The Los Angeles Kings used their third-round pick — No. 89 overall — in the 2026 NHL Draft on Yegor Rybkin, a towering Russian goaltender who scouts describe as one of the most unusual prospects in the entire class. Listed between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-7 depending on the source, Rybkin combines a massive frame with a level of mobility that scouts don’t typically see at that size.
Born December 3, 2007, in Yegoryevsk, a town in the Moscow region, Rybkin got his start in the well-regarded Khimik Voskresensk goaltending program before moving into the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod organization. He currently plays for Torpedo’s MHL junior affiliate, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod, and holds a three-way contract that keeps him on the KHL club’s radar as he develops.
Rybkin’s draft-year stat line was a short one. He logged 11 games for Chaika in 2025-26, finishing 5-2-0 with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage — numbers that represented a clear improvement over a rougher 8-game MHL stretch the year before. His appearances stopped abruptly in late November, but the sample was enough to convince scouts of his upside.
What stands out most in scouting reports isn’t size — it’s what he does with it. Evaluators have praised his ability to contort into difficult positions and recover from them quickly, his comfort catching pucks cleanly with the glove, and his rare lateral mobility for a goaltender his size. NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the No. 2 European goaltender in the entire 2026 class, even as other services had him further down their boards — a gap that reflects how divisive a true “swing for upside” goalie prospect like Rybkin can be.
For a Kings organization that has built a reputation around drafting and developing big goaltenders, Rybkin fits a clear organizational type. He’s a long-term project, not a near-term solution, but the physical tools and athletic profile give him one of the higher ceilings among goalies taken outside the draft’s first two rounds.
Stats and info via Eliteprospects.com
FAQ
Who drafted Yegor Rybkin? The Los Angeles Kings selected Yegor Rybkin in the third round, No. 89 overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft.
What team did Yegor Rybkin play for in his draft year? He played for Chaika Nizhny Novgorod, the MHL junior affiliate of KHL club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, posting a 5-2-0 record with a 2.56 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 11 games during the 2025-26 season.
How tall is Yegor Rybkin? He’s listed anywhere from 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-7 depending on the source, making him one of the largest goaltenders in the 2026 draft class.
Where is Yegor Rybkin from? Rybkin was born on December 3, 2007, in Yegoryevsk, a town in Russia’s Moscow region, and trained in the Khimik Voskresensk goaltending program before joining the Torpedo system.
What is Yegor Rybkin’s biggest strength as a prospect? Scouts point to his unusual mobility and flexibility for his size — the ability to make difficult, outstretched saves and recover his positioning quickly, along with a strong glove hand.
