The Los Angeles Kings selected Nizhny Novgorod goalie Yegor Rybkin with the 89th overall pick in the third round of the draft on Saturday.
After using their first four picks in the draft to add depth at forward and defense, the Kings turned their attention to the net by selecting one of the largest and most intriguing goalie prospects in this draft class.
The LA Kings select Nizhny Novgorod goalie Yegor Rybkin with the 89th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) June 27, 2026
2025-26 (11 GP):
-5-2-0 record
-.915 save %
-2.56 GAA pic.twitter.com/2SzwniHilJ
The massive 6-foot-7 and 210-pound Rybkin is a gigantic goalie coming out of Russia this draft class this year. Rybkin's huge frame and length give him a monumental presence in the crease, allowing him to cover a ton of space in the net and move post-to-post with ease.
Opposing shooters don't have much room to put the puck in the net with how much space Rybkin covers and how well he's able to seal off the posts.
Rybkin's physical tools and athleticism are impossible for scouts to ignore. Yet, his size can also create challenges for him in net. Like many taller goalies with longer legs, Rybkin will need to continue to improve his ability to seal the five-hole and maintain consistent technique and fundamentals in the crease.
Limited playing time (only played 11 games in the MHL this past season) also means scouts have a small sample size to evaluate for Rybkin compared to the other top goalie prospects in this draft class.
Los Angeles already has a strong collection of goalie prospects, but picking Rybkin gives the Kings another high-upside talent at the position. Since goalies can take a longer time to develop, making this pick in the third round is an ideal place to take a gamble on the elite physical tools that Rybkin brings.
The draft's first five picks for the Kings have seen the organization now add prospects at every position group, including center, winger, defenseman, and now goaltender. Rather than just concentrating on a couple of areas, Holland and the Kings' front office personnel and scouting department have focused the first two days of the draft on strengthening the franchise's long-term depth across the board.
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