Ryker Lee has used a 'consistent day-to-day approach' as one of the USHL’s top rookies and top 2025 NHL Draft prospects

There’s no downplaying the value of experience in the USHL. Despite playing in just two regular-season and three playoff games last spring, the opportunity offered Ryker Lee a taste of the USHL pace and lifestyle.

Lee made an immediate impact, scoring in his USHL debut, and found himself thrust into a playoff series as a 17-year-old forward.

He’ll be the first to admit he was running on fumes too, as he’d played a lot of hockey in a short amount of time at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, helping SSM’s U18 team win a national championship.

However, that experience paved the way for a breakout rookie season.

“It was a busy couple weeks and with nationals, I played six games in six days. Then I flew straight home, went to Madison, practiced once, and played those two games. But it was great to get a feel for the (USHL) and I think it really helped me coming into this season,” Lee told The Hockey News. “You’re still coming into your first full year and you know it’s going to be a transition, but everyone here has been really helpful. We’ve got a lot of really good players and the way last year ended in the playoffs gave us all a lot of fuel too.

“The coaches and all the older guys have been great, and I’ve just tried to work hard and have success, and get better every day.”

Have success indeed, as Lee has been one of the USHL’s top rookies and top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft.

On top of his success with the Madison Capitols, he represented the U.S. at the World Junior A Challenge and was invited to the Chipotle All-American Game, where he was named MVP. He was also the USHL’s highest-rated non-NTDP skater on Central Scouting’s Midterm Draft Rankings, as Lee came in at No. 40 among North American skaters.

Lee, a 6-foot, 180-pound forward, is averaging over a point per game and has gone back-and-forth with Ethan Wyttenbach for the USHL’s rookie scoring crown.

Lee has 19 goals and 42 points through 34 games – just three points behind Wyttenbach – and seven points (4-3-7) over his past four games. His 42 points also rank eighth among USHL players overall and the Michigan State commit has especially been a weapon on the power play.

Yet the most impressive part of Lee’s season might be his consistency.

“Whether it’s practice or a game, Ryker is the same person on the ice, and he’s just so consistent with his day-to-day approach,” said Madison head coach Andy Brandt. “He’s still a young player in our league, but to have the maturity he does, understand where he’s at with his game and still be eager to learn – that’s truly special. He’s someone that’s excited to compete every single day and he shows up ready to work, and he does it consistently.”

He’s been a consistent point producer too, as Lee has recorded a point in 23 of his 34 games this season. He has 12 multi-point efforts as well, which includes a hat trick on Jan. 17 and four-goal game on Nov. 15.

Lee possesses an excellent shot and plenty of creativity, and he’s tried to put emphasis on his skating – which has been his biggest knock the past few years, along with his size. Yet neither have slowed him down this winter and he’s only gotten better as the season has progressed.

“It’s been fun watching him continue to grow, and he truly wants to get better every time he steps on the ice,” Brandt said. “Even going back to the end of last season he was a contributor for us right away, and we were excited about the potential and what he could do coming into this season, and he’s a dynamic player. But I think the most impressive thing about being on the ice with him every single day is how he approaches every day.

“He’s our hardest worker on the ice, he’s our most detailed player on the ice and he takes pride in the little things. Obviously he’s a highly-skilled player on top of it and he wants to have an impact in every game he plays in, but it all goes back to his consistent day-to-day approach.”

“My goal is to get 1% better every day and you have to really focus in practice to do that,” Lee added. “I’m someone that loves being at the rink too and I’m happy to show up and go to work.”

The Capitols will need Lee to continue producing down the stretch. Madison (23-11-3-1) currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with 50 points, and the Caps own the USHL’s fifth-best win percentage at .658.

They’ve been one of the league’s best defensive teams all season, as their 116 goals allowed rank second in the USHL, and they’re averaging 3.89 goals per game too – which ranks third.

However, the Caps are one of two teams with less than 40 games played, and Madison will play three games in six of the next seven weeks – several of which being three games in three days.

It’s been a terrific rookie season up to this point and Lee’s durability and consistency will certainly be tested in the coming weeks. But he doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon.

“I’m someone that likes to lead by example and I want to score goals, and I think we’ve got a group of guys that are willing to do whatever it takes,” Lee said. “We feel we’re a dangerous team to play against and we obviously want to go on a run and win a Clark Cup, and I just want to help our team win in as many ways as I can.”