Calgary Flames draft defenseman Henry Mews with No. 74 pick

The Calgary Flames took a chance on a prospect whose value took a hit over the past year when they selected defenseman Henry Mews of the Ottawa 67’s with the No. 74 pick.

After recording 31 points in 55 games as an OHL rookie for Ottawa in 2022-23, Mews would have expected another step forward to earn him lottery consideration.

Instead, after an up-and-down year and the emergence of other puck-moving D-men like Zeev Buium and Zayne Parekh, Mews’s stock fell steadily throughout the season until he was considered a fringe first-rounder at best.

That said, the skills that brought Mews to the forefront to begin with were still on display in 2023-24. He shoots, stick handles, and skates at a well above-average level for a defenseman without giving up too much size (6’, 180 lbs).

His offensive-zone passing should buy him time on the power play at the next level. Mews recorded 46 assists in 65 games for his hometown 67’s before racking up another five helpers in seven games for Canada in a victorious effort at the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Championship in Finland.

Mews hurt his draft position during his sophomore season in the OHL with some mental lapses. His decision making landed him in hot water at both ends of the ice through ill-advised pinches and overambitious stretch passes.

Luckily for the Flames, that can be coached out of his game. What can’t be taught is his offensive toolkit, which might have popped more if not for Buiuim, Parekh, and Artyom Levshunov’s presence at the top of his class.

Mews has plenty of work ahead of him if he’s to become an NHL-level defender, but his impressive puck skills mean he’ll likely get that chance in Calgary