Ryker Evans - the best young defenseman you've never heard of...

[BKarchitect]

Kid has a goal so far tonight and though he's technically not a rookie because he appeared in 36 games last year, I thought his unique story and the fact that HFB is notably devoid of Kraken fans (they certainly exist - I assume more on Reddit and other online venues) made him worthy of a little recognition.

So Evans was Seattle's 2nd round pick, second overall pick in their history - in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft, 35th overall. This after being passed over in his first year of eligibility. Because of this and because he was barely on the radar in his draft year - he was, for many, a kind of WTF pick at the time...with very, very little fanfare or name recognition as a prospect.

He had an excellent WHL career with Regina - by the time he left he was putting up not only great counting stats - but some of the best advanced analytics of any junior-level defenseman, period. I think that went a long way in convincing the Kraken to take him early.

After aging out of juniors he stepped right onto Seattle's brand new AHL club and immediately was an AHL All-Star and the leading rookie defenseman in the league. He then went on to have an even better Calder Cup playoffs. Last year, he picked up where he left off and was again an AHL All-Star while scoring 9 points in 36 games in 19 minutes a game in his call-up with Seattle. So when he got called up, it was not a bit part role.

The guy basically hits each new level like a duck in water. After making the team out of camp, so far this year, with Dunn out, he's become an instant top four guy - before tonight, 9 games, 5 points and recently averaging 21-22 minutes a night. And in tonight's thrashing of the Habs he is on the scoresheet and again tracking for 21-22 minutes. He's a great skater (his dad is a former D1 player and skating coach), composed with and without the puck and although not huge, he has a strong lower body and is feisty. He's also had to deal with having celiac disease - and while that certainly is a manageable disease, that's something that can have a huge impact on your physical condition.

This isn't a hyperbole thread touting him as the best this or best that and that may beg the question, why even bother? Well...HFB is a community to learn and share and given the complete dearth of certain fanbases on this forum, I thought why not share a little about a prospect and player who - if on one of the more glamour franchises - would absolutely have his name buzzing around quite a bit. So there ya go...Ryker Evans is definitely a guy to keep your eye on!

Click to read more...

 

[Fatass]

You’re right. Never heard of this guy. Started watching this Habs v Kraken to see him. Seems like a decent bottom pairing guy from this viewing.

 

[majormajor]

He also flies under the radar because there is no eye popping skill with Ryker Evans. Not super fast, his shot isn't elite. A lot of his scoring just comes from high end vision. Even among Kraken fans here you won't find any of us that feel confident we can estimate his ceiling.

I think in junior you also had a constant parade of people saying he was a product of Bedard, and not watching him when Bedard wasn't out there.

 

[1989]

Well, Ryker Evans has never heard of me and I'm the best me I've ever known.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Give him some more respect when @BKarchitect writes six paragraphs on him.

 

[Stickpucker]

Heyyyy folks it's me Rykker..

 

[Xirik]

how could he not be well known? There is a jail named after him.

 

[hamzarocks]

I have and did hear about him

I wanted to steal him from Seattle last summer, when he hadn't broken in and the Kraken brought Montour in

But like many things in life, it never came to pass.

He is going to be a good player for them

Dunn
Montour
Evans
Larsson

Very good top 4 moving forward for next 4-5 years

Evans and Kaedan Korczak are two young high picked D I wanted in the summer.

 

[BHD]

So, who is his NHL comparable?

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

So, who is his NHL comparable?

Lane Hutson…. But better

 

[toddkaz]

Kid has a goal so far tonight and though he's technically not a rookie because he appeared in 36 games last year, I thought his unique story and the fact that HFB is notably devoid of Kraken fans (they certainly exist - I assume more on Reddit and other online venues) made him worthy of a little recognition.

So Evans was Seattle's 2nd round pick, second overall pick in their history - in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft, 35th overall. This after being passed over in his first year of eligibility. Because of this and because he was barely on the radar in his draft year - he was, for many, a kind of WTF pick at the time...with very, very little fanfare or name recognition as a prospect.

He had an excellent WHL career with Regina - by the time he left he was putting up not only great counting stats - but some of the best advanced analytics of any junior-level defenseman, period. I think that went a long way in convincing the Kraken to take him early.

After aging out of juniors he stepped right onto Seattle's brand new AHL club and immediately was an AHL All-Star and the leading rookie defenseman in the league. He then went on to have an even better Calder Cup playoffs. Last year, he picked up where he left off and was again an AHL All-Star while scoring 9 points in 36 games in 19 minutes a game in his call-up with Seattle. So when he got called up, it was not a bit part role.

The guy basically hits each new level like a duck in water. After making the team out of camp, so far this year, with Dunn out, he's become an instant top four guy - before tonight, 9 games, 5 points and recently averaging 21-22 minutes a night. And in tonight's thrashing of the Habs he is on the scoresheet and again tracking for 21-22 minutes. He's a great skater (his dad is a former D1 player and skating coach), composed with and without the puck and although not huge, he has a strong lower body and is feisty. He's also had to deal with having celiac disease - and while that certainly is a manageable disease, that's something that can have a huge impact on your physical condition.

This isn't a hyperbole thread touting him as the best this or best that and that may beg the question, why even bother? Well...HFB is a community to learn and share and given the complete dearth of certain fanbases on this forum, I thought why not share a little about a prospect and player who - if on one of the more glamour franchises - would absolutely have his name buzzing around quite a bit. So there ya go...Ryker Evans is definitely a guy to keep your eye on!

Drafted 35th overall is not really under the radar is it?

 

[Marlowe Syn]

how could he not be well known? There is a jail named after him.

Evansville, Indiana?

 

[WarriorofTime]

December birthday effect, 10th round WHL selection, never on the Hockey Canada radar. Bet a whole bunch of January birthday now nobodies were consistently better touted coming up. The Regina Pats were also a dumpster fire during 2019-20 as a 2nd year, Age 18, first time draft eligible player, which probably also helped him slip under the radar.

 

[All Mod Cons]

How have people not heard of him? He's on my fantasy team filling in for Dince Vunn.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

He’s got an upper echelon hockey name at the very least imo

 

[josra33]

Ah but you have heard of him