The Calgary Flames’ prospects have had an outstanding year—particularly those who have played in the OHL. Zayne Parekh, Luke Misa, Jake Battaglia, and Henry Mews have been among the best players on their respective teams and have been near the top of the leagues scoring charts.
Given their ages, most of these players are due back in the OHL next season, however, reports are that Henry Mews is expected to join the University of Michigan Wolverines next season.
Who is Henry Mews?
The Flames’ third-round pick in the 2024 draft, Mews is an incredible offensive defenceman who stands 6’1” and spent the season split between the Ottawa 67’s and Sudbury Wolves. Through 69 games, the blueliner has 87 points, including 15 goals. This puts him 15th in the league in scoring, and third among all defencemen. Only first-round picks Parekh and Sam Dickinson are ahead of him.
Unlike Parekh, Mews is unsigned by the Flames at this point. Despite playing three full seasons in the OHL, he is due back for a fourth season next year. However, if the reports are true, Mews is expected to join the University of Michigan Wolverines where he will play with some incredibly talented players including Michael Hage and defenceman Ethan Edwards.
Why move away from the OHL?
Mews has put up excellent numbers in the OHL so far in his career, but moving to the NCAA makes a lot of sense. Not only will he get a chance to play on a top team that has been a feeder for NHL teams, but it’s also a tougher league that will be more competitive for him.
Mews has put up incredible numbers in the OHL, but playing another season in the league is probably not going to benefit his development much. Playing in the NCAA will be an additional challenge for him, and give him a chance to play against tougher teams, and potentially even play in the Frozen Four—the NCAA’s national playoffs.
The NCAA is also home to older players than the OHL, with players in their early to mid twenties, where the OHL tops out at the 20-year-old season. This will allow the defenceman to compete against older and larger players and develop a stronger defensive side to his game.
What does this mean for the Flames?
There are risks involved if Mews goes to the NCAA. For the Flames, Mews now has a window in which he can play in the NCAA and if he chooses not to sign with the Flames after completing his NCAA career, he can choose to sign with any team as an unrestricted free agent.
This is what happened to the Flames and Carolina Hurricanes with Adam Fox several years back. While this is a concern, it seems likely that the Flames will have done their homework on Mews, and feel confident in their ability to sign the prospect.
Beyond that, this is nothing but good news for the Flames prospect. He gets a chance to play against tougher competition and to grow and develop in a tougher league. In a perfect world, he stays there for two more years, increasing his ice time each year, before jumping over to the AHL and then the NHL. Mews projects as an offensive, second or third-pairing defenceman who can quarterback a power play and also hold his own in his zone. With the right development, he should reach there in three to four years.
All the best to Mews in wherever he lands next season.
