C Ivan Ryabkin - MHK Dynamo Moscow, MHL (2025 Draft)

[Kshahdoo]

Off to Muskegon soon?

Lumberjacks Announce Roster Moves: Add Ivan Ryabkin and Trade Jake Merens - Muskegon Lumberjacks

MUSKEGON, MI – Wednesday morning the Muskegon Lumberjacks announced a pair of roster moves including the addition of Ivan Ryabkin, a 2007 birth year forward from

muskegonlumberjacks.com

"We are excited about the opportunity to add Ivan to our program." Said Lumberjacks President Steve Lowe. He continued "We expect Ivan to be here in the next couple of weeks after he competes for Team Russia at the end of the month. We still have several steps to go in order for Ivan to wear a Lumberjack uniform, but it does look promising."

So they didn't give him a spot on the KHL team, and he (or rather his parents?) has decided to move to NA? Yeah, the kid isn't Michkov/Demidov level. First of all, mentally.

 

[BKarchitect]

Well that explains that.

Gonna assume USHL and then CHL track following in former Lumberjacks, Svechnikov and Gridin. Either that or he will just go straight to the AHL post-draft. Actually, that seems more likely.

Muskegon certainly do work the Russian pipeline, say what you will about the choices made by the players/families.

 

[viper0220]

So they didn't give him a spot on the KHL team, and he (or rather his parents?) has decided to move to NA? Yeah, the kid isn't Michkov/Demidov level. First of all, mentally.

Do you know what else was happening?

Well that explains that.

Gonna assume USHL and then CHL track following in former Lumberjacks, Svechnikov and Gridin. Either that or he will just go straight to the AHL post-draft. Actually, that seems more likely.

Muskegon certainly do work the Russian pipeline, say what you will about the choices made by the players/families.

I wonder what this does to his draft stock and his development?

 

[BKarchitect]

Do you know what else was happening?




I wonder what this does to his draft stock and his development?

As far as a lot of the smart folks on this forum go - it’s gonna be a big red flag and potential downgrade. He already was off to a slower than expected start in Russia. Now his season is stopped until this transfer is finalized, then he has to cross an ocean to a new continent and league (I will say I’d bet that the Jacks as an organization probably have a pretty good support system for Russian prospects compared to a lot of places). So will he hit the ground running or will he need more time to adapt and get up to speed?

For NHL clubs, I think it’ll be a bit more focused on what he does when he gets here and the idea of having him in the AHL with direct control and oversight by his NHL team in his post-draft season will probably be seen as a good thing, even if history says maybe not.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

So they didn't give him a spot on the KHL team, and he (or rather his parents?) has decided to move to NA? Yeah, the kid isn't Michkov/Demidov level. First of all, mentally.

Maybe he was about to move and that's why they scratched him?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I am very opposed to Russian forwards outsourcing their development to NA. The track record speaks for itself. At the same time, some of them are too good to screw up.

Ryabkin is basically PPG and he’s playing bad. Thats still very good. Shows how high the standards are. A consensus top 5-6 prospect coming into the season is probably too good to screw up, but we’ll have to see. He may be a good test case for how good do you have to be to be too good to screw up.

 

[macbowes]

Massive get for Muskegon. Getting both Ryabkin and Radivojevic as late additions is crazy good. I think Ryabkin will thrive in the USHL. I like this move.

 

[Caser]

Just in case, Russian sources are saying that it isn't a done deal at least yet and for now Ryabkin is with the Dynamo's VHL team.

 

[MrGuyPerson]

Off to Muskegon soon?

Lumberjacks Announce Roster Moves: Add Ivan Ryabkin and Trade Jake Merens - Muskegon Lumberjacks

MUSKEGON, MI – Wednesday morning the Muskegon Lumberjacks announced a pair of roster moves including the addition of Ivan Ryabkin, a 2007 birth year forward from

muskegonlumberjacks.com

"We are excited about the opportunity to add Ivan to our program." Said Lumberjacks President Steve Lowe. He continued "We expect Ivan to be here in the next couple of weeks after he competes for Team Russia at the end of the month. We still have several steps to go in order for Ivan to wear a Lumberjack uniform, but it does look promising."

Wow, this honestly makes a lot of sense. Right before he stopped getting playing time I almost posted this :

Every time I have seen him this season a thought has continually popped into my head. That thought is, "Huh, I think a year of North American Junior Hockey might be really good for his development." For me this thought is in no way a slight against the MHL. I am aware the MHL is a great league, but for some reason I think the difference in play styles would have a really positive impact on his development.

Clearly he has had similar thoughts.

Disclaimer : If I am being 100% honest the original thought was actually "a year in the CHL" not the broader "North America", but the USHL is a great league and I think it would have the same positive impact on his development

 

[olgerd]

"Ivan Ryabkin is currently in a hotel in St. Petersburg and is preparing to leave for an away trip with the VHL team. He just arrived in St. Petersburg, where he met with the coaching staff of Dynamo (St. Petersburg). I can't say anything yet about the legality of signing a contract in America.

We are currently consulting with the KHL, and have already discussed all possible scenarios. We also contacted Ryabkin's agent, who said that Ivan has no plans to leave for NA."

championat.com

 

[macbowes]

"Ivan Ryabkin is currently in a hotel in St. Petersburg and is preparing to leave for an away trip with the VHL team. He just arrived in St. Petersburg, where he met with the coaching staff of Dynamo (St. Petersburg). I can't say anything yet about the legality of signing a contract in America.

We are currently consulting with the KHL, and have already discussed all possible scenarios. We also contacted Ryabkin's agent, who said that Ivan has no plans to leave for NA."

championat.com

Hmm, perhaps signing with Muskegon is just his agents way of putting pressure on his home teams to give him more ice time. Personally, I hope he comes over, but either way, I hope he's playing top line minutes.

 

[Buttonwood]

Does anybody know who his agent(s) is/are? Shaping up to be a highly variable draft year, has been a disappointing start

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846603386289799624

 

[Kshahdoo]

If he's another Kabanov it'll be really sad.

 

[Caser]

Does anybody know who his agent(s) is/are? Shaping up to be a highly variable draft year, has been a disappointing start

NA agent is Maxim Moliver, in Russia agent is Gleb Chistyakov.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Update:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847010430784311529

 

[thrillhous]

If he's another Kabanov it'll be really sad.

Agreed, I just feel it’s very unlikely though even if he makes this ill-advised move.

 

[Caser]

Primary assist here:

 

[Hockeyville USA]

So he's not going to Muskegon?

 

[dyldude]

So he's not going to Muskegon?

He is not. Future Cup starts this week and then he’ll likely return to the VHL after.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He is not. Future Cup starts this week and then he’ll likely return to the VHL after.

The fact that the rumor came up makes me think it’s not a certainty he stays, whether this year or beyond, but I think for now he’s staying. If he was coming anytime before January 1 we would’ve heard it soon after the rumor.

 

[Caser]

The fact that the rumor came up makes me think it’s not a certainty he stays, whether this year or beyond, but I think for now he’s staying. If he was coming anytime before January 1 we would’ve heard it soon after the rumor.

In a recent interview he very explicitly refused to answer the questions about where he will play after this tournament, just "I will play hockey".

 

[Zine]

Interesting interview with Dynamo's GM:
(Pavel Lysenkov from Match TV, 7 Nov '24)


Ryabkin has been appointed captain of the junior team at the international tournament in St. Petersburg. U20 head coach Nikolai Voevodin advised the forward to lose weight. Is this really a problem?

Coaches of Dynamo gave Ivan similar recommendations last season. And now he's was on a trip with the VHL club and we have feedback. Yes there is such a problem with excess weight.
And if the national team has also paid attention to this, it's not just Dynamo being the bad and evil guys who don't like Ryabkin. So if a problem exists, we need to work with our sleeves rolled up. It's the same at any level - juniors, VHL, KHL. He’s not the most talented and highest rated player of his age for nothing, but you have to back it up with actions.

We pay attention to publications and watch Ryabkin's interviews. Ivan has said his MHL playing time has dropped from 18 to 10 minutes per game. But if you go to the MHL website and study the statistics, last season he averaged 17 minutes 56 seconds per game. Now he's at 17 minutes 25 seconds per game. The difference is only 31 seconds. And Ivan is still on the 1st PP unit

A year ago he had 25 goals, now he has 0 goals.

That's what I'm talking about. We're not trying to put pressure on Ivan, destroy him, or humiliate him. But we want to be useful to him. The main thing is that Ivan needs to open up to the coaches and listen not only to his inner circle, but also to people who really want to help him.

If Ryabkin plays better and his statistics go up, is there a chance that you will invite him back to the KHL?

Yes, of course. We discuss it all the time. We watch all of his games. If he tries, the coach will see it and I'm sure he will get an invitation to the KHL.

And if Ivan makes a splash in St. Petersburg, will you notice it in Dynamo?

Of course, yes. And through Match TV I would like to address Ryabkin. Ivan, we are waiting for you! Come!

 

[Flynn84]

Interesting interview with Dynamo's GM:
(Pavel Lysenkov from Match TV, 7 Nov '24)

Ryabkin has been appointed captain of the junior team at the international tournament in St. Petersburg. U20 head coach Nikolai Voevodin advised the forward to lose weight. Is this really a problem?

Coaches of Dynamo gave Ivan similar recommendations last season. And now he's was on a trip with the VHL club and we have feedback. Yes there is such a problem with excess weight.
And if the national team has also paid attention to this, it's not just Dynamo being the bad and evil guys who don't like Ryabkin. So if a problem exists, we need to work with our sleeves rolled up. It's the same at any level - juniors, VHL, KHL. He’s not the most talented and highest rated player of his age for nothing, but you have to back it up with actions.

We pay attention to publications and watch Ryabkin's interviews. Ivan has said his MHL playing time has dropped from 18 to 10 minutes per game. But if you go to the MHL website and study the statistics, last season he averaged 17 minutes 56 seconds per game. Now he's at 17 minutes 25 seconds per game. The difference is only 31 seconds. And Ivan is still on the 1st PP unit

A year ago he had 25 goals, now he has 0 goals.

That's what I'm talking about. We're not trying to put pressure on Ivan, destroy him, or humiliate him. But we want to be useful to him. The main thing is that Ivan needs to open up to the coaches and listen not only to his inner circle, but also to people who really want to help him.

If Ryabkin plays better and his statistics go up, is there a chance that you will invite him back to the KHL?

Yes, of course. We discuss it all the time. We watch all of his games. If he tries, the coach will see it and I'm sure he will get an invitation to the KHL.

And if Ivan makes a splash in St. Petersburg, will you notice it in Dynamo?

Of course, yes. And through Match TV I would like to address Ryabkin. Ivan, we are waiting for you! Come!

It seems like the kid has a huge attitude problem.

That's unfortunate, I wonder if there is chance for no Russians in the first round of the 2025 draft?

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

I am very opposed to Russian forwards outsourcing their development to NA. The track record speaks for itself. At the same time, some of them are too good to screw up.

Ryabkin is basically PPG and he’s playing bad. Thats still very good. Shows how high the standards are. A consensus top 5-6 prospect coming into the season is probably too good to screw up, but we’ll have to see. He may be a good test case for how good do you have to be to be too good to screw up.

Honestly the overall Russian path to the NHL is gross and the “stigma” needs to f*** off.