FN’s 2025 Flames summer prospect rankings – #6: Henry Mews

The Calgary Flames’ prospect pool is in a very encouraging place. There are exciting talents across all positions, spanning different levels of junior and pro hockey. In Craig Conroy’s first two drafts as general manager, he has replenished the Flames’ system with high-end talent and potential draft steals.

On defence, the spotlight is rightfully on Zayne Parekh. But one of the lesser-discussed prospects who deserves more attention has claimed the No. 6 position on this year’s FlamesNation summer prospect rankings: Henry Mews.

Henry Mews

Defence, shoots right
Born March 9, 2006 (age 19) in Ottawa, ON
6’0”, 180 pounds
Drafted in the third round (74th overall) by Calgary in the 2024 NHL Draft

Mews was almost unanimously chosen as the No. 7 prospect by FlamesNation writers, but a few higher votes bumped him into sixth. That marks a three-spot rise from his No. 9 ranking in 2024.

He grew up playing minor hockey in Ottawa and later Toronto before returning home to join the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL as a 16-year-old.

Mews’ first couple of seasons in the OHL were solid but not jaw-dropping. As a rookie, he put up 31 points in 55 games — 12 goals and 19 assists — but that was enough to earn him the captaincy of Canada White at the U17 championship. The following season, he boosted his production to 15 goals and 46 assists for 61 points in 65 games, again earning a call to represent Canada, this time at the U18 level.

By the time the 2024 NHL Draft arrived, Mews was highly regarded and largely expected to go in the first round or, at worst, the second. His offensive abilities earned him that ranking, but defensive flaws seemed to scare teams away, and he slipped to the Flames in the third round — a pick that could turn out to be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

In his first season after being drafted, Mews elevated his game. He started strong with Ottawa, posting 11 goals and 39 assists in 38 games. With the 67’s out of the playoff mix, he was traded to the Sudbury Wolves, where his production didn’t slow. In 30 games with Sudbury, he added two goals and 29 assists, finishing the season with 82 points — third among all OHL defencemen, behind only Sam Dickinson and fellow Flames prospect Zayne Parekh.

Mews is mainly known for his offensive abilities but still has plenty of room to grow defensively if he wants to round out his game. Brock Otten, director of scouting for McKeen’s Hockey, summarized Mews’ strengths and weaknesses:

“Perhaps lost in the Zayne Parekh hype was the outstanding draft plus one year that Henry Mews had in the OHL, split between Ottawa and Sudbury. Mews finished the year third in defenseman scoring and second in powerplay assists. He’s dynamic and talented in his own right and has the potential to be a great option behind Parekh in the future, as a puck mover and powerplay quarterback. In a perfect world, both defenders can slot into Calgary’s top four, paired with more stable defensive players. Like Parekh, Mews plays a higher risk offensive game that can come with turnovers; it’s a tradeoff you have to live with. However, like Parekh, he has worked hard to be more assertive physically this year and his play in his own end has been more stable because of it. However, refining his decision making further is a need. He can still be turnover prone in a variety of different scenarios. It certainly brings to light questions about his vision and IQ and if this area of his game will become NHL worthy. Taking advantage of the new eligibility rules, Mews will play for the Michigan Wolverines next year, hoping that the NCAA can help him refine his defensive abilities and decision making.”

Expectations for 2025-26

The NCAA has become a mecca for hockey prospects with new eligibility rules, and Mews is taking advantage by joining the Michigan Wolverines this season. It’s the same program that produced Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski.

Mews will look to test his offensive game against tougher competition across the NCAA. The move also provides a strong opportunity to develop defensively, cut down on turnovers and sharpen his hockey IQ.

He should also be in strong contention for a spot on Canada’s World Junior team this winter, having already participated in the Summer Showcase a few weeks ago.

Overall, this season will be a good test for Mews and should give the Flames a better sense of his NHL ceiling. Expectations are high, and Flames fans may want to tune into a few Michigan games — it could be a glimpse of what’s to come in Calgary in the next couple of years.