He’s the type of player all Ontario Hockey League teams wish they had.
In a little over 10 months, he’ll be one an NHL team is glad they have.
Kerby Rychel is not flashy or fancy. He doesn’t showboat or celebrate with a theatrical celebration after a goal. He simply puts up big numbers and plays with a grittiness most kids his age don’t possess.
After finishing the 2011-12 season with 41 goals and 74 points in 68 games, expectations have heightened for the 18th ranked prospect from Future Considerations. The six-foot-one, 200-pound Windsor Spitfires standout already has a strong reputation to build on.
“Rychel is a gritty, hardworking player who generates most of his offense by outworking his opponents in the offensive zone,” described Dan Stewart, scouting director with Future Considerations. “He does have some nice hands and a good shot which is regularly on display around the opponents net. He is fearless, battling along the walls and end boards; showing a consistent willingness to play an aggressive style.”
Not only does Rychel ripple the mesh on a regular basis, finishing seventh overall in goal scoring last season with 41, but he is not afraid to mix it up physically, which make him a dynamite player in NHL scouts minds.
Rychel also earned himself six fighting majors last season, not bad for a player with his numbers. Rychel brings the aspects of two players into one feisty, physical goal-scoring machine.
It’s hard to fathom a situation where Rychel doesn’t go early in 2013.
What will be easy to see is the smile on the face of NHL scouts when he hits the ice this season.