames originally acquired the 65th overall pick from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the 2023 Nikita Zadorov trade. This selection adds another layer to the Iginla legacy in Calgary, with Joe joining his father, who amassed 525 goals and 1,095 points in 1,219 games for the team. Joe's older brother, Tij, was drafted sixth overall by the Utah Mammoth in 2024, and his sister, Jade, was selected 18th overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft by Hamilton, showcasing a strong hockey lineage.
