In the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the Florida Panthers selected their second forward of the day.
The Florida Panthers acquired the 136th pick from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick. The Panthers used the pick to select LW Henry Rybinski (a.k.a. Henrik Rybinski) from Vancouver (BC), Canada.
6’1″, 170 lbs and right-handed, Rybinski played for the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) during the 2018-19 season. In 14 games, Rybinski recorded 1G, 4A, for 5 points. With the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL, he put up 1G, 11A, and 12 points in 9 games.
Later in the season, Rybinski was dealt to the Seattle Thunderbirds, tallying 7G, 28A, and 35 points in 33 games.
Rybinski is regarded as a pass-first player who likes to set up his teammates. He possesses strong playmaking abilities from in tight and can thread a pass between a couple of players with little difficulty.
He isn’t the strongest of finishers, but he isn’t someone you’d voluntarily leave open in front of the net. When the puck is on his stick from around the hash marks, that’s usually his golden spot for scoring.
His defensive game and awareness could use some work as he doesn’t always stay in position within his own zone. With more time and development, those flaws can be fixed.
For a fifth-round pick, this selection isn’t too bad and would be something I’d label as a decent pick. There are no guarantees that Rybinski will play full-time in the NHL, but he could make a good depth option in Springfield when he’s AHL eligible.
Next season (2019-20), Rybinski will continue his development in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds – a team and league he’s found comfort in.
If all goes as planned for Henry Rybinski, then he should (at the very least) serve as a reliable option in the Panthers system for years to come.
At the very worst, Henry Rybinski doesn’t make the Florida Panthers full-time but he should make a good player in the AHL at least.