Ryker Lee Selected in First Round of 2025 NHL Draft

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Incoming Michigan State hockey freshman Ryker Lee was selected by the Nashville Predators with the 26th pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night.

Lee becomes the 13th Spartan to be selected in the opening round and will be the fourth first rounder to play under head coach Adam Nightingale in East Lansing since 2022 joining Isaac Howard, Charlie Stramel and Artyom Levshunov.

The United States Hockey League (USHL) Rookie of the Year this past season, Lee posted 31 goals and 37 assists in 58 games for the Madison Capitols. Lee earned All-USHL First Team honors finishing fourth overall in league scoring and earning USHL Forward of the Week two times. He ranked No. 28 among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

Lee is the third Spartan to be selected by Nashville all-time, joining Adam Hall and Andrew Hutchinson who were both selected by the Predators in 1999.

Ryker Lee is a Nashville Predator!

Lee becomes the 13th first round pick in Michigan State history and is first Spartan headed to @PredsNHL since 1999!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/1GesMXnN5z
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) June 28, 2025

Players Mentioned

Isaac Howard

Artyom Levshunov

Charlie Stramel

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