Pals, every NHL Draft class contains many, many fascinating young men. But one of the cooler stories in the draft is Ontario Hockey League forward Ryder Cali. Not only is he blessed with size and unique bloodlines, but his journey to high-end hockey has been quite unique.

Let’s learn more about this prospective second-round talent and his potential fit with the Calgary Flames.

What do scouts think of Ryder Cali?

Cali was born in Switzerland in September 2008, so he’s one of the youngest players in the draft class. His mom, Fiona McLeod, played professional hockey in Switzerland. The family moved to the Cayman Islands before eventually settling in Ontario, where Cali began playing hockey when he was seven. He’s listed at 6’2″ and 218 pounds, and he’s a left shot forward.

Cali came up through Ontario minor hockey, but he didn’t really hit high-end hockey until he began playing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League in 2023-24. He was a first-round pick by the Soo Greyhounds in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, then had his OHL rights traded to North Bay a few months later.

He committed to Harvard University prior to the 2024-25 season, which he spent in the OJHL to maintain his college eligibility, then joined North Bay in the OHL after the NCAA changed their rules to allow major junior players. The 2025-26 campaign was his first full season in the OHL. After Harvard changed coaches, he changed his NCAA commitment to Providence College, and he’s headed there in the fall. He represented Canada at the Junior A World Challenge in 2024-25 and the Under-18 World Championships, but didn’t really make a lot of offensive noise in either event.

Over at McKeen’s Hockey, Brock Otten wrote a lengthy scouting report on Cali’s game:

Ryder Cali is one of the most intriguing draft prospects from the OHL this season. On one hand, he’s a prospect with a relatively safe floor thanks to his size, well rounded skill set, and versatility. He already plays a pro style game with an attention to detail. Yet, he also flashes offensive upside with strong hands and offensive instincts; he finished the OHL season on a major hot streak from an offensive perspective.

In his May draft rankings, Daily Faceoff prospect guru Steven Ellis had this rundown on Cali:

I liked Cali in Jr. A last year – putting up more than 50 points as a 16-year-old in the OJHL is no small feat, even if the competition has diminished over time. But I was hoping to see more from him offensively in North Bay this year. Cali is built like a tank, though, and he puts a ton of power into every shift, with and without the puck. I can see him becoming a solid bottom-six forward if he can improve his playmaking. I considered ranking him lower, but I know some scouts really like him as a long-term project. With an NHL frame and solid hockey sense, there’s something here.

How did Ryder Cali produce in 2025-26?

On one handy, Cali missed the better part of two months between late October and late December. But when he was active, he was quite productive, posting 16 goals and 36 points over 47 games. He ranked 12th among OHL rookies in points.

Playing a mix of centre and wing, he won 54% of his draws. (He was sixth among North Bay forwards in face-offs taken, and he averaged nine face-offs per game.)

Could Ryder Cali be a fit for the Calgary Flames?

The big challenge with Cali is figuring out what his developmental potential is. He’s good. He’s big. He’s young. Having family that were high-end athletes is a big plus. He’s going to a good school at Providence College. But he’s played hardly enough elite-level hockey, so that might hurt his chances of going super high. But if you’re a team like the Flames with oodles of picks, he’s a player the Flames could easily devote a pick to taking a chance on as a project – especially as a young, versatile left-shot forward.

Generally, he’s seen as an early-to-mid second-rounder, but some scouts like him a little bit higher. He seems unlikely to be taken in the first round, but he could go anywhere in the first half of the second round. The Flames have ample picks between the first and second round, so he’s easily a player they could nab if they covet him.