Film Room: Ivan Ryabkin’s draft year took the scenic route

"At 16 years old, Ivan Ryabkin may just be the smartest player in the MHL. [...] Should be a top-10 prospect next year.”

That’s what our Russian regional scout, Dylan Griffing, had to say in a game report from 30 November 2023. The first sentiment may have held up, but the latter isn’t reflected in his final ranking in the Elite Prospects Draft Guide.

From being the next up after back-to-back years of Russian stars topping their respective draft classes, to a healthy scratch in the MHL, to a Clark Cup champion — Ryabkin has one of the most unique stories of the 2025 NHL Draft. It also makes breaking down his season a difficult task. His most meaningful minutes came after his move to the Lumberjacks; however, his time in the Dynamo Moskva system set the stage for it all.

That puts us in a posi