Ben Kevan 2025 NHL Draft Profile

It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL draft rankings and draft profiles! If you haven’t yet, take a look at our TWC consolidated 2025 NHL Draft rankings. The 2025 NHL Draft will take place on June 27 and 28 in Los Angeles. The next draft profile we will be taking a look at is Ben Kevan, a forward for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL.

Who is Ben Kevan

PlayerPositionHandednessHeightWeightBen KevanFRight6’0″183 lbs

Kevan’s on-ice production

YearDraft RelativeLeagueTeamGPGAP2022–23D+215U AAALos Angeles Jr. Kings 15U AAA746250112T1EHL 15ULos Angeles Jr. Kings 15U AAA84372023–24D+116U AAALos Angeles Jr. Kings 16U AAA107512USHLDes Moines Buccaneers592433572024–25D-0USHLDes Moines Buccaneers51133043NTDPU.S National U18 Team13213WJC-18USA U187213

Kevan’s strengths

IQ and patience in the offensive zone

While Ben Kevan is a very strong skater, it is not usually the first weapon he likes to use. He often lets his teammates take the puck into the offensive zone so that he can be the second or third forward in the zone. He will then find gaps in the defence so that he can get open for potentially strong chances. This allows him to be very dangerous, whether he has the puck on his stick or not.

Skating

Kevan is a very athletic player. His speed is very noticeable when you watch him play, thanks in part to how often he uses it. While he isn’t necessarily a puck carrier, as I mentioned previously, he is very agile in his movements throughout the offensive zone, making him a hard player for defenders to keep under wraps. On the defensive side, he is an aggressive forechecker, using his long strides to close distance and force the opposition to potentially make mistakes.

Playmaking

This can also be seen as a tip of the cap to his rather impressive hockey IQ once again, but his playmaking ability has many scouts impressed. Kevan is always reading the ice in front of him, allowing him to make quick decisions about what to do with the puck. He has a knack for drawing multiple defenders towards himself and then using slick passing to create odd-man rushes for his teammates. His patience in the neutral zone is effective and gives him the opportunity to make the best choice at any given time.

Kevan’s areas of improvement

Draft year struggles

Unfortunately for Kevan, his draft year didn’t quite go as well as he might have hoped. The Des Moines Buccaneers missed the USHL playoffs, going 25–32–5 and taking a step back from the previous season. Kevan’s production would also fall, scoring 43 points in 51 games, 14 less than the previous season. He would also score only 13 goals, with an alarming shooting percentage of just 8.6%.

This may not be entirely his fault, considering Des Moines got considerably weaker over the previous offseason, losing many key players. However, it is still a major reason that he finds himself in the third round on some draft boards.

Defence

Some scouts have some worries about his defensive play. While he plays with a high pace in the offensive zone, that pace begins to dissipate when the puck isn’t in his team’s possession. He often finds himself on the perimeter, where he does a decent job using his stick but struggles whenever he is tasked with playing more physical defence. His lack of strength has scouts worried about how he would adjust to pro-level hockey.

Kevan’s comparables

Ben Kevan plays a very unique style that makes him a fairly hard player to find a comparison for. Watching the tape, I think he would remind many Flames fans of Andrei Kuzmenko. Both are players who can look very dynamic and elite in highlight reels, but can struggle in defensive or physical situations. If put in the right system with the right linemates, both can add a lot to your team offensively, but without proper help, they will struggle to create on their own.

Fit with the Flames

Ben Kevan would certainly be an interesting pickup for the Flames. While Calgary’s prospect depth at RW isn’t lacking in talent with Matvei Gridin and Jacob Battaglia coming down the pipe, I can’t think of a reason why they couldn’t take a chance on him with their 54th overall pick. It just comes down to how risky Craig Conroy wants to get in the second round.

Kevan will more than likely be one of the higher-ceiling players still available if he is still on the board at 54, but, as mentioned, his consistency and defensive concerns make him more of a risk than some of the other options Conroy is likely to have. If Conroy is willing to roll the dice on Kevan, the question becomes whether or not he would be able to find the right players to pair him with to get the most out of his potential.

Summary

Ben Kevan is a dangerous, right-handed winger with impressive offensive abilities that may leave many fans foaming at the mouth watching his highlight reels. His ability to create plays and move the puck has all the makings of a future star, but concerns remain about his consistency, overall body strength, and defensive ability. He is going to have to work just as hard as any other prospect to get himself ready for the next level.

Risk: 4.5/5

Reward: 4/5

Projection: Middle-six forward

Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2025 NHL Draft prospects:

Ben Kevan 2025 NHL Draft Profile

Tags: