Max Curran

Max Curran, C – Czechia U20 | 2024 NHL Draft Pick (COL)

---

Performance

Curran has been one of the more productive forwards at the U20 level over the past ten games, posting 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points across his last 10 GP with a plus-3 rating. His most visible moment came in Czechia's 6-4 upset win over Canada on January 4th, where he was directly involved in three goals — a tying marker, a primary assist on a go-ahead goal, and a late shot that deflected in to seal the win. That kind of multi-point performance against the top program in the tournament is the type of showing that moves the needle for scouts.

What People Are Saying

The dominant storyline around Curran this week isn't his play — it's his organizational home. Reddit's r/hockey lit up with discussion after the Calgary Flames acquired Curran's rights from the Colorado Avalanche as part of the Nazem Kadri trade, making him a Flames prospect going forward. Fan reaction in that thread was largely focused on the trade's bigger pieces, but Curran's name surfaced in signing-rights conversations as well, with a detailed r/hockey post flagging prospects whose exclusive rights expire in 2026 — a list Curran appears on. His World Juniors heroics did generate genuine grassroots buzz, particularly around the Canada game.

Outlook

Curran's WJC performance has validated his draft pedigree and given Calgary a prospect worth monitoring closely as his signing window approaches in 2026. The combination of high-event play at the U20 level and a looming rights deadline makes the next few months critical.

**Watch for:** Whether Calgary moves quickly to sign Curran before his exclusive rights expire — any contract announcement in the next two weeks would signal the organization's confidence in his trajectory.