The state of California has consistently produced NHL talent over the years, with players like Jason Robertson, Thatcher Demko and the Flames’ own Dustin Wolf emerging as elite stars in recent seasons. Could the Golden State be a potential gold mine for future NHL prospects as well?

One player who could fit that description is Benjamin Kevan.

Scouting report

Hailing from Fairfield, Calif., Kevan is a right-shot winger who stands six feet tall and weighs in at 183 pounds. He came up through the Los Angeles Junior Kings program and has spent the past two seasons with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.

Luke Sweeney from Dobber Prospects had this to say about Kevan:

“At the USHL level, there’s few more purely dynamic players than Ben Kevan. His quickness and acceleration, combined with high-end creativity and a hair-trigger shot makes Kevan really stand out in game tape.

Nevertheless, he’s a bit of a conundrum. He is highly, highly dynamic and skilled, but his scoring output was so-so, more in line with guys like Mason Moe or Vaclav Nestrasil rather than some of the USHL’s highest scorers like Adam Benak or Ryker Lee. He uses his speed to harass on the forecheck, but in his own end he’s a bit un-engaged.

Overall, the package he brings is enticing, but—as that package hasn’t translated to high-end Junior scoring—it raises questions as to how it will translate to the NHL.”

Sebastian High from Elite Prospects highlighted Kevan’s offensive upside, saying:

“Perhaps the most dynamic USHL product eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, Benjamin Kevan can break games open when he’s at his best. In those sequences, the 6-foot forward blends strong agility, speed, and handling skill to cut through defences and carve out dangerous scoring chances for himself and teammates.”

Overall, what you see from Kevan is enticing. Everyone who has seen him play praises his skating, playmaking and creativity. Clearly, there is room for improvement on all sides of his game—but who doesn’t have that at his age? As an Arizona State commit for 2025–26, next season may offer a better picture of what Kevan could become as he competes against NCAA Division I talent.

The numbers

In 110 games over two seasons in the USHL, Kevan has recorded exactly 100 points, consisting of 37 goals and 63 assists. His production actually dipped in his second season—after posting 57 points as a rookie, he followed up with 43 points in Year 2. Despite the decrease, it wasn’t for a lack of chances; the production just didn’t seem to follow.

Availability and fit

While Kevan has appeared as a potential late first-rounder on a few rankings, the general consensus is that he’ll likely be a mid-to-late second-round pick.

While his dynamic offensive abilities make him an attractive option, there is concern about how his skill set will translate to the NHL. Most teams would likely prefer to use their first- or second-round picks on a player they have a clearer projection on. With Kevan, you might not know exactly what you have until he suits up for Arizona State.

Still, if his skating and creativity continue to impress—and the production catches up—Kevan could develop into a very special player. Teams will definitely keep an eye on him. It would be a risk to take him early in the draft, but as more names come off the board, that risk diminishes and the potential reward increases. It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up being selected.