We are just over a week away from the 2025 NHL Draft and much like the scouting staff's, we are in full-draft swing. The Utah Mammoth have the fourth overall pick, which we've written about extensively, covering numerous prospects that they could select with that draft pick. So, today, we are going to switch it up and take a look at their second-round pick, which is slotted at number 46.
There are a few names that stand out around that range, and ultimately it would depend on what the Mammoth are looking for. There's goaltender Semyon Frolov, forward Matthew Gard, and defenseman Max Psenicka, who are all very good second-round picks. However, today we are going to look at Russian forward Ivan Ryabkin.
Scouting Report
Team: Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
2024–25 Stats: 19 G, 11 A, 30 P, 70 PIM
DOB: Apr. 25, 2007
Position: C
Shoots: Left
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 209 lbs
At the beginning of the 2024-25 NHL season, most scouts would have had Ryabkin being selected as a lottery pick. Unfortunately, his season didn’t go as planned, and his draft stock fell, big time. It’s not that he isn’t talented—he is. When he made the move to the USHL, things changed, and he started to show scouts just what he could do. He is a smart player who likes to shoot the puck and create chances. He has the tools to be a solid 200-foot player, but he can be inconsistent, which is an issue that Utah’s staff would definitely need to work on.
Ryabkin is a very skilled forward, whether it be his stickhandling, his great release, or even his passing ability. The talent is there, and you can see flashes of it often. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a great draft year, but that doesn’t mean that he will be a bust. He has the skill set that could easily translate to the pro level—it just will take time and patience. Some scouts knock him for his lack of effort. There are times in his games where he looks lazy or disengaged, which has caught a lot of eyes and raised concerns.
If the Mammoth do select him, they would need to be patient and allow him to work on some aspects of his game. It could be smart if they look to make him a winger, so he doesn’t have so much defensive responsibility. They would also need to correct some bad habits like his poorly timed hits that he tends to throw, which often ends in him being penalized. Ryabkin has the tools to be a good NHL player, but he has some habits that hurt his game. Once those are cleaned up, he could become a reliable middle-six forward at the NHL level.
What the Scouts Are Saying:
Ryabkin is a violent centre who can thread a needle and hammer a puck. His best elements are shooting, passing, and hitting. One-timers from the flank, quick-release wristers, and skillful in-tight deflections are his top scoring tools, and he has the handling skill to create space for his shot off the rush — Elite Prospect, 2025
"It’s a realistic thought that a team will be more aggressive and call his name before this slot. My concerns regarding Ryabkin’s ability to create offence, and score goals, is minimal." — Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
"Ryabkin’s got a quick release. I like his instincts off the puck offensively to get open and jump into gaps in coverage. He’s got soft hands and makes a lot of plays off his backhand. He sees the ice well when there are plays to be made and has the finesse and touch to execute difficult passes." — Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
"The talent is undeniable, with a great release, quick hands, creative passing and a real edge to his game, he is also a solid defensive player. The inconsistency he has though is frustrating, as are the lapses in judgement and concentration." — Smaht Scouting
"When Ryabkin is at his best, he plays a full, 200-foot game and is creative and daring in the offensive zone." — Adam Kimelman, NHL
Ryabkin’s draft year has turned into a saga. He and Dynamo had disagreements about ice time and training from the start of training camp, giving him a shaky platform to start the year. He opted for a move to the USHL over a trade in the MHL, and has since been racking up the goals and PIMs in Muskegon. Ryabkin is a short and stout winger with nifty hands and a heavy shot. He’s dangerous in open space but needs some help getting it. Keeping a level head and making patient plays have both been issues, but Ryabkin could nonetheless stand as an untapped gold mine of offensive talent for teams willing to invest time into his development. — Gabe Foley, Recruit Scouting
The Mammoth have a very deep prospect pool that could be a perfect place for Ryabkin to grow and develop. Although it doesn’t seem like this would be the type of prospect that GM Bill Armstrong typically targets, it still could make sense. At this point in their rebuild, they are very close to pushing all their chips in and trying to be a consistent playoff team. They likely want to draft someone who doesn’t require so much work. However, if Armstrong and his scouting staff does like Ryabkin, they could allow him to simmer in the organization and join the team when he is ready. It'll be interesting to see if Utah does like him enough to make the pick.
Let us know what you think below.
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Photo Credit: Muskegon Lumberjacks