Henrik Rybinski could be just a day away from achieving a lifelong dream.
The Washington Capitals recalled the 23-year-old forward from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Saturday morning. Rybinski’s stint in the NHL is the first of his career after signing a three-year entry-level deal with Washington in 2022.
Rybinski is in the middle of his third season as a pro. He is getting his first NHL chance after already setting new career highs in goals (6), assists (14), and points (20) through 28 games with the Bears.
“I was just driving around, driving back home, and Todd Nelson called me,” Rybinski told Monumental Sports Network’s Tarik El-Bashir. “I was confused, like, ‘Really? Me?’ It was really cool. Just super happy. Got emotional. Just a really cool experience.”
Rybinski’s journey to being one step away from his NHL debut is somewhat atypical. The Vancouver native was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft but never inked a deal with the Panthers, becoming a free agent while still playing junior hockey for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
Rybinski spent time at multiple camps with the Panthers and was brought in by the Edmonton Oilers for their rookie camp the fall before the Capitals signed him. His circuitous path to pro hockey made Saturday’s recall even sweeter for the prospect centerman.
“I called my dad. Yeah, dad, and then mom – my parents,” Rybinski said. “Just super excited for me. I’ve been playing since I was six, and you dream of coming up here and just being around here. All the hard work, and then you think of all the doubts you had of would you ever get this opportunity. That’s kind of what made it feel really special.”
Rybinski, who previously roomed with Hendrix Lapierre and Vincent Iorio in Hershey, has focused on becoming a defensively reliable option for Todd Nelson with the Bears the past two seasons. His level of responsibility has grown as he’s excelled as a preferred penalty killer and a relentless puck hound at even strength.
Those assets and the scoring touch he’s found this season make him a near-perfect replacement for an ill Lars Eller with the Capitals. Eller was placed on injured reserve before Rybinski’s recall and won’t play in either of the Capitals’ two games before the holiday break.
The Capitals will play the Los Angeles Kings at home on Sunday and then travel to Boston to play the Bruins on Monday. Hendrix Lapierre took Eller’s spot on the team’s third line against the Hurricanes on Friday night but only played 6:04 total ice time in the 3-1 win.
