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Ethan Czata could be the Flames’ third-line centre of the future
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Photo credit: Brandon Taylor/ OHL Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 17, 2025, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 17, 2025, 01:19 EDT
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The 2025 National Hockey League draft is nearly here.
Offensively, the Calgary Flames need some centre prospects in their prospect cupboards, as they are full of interesting wingers. One centre who could be available in the second round when the Flames pick 54th is Ethan Czata.
Let’s take a look at what the 18-year-old has to offer!

Scouting report

Czata was born in Brampton, Ontario and stands at 6’1”, 175 lbs. He’s a left-shot centre who has played two seasons with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
According to Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, Czata is the 56th-best draft prospect eligible, and he said this about the Brampton-native.
“Czata started the year with a disappointing showing at the Hlinka Gretzky, but he showed he could be equally dangerous as a shooter and a passer in the OHL. He’s a good two-way forward who can play many different situations, but I think he’ll be used more in a bottom-six role. He put up good numbers this year, but I’d like to see him add more finesse and deception into his game next season. I do think Czata will be an NHLer one day, though.”
Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala is a little higher on Czata, ranking him as his 43rd-best draft prospect. He had similar things to say about Czata.
“Two-way forward with better than secondary scoring upside. Used in all situations with Niagara.”
In June, Dobber Prospects had this to say about the left-shot centre.
“Czata believes in working smarter and making the safe play. Defensively he is solid, though his wiry frame doesn’t always have the power needed to delay as well as he needs to. His offensive skills are decent enough to be a complimentary player down the road, and keep up with the play-drivers. He played last season as a 17-year-old, he turned 18 in late May, so his modest production will most certainly see a boost in 2025-26.”

The numbers

Czata was drafted fifth overall in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League draft by the Niagara IceDogs. He had a quiet rookie season as a 16-year-old, scoring just seven goals and 17 points in 62 games, while posting a -35 and 42 penalty minutes.
In his aged-17 season, Czata improved drastically, scoring 21 goals and 55 points in 68 games, helping the IceDogs make the post-season, where they lost in five games. The centre picked up two points and four penalty minutes.
Czata’s also improved in the face-off department, jumping from 220 face-offs won in 2023-24 to 629 face-offs won in 2024-25. Overall, he won 49.8% of the face-offs he took last season.

Availability and fit

As has been the case with all of the centres we’ve looked at, Czata is a clear fit for the Flames as they need centre prospects. That said, it seems as if he has a low ceiling, but a high floor as a bottom-six, defensively minded centre. Could he potentially be the Flames’ third-line centre of the future?
There’s a high likelihood that Czata will be available when the Flames pick 54th overall. Some rankings have him in the high-40s (TSN’s Craig Button, McKeen’s Hockey, and Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala). There are a fair number of sites that have Czata around the 54th selection, such as TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, and Elite Prospects. His consolidated ranking on Elite Prospects is 55th overall.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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