Welcome to your 2025 NHL Entry Draft Headquarters right here at Last Word On Sports and Top Shelf Prospects. We have you covered with everything you will need to be ready for the big event. This year’s draft is set to take place on June 27th and 28th, live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Today, we bring you our Ivan Ryabkin Scouting Report. 

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Ivan Ryabkin has been by far the biggest faller of this year’s draft class. After starting the year as a top-5 lock, Ryabkin is now listed at #30 on Elite Prospects Consolidation rankings.  Prior to this season, Ivan was coming off a record-breaking U17 season in the MHL. Now, however, Ryabkin is coming off a season filled with inconsistencies and transitions. Despite these red flags, Ryabkin’s elite puck skills, creativity, and offensive instincts continue to make him a player with considerable upside and potential long-term value as a top-six NHL forward.

Ivan Ryabkin Scouting Report: 2025 NHL Draft #27

Center – Shoots Left

Born Apr 25, 2007 – Balakovo, RUS

Height 5’11” – Weight 209lbs [180cm|95kg]

Offence

Despite the rankings, Ryabkin’s offensive tools remain some of the best in this year’s draft. He can handle the puck effectively in all areas of the ice, whether that be finding an open teammate in the slot or coming out of the corner in transition. He’s especially dangerous off the rush, using deception, crossovers, and body control to manipulate defenders and attack the slot. Ivan is exceptional at give-and-gos off the boards as well as high-speed one-touch passes to the slot, aiding in his overall playmaking abilities. His understanding of the game allows him always to be two steps ahead of the defenders. Ryabkin couples these skills with excellent offensive vision to generate high-danger chances for himself and his teammates.

When not handing the puck off, Ivan has a deceptively accurate shot and excels in catch-and-release scenarios. Although not the hardest shot you will see, the mechanics are strong, and the puck often goes where he wants it. His ability to read offensive situations is advanced—he anticipates rebounds and breakdowns before they occur, frequently arriving in scoring areas at the right time. After coming over to the USHL, he was able to score 19 goals and 30 points in the team’s remaining 27 games.

Ivan Ryabkin(2025) huge hit! #NHLdraft pic.twitter.com/DD1H9EpU9a

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) May 21, 2025

The biggest issue with Ryabkin’s offence is, like many young players, trying to do too much. Ivan can often get carried away, causing turnovers and just appearing reckless on the ice. In times when he is playing down in the lineup and with players he doesn’t trust as much, this becomes more apparent.  His occasional carlessness, combined with his exceptional streaky play, has plagued his draft-eligible season.

Defence

Defensively, there is still a lot of work to be done. Rybakin often gets caught puck-watching in his own zone, resulting in out-of-position play. To compensate, he will cheat for offence, usually resulting in him getting caught. The biggest issue, though, is engagement. He can be late on backchecks, sometimes disengaging from battles or assignments altogether. There were times this season in Russia when he looked almost uninterested. With that said, there have been improvements to this since coming over to North America.

That said, Ryabkin does have tools that could eventually make him a decent two-way center. He has a large frame that, when motivated, allows him to battle hard along the boards and win body position.  He shows flashes of defensive IQ, whether that be using effective stick details to break up rushes, or reading the play and cheating for offence at just the right time. NHL teams will want to see more consistency, discipline, and buy-in on the defensive side to project him as anything more than a purely offensive weapon.

Always a chance to see something special with Ivan Ryabkin on the ice!⚡️#NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/XULvuwzY2k

— USHL (@USHL) June 13, 2025

Comparison and Projection

The players that come to mind when watching Ryabkin are Barrett Hayton (Utah Mammoth) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (SKA St. Petersburg). In all instances, you have a dynamic offensive center with elite skill and vision, but who requires the right structure and motivation to maximize his impact.

Overall, Ivan Ryabkin is a difficult player to project. At times, he shows the potential of a top-line center with elite offence and a respectable two-way game. Alternatively, there are games where the effort is lackluster at best, and he’s not very projectable at all. He’s the type of player with a high ceiling and low floor. A true boom or bust prospect. His developmental path will require patience, the right coaching staff, and an environment that holds him accountable without stifling his creativity. Under the right circumstances, Ryabkin could turn into an NHL force. Expect his name to be called in the 20-40 range on draft day.

Main photo by: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images