His NHL career didn't start the way he wanted after being assigned to the Springfield Falcons out of training camp, but Kerby Rychel went there and put in the hard work that would earn him a call-up to the big club.
That call came Friday night after the Blue Jackets were defeated 5-0 by the Vancouver Canucks at home. So, he caught a plane out of Hartford, Conn. bound for Nashville, Tenn. by way of Detroit, Mich. He was put in the lineup that night by head coach Todd Richards in the 2-1 loss.
"Ever since I was a kid, I really wanted to make the NHL," Rychel said. "I told myself I'm going to do everything I can to get there. I'm trying not to get caught up in the moment right now. But I'm sure I'll look back on it in a few weeks and say 'I'm in the NHL.' Right now, I'm just trying to work hard each day and just get better."
He was on the ice for 10:36 spread over 15 shifts. He was aggressive on the forecheck and added a spark to a club that has been sagging. His father, Warren Rychel, made it down for the game from Windsor, Ontario.
"Yes, he was," said Rychel when asked if his father was proud of him. "It's every kid's dream that plays hockey to play in the NHL. When I saw him after, he was smiling and pretty happy. He just said 'congratulations and I'm really proud of you. You deserve it.' Obviously, he's done a lot for me and ever since I was a young kid he's helped me out."
Rychel was drafted 19th overall in the first round of the 2013 draft. He was the third rookie drafted by the Blue Jackets in the first round last year to make his debut with the club this year. Welcome to the big time, kid.
"Yeah, to be honest, I was nervous on the first shift. You kind of expect that for your first NHL game. Then, I kind of settled in. I felt like I did some good things out there. At the end of the day, it's just another game. I've played in over one thousand games. I just need to go out and play hard."
In his first game, he was skating with speed and not afraid to use his 6-foot-1-inch frame to battle for the puck. Although he wasn't credited with a shot on goal, he had a chance as he came off the bench on a shift change.
"(Pekka Rinne) actually got a piece of it. I didn't get credit for my first shot, but he did get his blocker on it. I hit it as hard as I could and he made a really good save on it."
He was credited with two hits in the game, the biggest of which was a hard check on Nashville's Mike Ribeiro along the boards.
"It's something I'm trying to do. It felt good to involved physically. I told myself before the game that I didn't want to wait around. I wanted to get involved, do something to get noticed and try and stay in the lineup.
"A few of the older guys (James Wisniewski, Nick Foligno, Brandon Dubinsky) talked to me, saying be physical and create energy. I know times are kind of tough here. I'm just trying to create a spark. Hopefully I can just keep being physical and energetic."
The next day after the game, he was given something to remember his first NHL start. "Richie (Todd Richards) brought me in the lineup card. That was pretty cool and something I'll keep, for sure."
He took the assignment to Springfield at the start of the season to heart, going down there and working on polishing his game to be able to compete at this level. In 22 games, he was 6-7-13 (+2).
"It was really good," he said of his time in Springfield. "I played a lot of minutes. I think in pro hockey that you always have to be aware of the defensive part of your game and be working away from the puck. It's something that I need to continue to improve on."
He didn't get off to a fast start with the Falcons, taking a couple of weeks to get his game going. But everything started to click for him and the team at about the same time.
"Yeah, it was frustrating for the first five or six games getting involved offensively. I just had to stay with it and keep working hard. It's a long season. I was fortunate enough to get a few bounces in the last couple of weeks. It's great to contribute offensively."
With his style of play, he would seem to fit right in with the Blue Jackets identity. He also knows that nothing is going to come easy in the NHL and that he'll have to earn everything that he gets.
"I know it's the NHL and it's tough to contribute. I know that goals are obviously hard to come by here. If you're not scoring, you need to be able to do something else. I felt like I had a few good hits and I was skating pretty good. Hopefully, I can build on that and have a good game if I'm fortunate enough to get in the lineup again."
Todd Richards said on Sunday that Rychel will be in the lineup Monday to take on the visiting Florida Panthers. He obviously made a favorable impression on the coach in his NHL debut. His mother and father will both be in attendance at Nationwide Arena for his first home game, as they only have to travel from about four hours away from Columbus.
He's hoping to help contribute to the turnaround for the Blue Jackets, while at the same time freely admitting that he still has work to do with his game. Based on his play Saturday against the Predators, he already looks like he belongs here.
The Blue Jackets take on the Florida Panthers at 7 p.m. Catch all the action on FOX Sports Ohio beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the "Blue Jackets LIVE" pregame show.
