Leafs sign McWard, Rybinski to two-year contracts
A couple of solid minor-leaguers are heading to the Six.
On Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Cole McWard and forward Henrik Rybinski to two-year contracts.
According to PuckPedia, McWard is on a one-way deal with an NHL AAV of $875,000. He comes to Toronto after spending the 2025-26 season in the New York Islanders system on a one-year, two-way contract. That deal had an NHL cap hit of $775,000, with a minor-league salary of $150,000. He played just three games with the big club in January, but didn’t register a point. He had a plus/minus of +1 while averaging 13:44 of ice time.
McWard spent most of the season with the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders. In 63 games, he matched his career-high in goals (6), setting new personal bests in assists (21) and points (17), helping the team reach the Calder Cup Playoffs. He played in both of the team’s games, though the Baby Isles were swept by the Hershey Bears in the first round of the Atlantic Division Playoffs. McWard represented the division at the AHL All-Star Classic in February.
The 25-year-old has appeared in nine NHL games, posting one goal during his brief time with the Vancouver Canucks. In 187 regular-season games in the AHL, he has posted 16 goals and 70 points, with another three points in 20 postseason games. He helped the Abbotsford Canucks win the franchise’s first Calder Cup in 2025.
Rybinski is on a two-way deal for the first year, with an AHL cap hit of $450,000. The second season is a one-way contract, the total deal carrying an NHL AAV of $875,000. The Vancouver native has never seen his name in an NHL lineup, but he has had some championship experience in his young AHL career. He was on back-to-back Calder Cup-winning teams with the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals‘ primary affiliate, in 2023 and 2024, though he didn’t appear in any postseason games in the prior. The former Seattle Thunderbird has posted consecutive 30-point seasons, notching 10 goals and 30 points in 59 games, with another three points in six playoff contests.
In 222 regular-season games in the ‘A,’ Rybinski has posted 30 goals and 99 points, with 13 points in 28 postseason affairs.