BREAKING: Capitals Make Shock Move, Send Center to AHL Contenders
The Washington Capitals have reassigned center Henrik Rybinski to the Hershey Bears after their 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins last night.
Rybinski was called up to the Capitals when Lars Eller was placed on injured reserve due to illness on Saturday. However, he did not make his NHL debut during the Caps’ back-to-back games.
Despite not seeing game action, the Vancouver native earned high praise from Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery for his strong work ethic and development in Hershey. Rybinski was among the final cuts in training camp.
“He’s had a really good start to his year in Hershey,” Carbery said. “Had a great camp here in Washington and gives us a bit of versatility. There were some wingers in the mix that we certainly considered, but for him to be able to play the wing and center gives us that. That versatility, it’s a prime example as a young player, if you’re able to be moved around, it helps you. It’s an asset as a player.”
For Rybinski, the call-up to the Capitals was a moment of disbelief and emotion. “I’ve been playing since I was six, and you dream of coming up here and just being around here,” he shared. “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.”
Meanwhile, the Hershey Bears struggled with injuries to key players and lost both games during Rybinski’s absence. They went with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen in a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, followed by a 1-0 defeat to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins the next day, both at home.
Capitals Loan Henrik Rybinski to Hershey
Forward ranks third on Hershey in points (20) this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Henrik Rybinski to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced following last night’s game.
Rybinski, 23, has posted 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) in 28 games with Hershey this season, marking a career high in goals, assists, and points in a single season. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 187 pounds, Rybinski has seen a significant increase in his performance this year, averaging 0.71 points per game compared to his 0.31 points per game last season. He ranks second on the Bears in assists, second in plus-minus (+9), and third in points. The Capitals signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on March 1, 2022.
The Vancouver, British Columbia native also contributed significantly in the 2023-24 season, appearing in 52 regular-season games with Hershey, registering 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists). Rybinski tied for the team lead in shorthanded points (4) and assists (3) and helped the Bears capture their second-straight Calder Cup championship with nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in 19 playoff games. He ranked tied for first in plus-minus (+7) and tied for sixth in goals during the postseason.
During his first professional season in 2022-23, Rybinski earned 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists) in 51 games with Hershey, ranking tied for third among Bears rookies in goals and fourth in assists, points, and shots (42). In 131 career AHL games, he has accumulated 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists).
Originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round (136th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Rybinski played five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL), recording 176 points (50 goals, 126 assists) in 233 career games with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Seattle Thunderbirds before signing with Washington.