Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kerby Rychel
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Montreal became Rychel's third organization since being drafted in the first round (19th overall) by Columbus in 2013. He was considered a sure-fire NHL prospect coming out of juniors, but his junior success hasn't translated to the NHL level. The knock on Rychel is his skating. He makes up for a lack of speed by being physical and playing in the dirty areas, which can be enough in the AHL but will not suffice in the NHL. He thrived at AHL Laval, registering 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 16 games while skating on the Rocket's one-and-only scoring line. If he returns to Laval, those top-line forwards he skated with have moved on to other organizations. As younger, quicker players enter the organization, Rychel could, once again, get lost in the shuffle.
Rychel spent 2015-16 in the Blue Jackets system. He split the year between the big club, where he posted nine points (two goals) in 32 games, and the AHL Lake Erie Monsters, where he put up 27 points (six goals) in 37 regular-season games. He also helped lead the Monsters to the Calder Cup championship. Rychel is an abrasive player with good hockey sense, but he needs to work on his skating. He'll be in the hunt for a roster spot come training camp, but there are no guarantees. Rychel will be a serviceable, middle-six NHLer for many years, although his offensive upside will be restricted if his wheels don't improve.
The Jackets' 2013 first-round pick, Rychel made his debut in pro hockey last year, and the results were strong -- he totaled 12 goals and 33 assists in 51 games with AHL Springfield, and even tacked on three assists in a five-game stint with Columbus. A solidly built winger, Rychel turns 21 years old on Opening Night this season, but he probably won't spend his birthday with the Jackets, who have a fairly deep forward corps. Instead, he'll look to build on last year's success in the minors; especially if he delivers a big first half, he should be first on the team's list of potential call-ups.
The son of former NHL enforcer Warren Rychel, young Kerby finished his junior career with a mammoth postseason and Memorial Cup run that the Blue Jackets hope he'll someday be able to replicate in the NHL. Rychel's size, toughness and knack for goal-scoring make him look the perfect prototype of a power forward, but the 2013 first-round pick will need to continue to work on his skating and consistency to realize his potential at the highest level.
The son of former enforcer Warren Rychel, Kerby has his dad's toughness but also a nose for the net that his old man lacked. He needs to prove that he can keep up with the speed of play in the pros, but back-to-back 40-goal campaigns in the OHL with Windsor give some hope that he'll be more than a fourth line bruiser.
