Michigan State’s Rising Forward and Nashville Predators Prospect
After winning USHL Rookie of the Year and being selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Ryker Lee has continued his development at Michigan State. His productive freshman season and offensive creativity make him a player to watch during the 2026-27 campaign.
Ryker Lee's hockey career has progressed through a series of increasingly demanding challenges, from elite youth competition to junior hockey and NCAA Division I. At each stage, his offensive instincts and ability to create scoring opportunities have helped him stand out.
The Wilmette, Illinois, native emerged as one of the United States Hockey League's leading young forwards during the 2024-25 season. His performance with the Madison Capitols earned him Rookie of the Year honors and helped establish his reputation as a promising NHL prospect.
The Nashville Predators selected Lee 26th overall in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. He subsequently continued his development at Michigan State University, where he made an immediate contribution during his freshman season.
In 35 games during 2025-26, Lee recorded 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points. His production placed him among the Spartans' leading scorers and demonstrated his ability to contribute against experienced collegiate opponents.
Now entering his sophomore season, Lee has earned preseason recognition from the Big Ten. His next challenge is to build on that foundation, maintain his offensive production, and continue developing the all-around game required to advance toward professional hockey.
- Full Name: Ryker Lee
- Sport: Ice Hockey
- Position: Forward
- Shoots: Right
- Jersey Number: 18
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch
- Weight: 190 pounds, according to Michigan State's 2026-27 roster
- Age: 19 as of October 2026
- Date of Birth: November 8, 2006
- Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
- Previous School: Shattuck-St. Mary's
- College: Michigan State University
- Team: Michigan State Spartans
- Conference: Big Ten Conference
- Class: Sophomore
- NHL Organization: Nashville Predators
- NHL Draft: 26th overall, first round, 2025
Lee attended Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota, a school known for its competitive hockey program and development of young players. The experience formed part of his progression toward junior hockey and eventually collegiate competition.
During the 2023-24 season, Lee recorded 99 points, including 45 goals and 54 assists, in 57 games with the school's under-18 team. He also contributed to the program's national championship success at that level.
His statistics demonstrated an ability to contribute both as a scorer and as a playmaker. His goal total highlighted his finishing ability, while his assists showed that he could help teammates generate offensive opportunities.
Lee's family is another documented part of his background. He is the son of Leonore and George Lee and has two older brothers, Beckham and Max. His brother Beckham also attends Michigan State.
Detailed public information about Lee's childhood influences and private family life is limited. His documented progression through youth hockey, however, provides a clear foundation for understanding his development.
Lee's breakthrough came during the 2024-25 season with the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League. In 58 regular-season games, he recorded 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 points, finishing fourth in overall league scoring and leading all rookies in points.
His performance earned him USHL Rookie of the Year honors, First Team All-USHL recognition, and a place on the league's All-Rookie First Team. He also recorded 23 power-play points and five game-winning goals.
The Rookie of the Year award was particularly significant because Lee became the first Madison Capitols player to receive the honor. His production established him as one of the league's leading young prospects.
On June 27, 2025, the Nashville Predators selected Lee 26th overall in the first round of the NHL Draft. The selection marked a major milestone, but his development continued at Michigan State rather than immediately moving into professional hockey.
Lee's freshman season demonstrated that he could adapt to NCAA competition. He recorded 15 goals and 15 assists in 35 games during 2025-26, finishing fourth on the team in points and third in goals.
The transition represented another important step in his career. Junior hockey had established his scoring credentials, while college competition offered a new test against experienced players in one of the country's strongest conferences.
Lee is a right-shooting forward whose game revolves around offensive creativity, puck control, and scoring instincts. His ability to handle the puck in tight spaces and recognize opportunities makes him a threat in the attacking zone.
His nickname, “The Wizard,” reflects his reputation for imaginative stickhandling. Rather than relying exclusively on straightforward shooting opportunities, he can use puck control and changes of direction to create openings.
His junior statistics demonstrated his ability to contribute in different ways. The 31 goals he scored with Madison highlighted his finishing ability, while his 37 assists showed his value as a playmaker.
At Michigan State, he maintained that balance with 15 goals and 15 assists in his freshman season. He also scored four power-play goals, giving the Spartans another offensive option in special-teams situations.
Continued development will require consistency across every area of the game. Responsible puck management, defensive positioning, and decision-making away from possession will be important as he faces stronger opponents and works toward the professional level.
Lee's documented accomplishments include:
- 2023-24: Recorded 99 points in 57 games with Shattuck-St. Mary's under-18 team.
- 2023-24: Contributed to Shattuck-St. Mary's national championship success at the under-18 level.
- International hockey: Won gold with Team USA at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge and bronze at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
- 2024-25: Recorded 31 goals and 37 assists in 58 USHL regular-season games.
- 2025: Named USHL Rookie of the Year.
- 2025: Earned First Team All-USHL and All-Rookie First Team honors.
- 2025: Selected 26th overall by the Nashville Predators in the NHL Draft.
- 2025-26: Recorded 30 points in 35 games during his Michigan State freshman season.
- 2026: Recorded two goals and three points in five games at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
- 2026: Named to the preliminary U.S. men's national team roster ahead of the IIHF World Championship.
- 2026: Named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team for the 2026-27 season.
The preliminary senior national-team selection should not be confused with confirmation of participation in the final World Championship roster.
Lee's development has required him to adapt to increasingly competitive environments. His progression from youth hockey to the USHL and then NCAA Division I has placed him against stronger opponents while increasing expectations for consistency and all-around contribution.
International competition has provided another dimension to his experience. At the 2026 World Junior Championship, Lee recorded two goals and one assist in five games for the United States. The tournament offered an opportunity to compete against international opponents and gain experience in a high-pressure environment.
His family remains part of his documented background, but information about charitable activities, private interests outside hockey, academic achievements, and personal adversity is limited. Those subjects should not be embellished without reliable documentation.
His competitive record offers a clear account of his progress without relying on unverified personal anecdotes.
Lee enters the 2026-27 season following a productive freshman campaign and growing recognition within the Big Ten.
On September 23, 2026, Michigan State announced that he had been named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team. He was the Spartans' only representative on the conference's two preseason teams, while the league's coaches projected Michigan State to finish second in the conference.
The recognition raises expectations for his sophomore season. Lee must continue producing offensively while demonstrating greater consistency against opponents who have additional experience and a better understanding of his playing style.
His professional future remains connected to the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the first round in 2025. However, his eventual NHL role will depend on his continued development and the organization's assessment of his readiness.
For Michigan State, his offensive creativity provides an important scoring option. Continued improvement could make him an increasingly influential player as the Spartans pursue conference and national success.
At 19, Lee is still establishing his place in college hockey. His early accomplishments nevertheless demonstrate a progression through youth, junior, international, and collegiate competition.
He has earned major junior hockey honors, represented the United States internationally, secured a first-round NHL Draft selection, and produced immediately in college hockey. These milestones provide a strong foundation without guaranteeing future professional success.
For Michigan State, his offensive creativity offers another way to generate scoring opportunities. For Nashville, his continued college development provides an opportunity to evaluate how his puck skills and scoring instincts translate into a more complete game.
His long-term legacy remains unwritten. What can be established is that Lee has earned recognition through measurable performance and continued progressing as the level of competition has increased.
Ryker Lee has established himself as a promising Michigan State forward through his USHL Rookie of the Year season, first-round selection by the Nashville Predators, and productive freshman campaign.
His 30 points in 35 games and preseason All-Big Ten recognition provide a strong foundation for his sophomore year. His challenge now is to maintain his scoring production, strengthen his all-around game, and continue preparing for professional hockey.
Lee's story is still unfolding. His early achievements have opened important doors, but his future will depend on how consistently he develops and performs at each new level. For Michigan State and the Nashville Predators, the coming seasons will provide a clearer picture of how far his talent can take him.
