Ivan Ryabkin (Photo by MHK Dynamo)
Forward Ivan Ryabkin, one of the top prospects for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, will not come to the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL this year. Earlier in October, Lumberjacks' president, Steve Lowe, said they "expect Ivan to be here in the next couple of weeks."
This was stated by the 17-year-old forward of Dynamo Moscow to RG.
"I found out about it on the Internet," the 17-year-old forward of Dynamo Moscow said to RG. "That evening, my phone rang constantly with messages, but my reaction was: this is interesting. But I'm not going [to the USHL]. They just exchanged my rights, and that's it."
This season, Ryabkin played two games in the KHL for the Dynamo, spending just over two minutes on the ice. He also plays in the VHL, the equivalent of the AHL, where he has one assist in four games. Last season, Ryabkin became the best assistant among players under 17 in the MHL, making 39 assists and scoring 25 goals.
"Of course, I would like to get a call-up to the KHL, but the main thing is not to lose heart and work," said Ryabkin. "Right now, I'm doing what I'm told, working and waiting for the call. I know that I can play in the KHL without any problems. The skill level is a little higher there, but in terms of physics, it's easy."
Ryabkin's contract with Dynamo runs until 2027, so the timing of the forward's possible departure to North America remains to be determined. Nevertheless, he hopes to get into the top three of the NHL Draft and maybe even become the number one.
"I hope everything will work out," he said. "I don't have any plans regarding the contract yet. As Alexander Ovechkin recently told me: "Work, don't think, everything will work out." That's what I'll do. My goal is to play hockey and not think about anything else."
However, to realize his potential, Ryabkin still has a lot to work on. As the coach of the Russian U20 national team Nikolai Voevodin said, Ryabkin needs to "work on his weight."
Ryabkin (5'11, 201 lbs) does not entirely agree with this.
"I am doing well now," he responded to a request to comment on the coach's words. "I am happy with everything. I feel comfortable. I do not lose to anyone on the ice."
After the season ends in Russia, Ryabkin plans to go to the NHL Draft Combine.
"It will be interesting to get such an experience," he said. "I follow the NHL very closely. I watch all the games. I like many teams, I won't say which ones. It's clear that I haven't played in the NHL yet, but I think that with time, I'll be able to play well there, too."
