Ryan Rucinski
Center · BUF · NCAA

Ryan Rucinski

Age
19
Height
5'11"
Weight
180 lb
Shoots
R
Drafted
2025, round 7, 219th overall
Born
USA
2026-27
NCAA · Ohio State Univ.
Games
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Prospect score · 2026-27
Depth

448th of 1,160 prospects in the NHLnew

15th in the BUF system · 5th among its forwards

+1.0WAR a season if he sticks
Outlook
NHL odds9%Becomes a full-time NHL player — 200 games by 26
Impact odds5%Better than the typical NHL regular among forwards
Arrival—Too unlikely to stick for an arrival year to mean much
WAR a season if he sticks+0.5+1.0+1.7Low, middle and high outcomes among his comparables who became regulars

Of the 10 players most like him at the same point in their development, 3 became full-time NHL players.

Development

His scoring, converted to an NHL equivalent, against every player his age and position that season. Zero is the average player his age; the band is where his comparables were at each age.

-2-10+1+215161718Age2022-23, age 15, 59 GP: -0.53 vs. his age group (0.06 NHL-equivalent points per game)2023-24, age 16, 53 GP: -0.95 vs. his age group (0.05 NHL-equivalent points per game)2024-25, age 17, 49 GP: +0.20 vs. his age group (0.15 NHL-equivalent points per game)2025-26, age 18, 59 GP: +0.12 vs. his age group (0.18 NHL-equivalent points per game)
HimMiddle half of his comps at that ageAverage player his age
Comparables

Past prospects at the same position and the same stage after their draft, matched on draft slot, age, size and league-adjusted production. What they became is already known. The outcome is judged at 26: 200 NHL games by then makes a regular.

#PlayerMatchNHL GP by 26Career NHL GPOutcomeWAR a season
1Alex Broadhurst2011 · #199 · at 1971%22Did not stick—
2Alexander Kerfoot2012 · #150 · at 1966%278646Regular+1.23
3Matthew Peca2011 · #201 · at 1961%7383Did not stick—
4Cameron Hughes2015 · #165 · at 1958%25Did not stick—
5Ondrej Kase2014 · #205 · at 1958%258258Regular+0.63
6Jacob Lagace2008 · #134 · at 1958%00Did not stick—
7Ivan Chekhovich2017 · #212 · at 1958%44Did not stick—
8Shane Gersich2014 · #134 · at 1958%33Did not stick—
9Vinnie Hinostroza2012 · #169 · at 1957%272477Regular+0.53
10Caleb Herbert2010 · #142 · at 1956%00Did not stick—
Season by season
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM
2026-27NCAA · Ohio State Univ.20110
2025-26USHL · Youngstown Phantoms5927356288
2024-25WJAC-19 · USA U1952358
2024-25USHL · Youngstown Phantoms4919234248
2023-24USHL · Youngstown Phantoms53681440
2023-24USA-S17 · Mid-American District62244
2022-23USA-S16 · Team Gold55270
2022-23T1EHL 16U · Cleveland Barons 16U AAA1268148
2022-2316U AAA · Cleveland Barons 16U AAA5924295346
2021-22T1EHL 15U · Cleveland Barons 15U AAA1759148
2020-21WYC U15 · Detroit Jr Wings U1560002

The prospect score is a percentile of his expected outcome among every prospect in the league: the chance he becomes a regular, times how good his comparables who did became against others at their position. A player who never sticks counts as zero, which is why a long shot with a high ceiling can rank below a safe bet. All Sabres prospects · How the rankings work