Drake Rymsha (born August 6, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with Düsseldorfer EG of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He has played for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Drake Rymsha
Rymsha in 2024
Born (1998-08-06) August 6, 1998 (age 26)
Huntington Woods, Michigan, US
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Right
DEL team
Former teams
Düsseldorfer EG
Los Angeles Kings
HKM Zvolen
EC Red Bull Salzburg
NHL draft 138th overall, 2017
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2018–present

Playing career

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Rymsha played for the London Knights, Ottawa 67s and Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League, and was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round, 138th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He was signed by the Kings to an entry-level contract on August 25, 2018.[1]

Rymsha made his NHL debut in the final game of the Los Angeles Kings 2020–21 season, appearing on the fourth-line in a 5-1 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on May 13, 2021.[2][3]

Following the completion of his entry-level with the Kings, Rymsha was not tendered a qualifying offer by the organization, releasing him as a free agent. On September 8, 2021, Rymsha signed a one-year contract with his former ECHL club, the Fort Wayne Komets.[4] In the 2021–22 season, Rymsha was the offensive catalyst to start the year with the Komets, before he was signed to a professional try-out with the Hershey Bears on November 11, 2021.[5] He later established a role on the team with the Bears and secured an AHL contract for the remainder of the year on January 23, 2022.[6] He would make 49 regular season appearances with the Bears contributing with 1 goal and 9 points.

As a free agent from the Bears, Rymsha continued his career in the AHL after signing a one-year contract with the Bakersfield Condors, the primary affiliate to the Edmonton Oilers, on August 9, 2022.[7] In the 2022–23 season, Rymsha spent the majority of the campaign with ECHL affiliate, the Fort Wayne Komets, in producing 58 points in as many games. He added 1 assist through 4 games with the Condors.

On June 20, 2023, Rymsha left North America as a free agent and signed a one-year contract with Slovakian club, HKM Zvolen of the Slovak Extraliga.[8] Rymsha began the 2023–24 season, on the top offensive line with Zvolen, producing 4 goals and 7 points through just 6 appearances before leaving the club to sign for the remainder of the season with Austrian champions, EC Red Bull Salzburg of the ICE Hockey League, on November 29, 2023.[9] He collected 11 goals through 22 regular season contests before notching 5 goals in 19 playoff games to help Salzburg claim their third successive championship.

As a free agent, Rymsha continued his tenure abroad in joining the neighbouring DEL, in signing a one-year deal with Düsseldorfer EG on June 6, 2024.[10]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL 33 15 26 41 26 13 3 5 8 18
2014–15 London Knights OHL 62 5 7 12 51 10 0 0 0 0
2015–16 London Knights OHL 4 0 0 0 4
2015–16 Ottawa 67's OHL 28 3 6 9 24 5 0 0 0 6
2016–17 Ottawa 67's OHL 37 15 14 29 41
2016–17 Sarnia Sting OHL 28 20 13 33 39 4 1 2 3 17
2017–18 Sarnia Sting OHL 68 31 42 73 70 12 3 6 9 10
2018–19 Ontario Reign AHL 26 1 3 4 36
2018–19 Manchester Monarchs ECHL 35 8 5 13 24 8 1 1 2 2
2019–20 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 24 9 8 17 23
2019–20 Ontario Reign AHL 11 0 1 1 10
2020–21 Ontario Reign AHL 1 0 0 0 5
2020–21 Los Angeles Kings NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 11 10 8 18 14
2021–22 Hershey Bears AHL 49 1 8 9 60 3 0 1 1 0
2022–23 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 58 24 34 58 62 5 0 5 5 4
2022–23 Bakersfield Condors AHL 4 0 1 1 2
2023–24 HKM Zvolen Slovak 6 4 3 7 0
2023–24 EC Red Bull Salzburg ICEHL 22 8 3 11 28 19 5 2 7 16
NHL totals 1 0 0 0 0

References

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  1. ^ "Rymsha signs entry-level contract with LA Kings". Los Angeles Kings. August 25, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Jost scores twice, Avalanche clinch No.1 seed with win over Kings". ESPN. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  3. ^ "Drake Rymsha recalled under emergency conditions". CBS Sports. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Komets re-sign Boudens, add Rymsha and Alvaro". ECHL. September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bears announce multiple roster transactions". Hershey Bears. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Bears sign Rymsha to AHL deal for remainder of season". Hershey Bears. January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "Condors sign five to AHL deals". Bakersfield Condors. August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Drake Rymsha fills the hole in the attack" (in Slovak). HKM Zvolen. June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Red Bulls strengthen squad with Drake Rymsha signing" (in German). EC Red Bull Salzburg. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  10. ^ "DEG sign face-off specialist Drake Rymsha" (in German). Düsseldorfer EG. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
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