Capitals prospect Henry Rybinski on his funny NHL draft story and being called Henrik

Henry Rybinski’s pro hockey journey began with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2019.

Now, he’s an intriguing prospect in the Capitals organization after signing as a free agent in March.

So, how did Rybinski, a right-shot center/wing, end up in Washington after Florida drafted him? Where does he fit into the organization’s plans for next season? And what’s the real story behind his hilarious draft day experience three years ago in Vancouver?

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I asked Rybinski about all that and a lot more during the Caps’ recently concluded development camp. Here’s a transcript of my one-on-one interview with the touted 21-year-old.

(Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.) 

Let’s start with your first name. Some databases have Henrik (Elite Prospects), while others have Henry (like HockeyDB). Explain.

My name is Henrik because my mom is Danish. So that put a little Scandinavian touch on it. But my parents call me Henry.

So which one is it? 

Officially it’s Henrik, but you can call me either Henry or Henrik.

I know you had a minor injury and didn’t participate in all of the on-ice sessions. But I’m still curious about your first impression of the Caps, the facility, etc.

The skating (with local power skating guru Wendy Marco) was definitely an eye-opener because we did some jumps and one-legged stuff that I’d never done before. 

It’s awesome. The facilities are unreal. The coaches and staff are awesome, too.

What are your first impressions of D.C.? I know the team arranged for the prospects to do some sightseeing. 

Actually, I had never been to Washington. It’s super nice around here.

It’s hot, too. It’s really hot.

Just wait; it gets hotter.

Does it? Yeesh.

Earlier this year, you were a free agent pursued by a number of NHL teams; you could have gone anywhere. What was it about the Capitals that made you want to sign with them?

I just felt like they were just the most interested team. They talked to me early in the process and they were persistent and they really were trying to make me feel like I was a Capital already, part of the organization. So, yeah, it was their high level of interest that led me to sign here.

Let’s back up for a second. I read a funny story about your draft day experience in 2019 with the Panthers, which was in your hometown of Vancouver. But I need to hear it from you. What happened?

The story got twisted a little (laughing). Here’s what happened: I was actually doing a driving course.

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To get your driver’s license?

Yeah, to get your license. Then you get cheaper insurance, too.

I was in a classroom. And I got a call in the middle of the class because the draft was going on at the same time and (my agent) just said, “Hey, you got drafted,” and he told me to go down to the rink. So I just told my teacher like, “Hey, I got to go. I’m going to be probably gone for an hour and a half.” So I went there, I met all of (Florida’s) staff. Then I came back and the teacher was like, “Congrats” (laughing).

The stage part had already happened by the time you got there, right?

Yeah, I didn’t get to go on the stage or anything. I just got the hat and jersey, shook all the staff’s hands and got pictures.

"I wasn't here this morning because I was taking my drivers test. My agent called me when the Panthers picked me.” – Henrik Rybinski pic.twitter.com/EcYwF7t5zd

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 22, 2019

What happened with the Panthers? Why did you not sign with them?

I kinda had an off year right after I got drafted. That hurt me. I guess I’ll never know for sure, but I feel like maybe that was it. They saw me take a step backwards. And then my 19-year-old year, I thought I had a really good year. And so I thought I maybe had a chance. But at the same time, I hadn’t really been talking to them at all. They didn’t really show much interest. So I kind of had a feeling they’re not going to do anything.

Henry Rybinski's last three seasons

Well, you ended up getting an NHL contract anyway. In retrospect, do you consider your experience with the Panthers as a blessing in disguise?

I think it was a good thing. I feel like it pushed me to work on my game a lot more and just made me work harder, I feel like.

After I got drafted, I maybe took a step off of the gas. It was a good lesson. I’m really glad it worked out for me.

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I hear you can play wing and center. Where do you see yourself lining up in the pros?

I can play anything obviously, except for D and goalie (laughing).

As a right shot, I assume you prefer right wing when not playing center, correct?

Yes, right wing.

Given the choice, do you have a preference between center and right wing?

Center, probably, just because of the way I play. I play a hard game. I feel like I battle. I get in the mix. So I feel like as a center I can use that ability a lot more. 

But I’m good on wing, too, because I can get in earlier on the forecheck and get in D-men’s faces.

So you consider skating to be one of your strengths?

I feel like I am fast, but I’ve got to work on my first three steps. 

I just kinda use reads and, by using those reads, I can maybe seem quicker than I actually am just because I feel like I already have a sense where it’s going to be and I can just get on the guy right away.

After you leave here, what does the rest of your summer look like?

I’m going to go train in Arizona at (elite training facility) EXOS. I’ll do that for five-ish weeks and then I’ll go home for the last couple of weeks and train there and skate. Just a lot of workout stuff after this camp to get ready for training camp in Washington.

Is that your primary focus, getting stronger?

Stronger and faster.

Upper body, lower body, stronger and faster.

In junior, you can get away with it because you’re playing with younger guys and they’re not as developed. But I feel like for me, going up to pro, I’m going to work on that size and being stronger because you’re playing against men. And not just men, but some are really experienced veterans who’ve been playing pro for 10-plus years. So, yeah, speed and size is going to be huge for me.

Has management told you what the plan is for you next season? I assume it’s either Hershey or Washington, right?

I assume it’s going to be Hershey or wherever they put me.

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I’m just going to focus on just trying to get better every day. I’m not worrying about anything else. Just improving my game, improving my overall strength and speed every day.

You were the MVP of your junior team last year. That had to feel good, right?

It was an honor. We went to the finals. Yeah, it was a good feeling. But at the same time, I wouldn’t get that without my teammates in Seattle. They helped me out in so many ways. The coaches, too. It was nice to be recognized but, at the same time, the coaches could have given it to other guys, too.

What one thing do you need to show the coaches in training camp in September to prove you’re ready to take that next step, whether it’s in Hershey or Washington?

I just have to play with confidence. I feel in the last two camps I’ve done — one with Florida and one with Edmonton last year — I feel like I was just timid, letting guys go ahead just because they’ve been there. This training camp, I’ve just got to just go in battle and compete and say, “You know what? This is a chance for me to show what I’ve got.” And just go out there and do the best I can and just know that I left everything on the ice. And if I make a mistake, it’s OK. Just move on. I feel like that’s the mindset I’m going to embrace going to training camp.

One last thing: I noticed you’ve got Muhammad Ali on your T-shirt. What’s up with that?

I don’t know (laughing). Muhammad Ali, he had swag. I thought it was a cool shirt, so I got it.

(Photo courtesy of the Capitals)

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