Flames add three skilled forwards in Daily Faceoff’s final 2025 mock draft

It’s finally here.

It’s 2025 NHL Draft weekend, gang! And over at Daily Faceoff, our pal Steven Ellis has dropped a really detailed two-round mock draft laying out how he sees the first 64 picks unfolding.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: who do the Calgary Flames get? Well, Ellis has them taking three skilled forwards with their first three picks.

At 18th overall, the Flames select C/RW Ben Kindel from the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen:

The Flames had a ton of looks at Kindel this year, and it feels like a fit from rumors around the league. You don’t often find 99-point producers this deep, either. He’s equally good as a shooter and a playmaker and is the driving force of Calgary’s attack. Kindel does a great job of finding open space and exploiting it, and he has a shot he can unleash from just about anywhere. Below-average skating and a lack of a physical edge knock him down a few pegs, but I love what he did this season in Calgary.

If the Flames select Kindel, he’ll be the first Hitmen player they’ve selected since Pavel Karnaukhov back in 2015.

At 32nd overall, the Flames select RW Ryker Lee from the United States Hockey League’s Madison Capitols:

You’re always hoping the smaller players will have a late growth spurt, and that’s exactly what happened to Lee. He said he was 5-foot-3 at 15 years old and was listed at 5-foot-7 prior to this season. Now at six-foot, who knows how much more growing he has left in him. Lee was one of the best players in the USHL this season, using his quick hands and excellent hockey IQ in the offensive zone to win so many battles. The Flames should bet on his potential here.

The Flames have selected USHL players pretty frequently over the last while, ranging from Johnny Gaudreau in 2011 to Matvei Gridin in 2024.

At 54th overall, the Flames select C Ivan Ryabkin from the United States Hockey League’s Muskegon Lumberjacks:

After entering the season as a top-five prospect, Ryabkin will have to wait until Day 2 to hear his name called. Could he turn out to be a steal for the Flames? He proved he could score in the USHL. We’ve also seen him flesh out his physical and playmaking games, with his passing and hockey sense being two of his best traits. He should probably go above this pick, but many around the NHL Draft Combine talked about some issues with his maturity and attitude.

Coincidentally, the Flames selected Gridin from Muskegon a year ago. Is Ryabkin risky? Sure. Does Ryabkin have a ton of offensive upside? Yep. Would he be a risk worth taking, given the Flames’ deep prospect crop, if he’s still available at 54th? Absolutely.

What do you think of these projected picks?