The offseason is hitting its dog days but even before the season-opener, the 2024–25 outlook for the Calgary Flames doesn’t look pretty. Multiple big players were lost throughout the season and additional ones in the offseason. The Flames are a hockey team not built to win hockey games. However, they’ve turned their attention to the future.
They are destined to be a bottom-feeder for the upcoming season so I thought it would be good to take an early look at the 2025 NHL Draft—one already poised to be instrumental to the Flames’ rebuild. This draft is full of high-level forwards and defencemen. It’s balanced but leans to being forward-heavy.
Let’s take a look at some names which the Flames should have a keen interest in.
James Hagens
The consensus first-overall pick so far, James Hagens has lit up the hockey world. Hagens joined the USNTDP back in 2022 playing for multiple of their teams. Each stint saw him put up over a point per game and have a solid balance of goals and assists. His U17 performance that season was tremendous putting three points a game with 21 total points in seven games—a fairly sustained stretch of games. The 5’10” centre looked onwards to this past season and once again showed why he would be the first overall pick.
His USHL showing had him putting up just under two points per game. In 26 games, Hagens scored 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points in 26 games. Then for the USNTDP he once again scored just shy of two points per game. A statline of 39 goals and 63 assists totalled out to 102 points in 58 games. His most impressive performance of the year came at the U18s. There for Team USA, he scored 22 points in seven games en route to the silver medal. He had the honours of MVP and best forward among others.
Now committed to Boston University, Hagens is poised to have a fantastic draft year and stay the consensus first pick.
Porter Martone
Out of all the other prospects, Porter Martone owns the most rankings at second overall so far. Starting with the Sarnia Sting, Martone joined the Mississauga Steelheads after a blockbuster trade in the OHL. His first OHL season saw him total 35 points in 61 games and an additional six in six playoff games. He was invited to play for Canada at the U18s and put up six points in seven games while winning a bronze medal.
Martone’s most recent season saw him put up over a point per game in his D+1 season with a statline of 33 goals and 38 assists for 71 points in 60 games. Martone is on a great trajectory early into his career. Playoffs saw him also scoring six points again but in five games this time. He was once again back on the U18 team as captain this time around. Domination filled his performance as he scored five goals and 17 points in seven games while winning gold. Martone also won gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with Canada.
Still with the Steelheads, now in Brampton, Martone has a high chance of being drafted inside the top 3 if he continues to progress at the same rate.
Anton Frondell
The third player on this list, Anton Frondell has consistently shown up at every level in Sweden so far. Firstly at the J16 level in 2021–22, Frondell put up an incredible 25 goals and 43 points in 23 games. The following year he made the jump to J18 at 16 years old. He still strongly performed even at the higher stage. Playing 20 games in Region, he scored 14 goals and 32 points. Then in Nationell, there was a step back but still solid with 12 points in 14 games.
Continuing his upward progression, Frondell made his way to the J20 league. His production followed him as in 29 games he had 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points, comfortably over a point per game. A nine-game stint was given to him in HockeyAllsvenskan and he only put up a singular assist. A showing at the U17s was also a part of his season with six goals and seven points in seven games. A bronze medal was also rewarded.
If Frondell stays put in HockeyAllsvenskan in the 2024–25 season and has solid production, we could see him sit comfortably inside the top three.
Michael Misa
Many know the name Michael Misa due to him being granted exceptional status in the OHL. He was the sixth in OHL history after John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Sean Day, and Shane Wright. Misa started his OHL career at 15 in 2022–23. He very much impressed with an over a point-per-game performance. Scoring 56 points in 45 games, Misa was one of the Saginaw Spirit’s best players and won Rookie of the Year.
Misa is still highly regarded but a year ago he would’ve been the first overall pick to almost anyone you asked. He didn’t necessarily have a bad year but still had a small step back from the prior year. Posting 75 points in 67 games for another over a point-per-game performance but a backwards progression has people worried. Misa was crowned a Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Memorial Cup champion this year.
If Misa heads in the right direction this season, it would be hard to see him not be selected high in this draft.
Roger McQueen
With a giant body and the last name of the best racer to ever do it, Roger McQueen is set to be a fun prospect. The Saskatoon product was drafted fourth overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2021 WHL draft. He had a two-game stint at the end of the year but got his first full WHL season in 2022–23. McQueen saw limited time and in his 55 games, he put up only 14 points. While not the best, McQueen was still regarded with high praise.
His second WHL season was a lot better. A more elevated saw hopes for McQueen to have that season many were waiting for. In 53 games, McQueen found the back of the net 21 times and finished with 51 points. This was enough for him to have the best point-per-game marker on the weaker Wheat Kings team. McQueen was invited to the U18s but only played two games due to injury.
McQueen’s size, name, and offensive abilities have already made him a favourite for fans and scouts. Another big step forward will go a long way for him.
Ivan Ryabkin
Two years in a row with highly touted Russians in Matvei Michkov and Ivan Demidov, Ivan Ryabkin is looking to round it all out and make it a trio. Unlike the other two Russian phenoms, Ryabkin plays centre. He first stood out like many in the 2022–23 season. Ryabkin played for the U16, U17, and U18 Dynamo Moskva teams. With the U16 team, he scored just under three points a game with 13 goals and 23 points in eight games. He spent the majority of the year with the U17 team putting up 10 goals and 33 points in 20 games. Then came an electric four-game show for the U18 team with eight goals and 11 points.
All those strong performances let him make the MHL in 2023–24. Despite being a rookie and 16 years old for the majority of the year, Ryabkin dominated the league. In 44 games we saw a fantastic 24 goals and 58 points. He won Rookie of the Month multiple times and at season’s end was named Rookie of the Year.
Ryabkin may have the best potential outside of Hagens and Martone, maybe even passing the likes of Martone by the time the draft comes around.
Logan Hensler
Considered the best defenceman in the draft currently, Logan Hensler shows out with his all-around play. Joining the USNTDP in 2022–23, Hensler blends production with good two-way play. Scoring 28 points in 60 games with the U17 USNTDP team was improved upon in the USHL with 20 points in 38 games. He did this while impressing with two-way play and great mobility.
Hensler stuck with the USNTDP for 2023–24, now on the U18 team and still in the USHL. He improved his production in both leagues. With the U18 team, we saw him rise to 32 points in 61 games while his two-way play also took steps forward. Then back in the USHL, his games were limited to 27 games but only scored four fewer points with 16 for a better point-per-game pace. En route to the silver medal at the U17s, Hensler put up six points in seven games for the USA. Now Hensler is committed to the University of Wisconsin.
Hensler’s mobility and overall play make him an attractive prospect for this draft. Most forwards are currently outshining him but it wouldn’t be too surprising if he found his way into the top five come June 2025.
Matthew Schaefer
The first overall pick in the 2023 OHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer joined the Erie Otters for his rookie season this past year. Schaefer didn’t put up too many points only getting 17 points in his 56 games played. What he impressed with was his ability to perform at both ends of the ice and his natural speed and agility. It was his first season but he didn’t often look out of place.
It’s a little difficult to rate Schaefer currently as he only has one year at the professional junior level. He also is one of the youngest players in the draft being born on September 5. Schaefer won gold with Canada at the U18s while putting up five points in seven games which is pretty good for someone almost a year younger.
Schaefer has one of the highest potentials of anyone in this upcoming draft and should see himself get drafted inside the top 10.
A very good draft to come
Out of the eight prospects covered in this piece, all of them have great potential. You have what should be your consensus top two in James Hagens and Porter Martone but that could change. A strong year from the likes of Anton Frondell, Michael Misa, or Ivan Ryabkin could take Martone’s spot at two. Then it’s rounded out by great choices in Roger McQueen, Logan Hensler, and Matthew Schaefer.
There are still plenty of good choices not covered such as Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Charlie Trethewey, Malcolm Spence and more. This draft is currently being suited up to be a deeper and more forward-heavy draft than last and could set up the Flames for the future.
