LOS ANGELES – The Michigan State hockey program had five current or committed players taken in the first three rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, including two late first-round selections.
Incoming freshman Ryker Lee, who was the United States Hockey League Player of the Year while scoring 31 goals for the Madison Capitols, was taken 26th overall by the Nashville Predators. He was the second player from the USHL taken, just behind Muskegon’s Vaclav Nestrasil.
Three picks later, the Chicago Blackhawks traded up to 29th overall to select Mason West, who will skate with the USHL’s Fargo Force next season. West, a 6-6 forward from Edina, Minnesota, announced his commitment to MSU on June 19 and is expected to be with the Spartans for the 2026-2027 season.
Eric Nilson, an incoming freshman to MSU who played with Djurgårdens U-20 in Sweden, was the next Spartan taken at pick 45 to the Anaheim Ducks. Three picks later, the Philadelphia Flyers selected MSU sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi at No. 48. The Flyers previously signed former MSU forward Karsen Dorwart, who made his NHL debut late last season following MSU’s NCAA tournament exit.
In the third round, Pittsburgh used its selection at pick 91 to take MSU commit Brady Peddle, a fast-rising defenseman for Waterloo in the USHL. Peddle, who becomes the first Waterloo player drafted by the Penguins, climbed up draft boards after his postseason performance (10 points in 15 games) with the Blackhawks.
Another MSU commit was selected in the fifth round with forward Max Heise being taken at pick 150 by the San Jose Sharks. Heise was playing in the BCHL with Penticton, but recently signed to play with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL.
With these selections, MSU currently has 13 players on the roster for next season who have been drafted by NHL teams, including four first-round picks and five second-round picks.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Five Spartans picked in NHL draft, including Ryker Lee, Mason West in 1st round
Reporting by Nathaniel Bott, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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