Right wing Henrik Rybinski, goalie Roddy Ross and center Matthew Wedman were all selected on the second day of the 2019 NHL Draft this afternoon in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“This is a big day for our organization,” said T-Birds general manager Bil La Forge. “The players have worked hard to get selected and our staff has been diligent with their focus on development. It is exciting to look ahead to the future with this group.”
Rybinski was selected by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round, 136th overall.
Rybinski played 33 regular season games with the T-Birds last season and had seven goals and 28 assist for 35 points. Rybinski, born June 26, 2001, was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers on January 4, 2019, for defenseman Aidan Brook, a second round pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft, and a third round pick in the 2020 Bantam Draft. In 47 games combined with the T-Birds and Tigers he had eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points.
Rybinski was ranked number 123 among North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings.
“We are really excited Henrik’s hard work and performance were rewarded,” said La Forge. “He was a big part of our second half surge. The best part about Henrik is that he knows the journey is just beginning and he will embrace it.”
Ross was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round, 169th overall.
Ross, born July 4, 2000, signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the team on January 1, 2019. In 25 regular season games with the T-Birds he was 16-5-1-2 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.76 goals against average. Ross joined the T-Birds from the Camrose Kodiaks in the AJHL.
Ross was ranked number 17 among North American goalies in the final NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings.
“Roddy was another big part of our second half surge,” said La Forge. “Loads of credit goes to goaltender coach Ian Gordon. The best is yet to come with Roddy as he continues to refine his craft.”
Wedman was selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round, 199 overall.
Wedman was the T-Birds leading scorer this past season with 40 goals and 37 assists for 77 points in 66 games. He was the first T-Bird to hit 40 goals since Prab Rai had 41 goals in the 2009-10 season. Wedman was named a Second Team Western Conference All-Star last season.
In 255 career games with the T-Birds he has 67 goals and 90 assists for 157 points. In 43 career playoff games Wedman has three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Wedman was originally selected by the T-Birds in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 2014 Bantam Draft.
“We are so proud of Weds,” said La Forge. “He is proof that if you keep working towards a goal, it can be achieved.”
Former T-Bird left wing Dillon Hamaliuk was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the second round, 55th overall. Hamaliuk was traded by the T-Birds, along with defenseman Jake Lee and goalie Cole Schwebius to the Kelowna Rockets on May 2. Hamaliuk had 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 31 games last season before a leg injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.