This was the New Release From the Tigers
http://tigershockey.com/article/press-release
Rebuttal from Rybinski's Agent
https://twitter.com/MHNMcCracken
- Ryan McCracken has a twitter post from Rybinski's Agent
Go read both articles and then come back...
Evaluating Rybinski
At 6'1 176 lbs, Rybinski has the makings of having a solid frame. He is not afraid to go into the dirty areas of the ice and he is not afraid to take a hit to make a play. He does have a tendency to play with his head down which leads to occasional instances of getting hit hard and slight cases of tunnel vision.
Using His Frame
As a 17-year-old he is still gaining experience on how to use his frame to protect the puck. He doesn't yet possess the strength to fight off attackers quite yet. He will develop it, but he needs more muscle and more experience. As of right now, he can be knocked off the puck which is normal for a 17 in the whl.
On Ice Awareness
His offensive awareness I'd rate as an average calibre for a 17yr old forward. He doesn't yet possess the ability to see the next play beyond the current one on a consistent basis. He does show occasional playmaking ability when he is given time to see the play.
He occasionally puts himself in poor positions along the board and has been hit hard because of it.
His defensive awareness I'd rate as slightly below average due to the slight case of tunnel vision and playing with his head down as mentioned above.
Offensive Skill
Rybinksi has above average straight-line speed. He appears to have a hard shot but is slow at getting it off. This will improve as he gains more experience and gets older. His puck control is a bit inconsistent but made big strides over his 16yr old year. He has a long reach which will become useful as he grows into his frame.
Potential
He is one of those players that isn't overwhelming in any one category. He still looks a little raw as of yet. I do feel has a high degree of potential to become a force once he puts everything together. How quickly this comes together and how dominant he could become, is still to be determined. I would put money on him reaching it by his 19yr old season.
While he has shown improvements from his 16yr old year, he hasn't shown that he is ready to break out into a top 6 role yet.
In the future, his biggest asset will be the ability to protect the puck with above-average speed and a long reach. Once he is able to slow the game down he will learn to see the play develop beyond the current one. He will need to work on his shot quickness and keeping his head up and being slightly more aware of his surroundings.
Once he gains experience and those skills above begin to pop, his value will skyrocket and Rybinksi as a potential pro player will need to be re-evaluated.
WHL Potential
In his 18yr old year, he projects as Top 6 or Top 9 in the WHL depending on his progress this season.
In his 19yr old year, he projects as a possible top line or Top 6
Draftable: Right now he is a no as he is still a bit raw. Potentially a very late round pick depending on his season progress and traits improving as mentioned above. More than likely he is a later bloomer/camp invite type player and a player to watch for in his 19/overage season.
IceTime
He is receiving 3rd line minutes from the Tigers. The Tigers give heavy minutes to their top 2 lines. Occasional PP time. He has seen occasional shifts in the top 6 early in the year.
He may get an extra minute or two a game on teams that play their lines evenly.
Why The Trade Request?
While Rybinski's public statement alludes to wanting more icetime in a top 6 role, I largely feel this request was made because he is in his draft year. He feels that playing in the Top 6 will equal more points, playing with better players, which will subsequently boost his stock. He played LW before the Tigers so demanding a Top 6 centre role feels a bit odd. Perhaps there are other motives but who knows.
Can A Trade Boost his play
Maybe..Sometimes getting traded lights a fire under your butt...He did show a notable improvement in the first 4-5 games of the season and that slowed over the last 7-8 games. Sometimes a new coach offers different insights or is able to connect with a player more effectively if they think alike.
Could a Trade Hamper his play
If he wants Top 6 minutes the only teams I see where he could jump into the Top 6 are Swift Current or Regina. While both teams were forces last season, I might be worried that he would be playing with lesser skilled players and get less exposure.
Best Case/Worst Case
Best case scenario Kelowna comes calling with the memorial cup next year, but Rybinksi likely won't receive top 6 minutes there. Worst case, he could end up in swift current who have no top prospects and will likely have less exposure playing with lesser skilled teammates.
Overall
I find it difficult to see a career .22PPG player jump into the .75ppg territory that is largely needed as a top 6 player. I guess anythings possible and I would rather see a player succeed than fail. I don't think many coaches or GM's would acquire a player to play in the top 6 based on those stats though.
I supported Gary Haden's request for a move because he was behind on the depth charts as a 19. But for Rybinski my thoughts are different...
Was this Rybinsi's Decision?
In this case, I largely question if this was Rybinski's decision, or if this decision came from hover parenting. It this was his decision because he was unhappy I support him. However, if this was the result of Hover Parenting trying to get their kid special treatment I would not support this at all.
Why This is dangerous for Rybinski
The no-trade rules limit acquiring 17yr olds unless they request a trade.
If I'm the Tigers this is a big annoyance. Expecting to have a big year next season I'd either want an equivalent aged player in return for balance in the lineup or an impact player coming back that will be here next season.
The Tigers already have 6 forwards and 3 defencemen for 9 players in the 18 yr old age group. Trading for a 10th player is a bit much for one age group. They won't be seeking a 19yr old it doesn't make sense.
If I'm the Tigers I might wait to see if there are other 17yr olds that have requested a trade. Otherwise, you take your time to find a player that will help them next season.
Perhaps something happens quickly, but it's not everyday impact players are being shopped and 17yr olds are available with the new rules....If his goal was getting drafted he may have just shot himself in the foot as there is a legitimate concern a move may not happen until the deadline. Making a trade request in early Novemeber was not a smart thing to do.
my Two cents....
