Kyle Capobianco Explained

Kyle Capobianco
Birth Date:13 August 1997
Birth Place:Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:179
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Dallas Stars
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Arizona Coyotes
Winnipeg Jets
Draft:63rd overall
Draft Year:2015
Draft Team:Arizona Coyotes
Career Start:2017

Kyle Capobianco (born August 13, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the 63rd overall selection of the Arizona Coyotes at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Capobianco's grandfather, Clare Exelby, is a former CFL player and uncle, Randy Exelby, is a former NHL player.

Playing career

Junior

Capobianco played four seasons of junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. The Coyotes selected him after his 2014–15 season, wherein he scored 10 goals and 30 assists in 68 games, for a total of 40 points.

Professional

The Coyotes returned Capobianco to junior hockey for both seasons after drafting him, but upon the completion of the 2016–17 OHL season, Capobianco was called up to the AHL in order to play for the Tucson Roadrunners. Capobianco ended up playing four games for the Roadrunners, scoring zero points. The Arizona Coyotes signed Capobianco to a three-year entry-level contract on June 30, 2017.[1]

At the beginning of the 2017–18 season, Capobianco was assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners. On December 4, 2017, Capobianco was recalled to the Arizona Coyotes.[2] On December 7, 2017, he made his NHL debut for the Arizona Coyotes against the Boston Bruins, earning no points and a –1 rating in 13:33 of ice time.[3] [4] He was assigned to the Coyotes AHL affiliate shortly after.[5] His demotion was short lived as Capobianco was recalled back to the NHL on January 1, 2018.[6]

Capobianco was selected for the 2018 AHL All-Star Game as a replacement for San Antonio Rampage defencemen Jordan Schmaltz.[7] [8] As a restricted free agent, Capobianco remained with the Coyotes by agreeing to a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension on October 5, 2020.[9]

As a free agent from the Coyotes, Capobianco was signed to a two-year, $1.525 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 14, 2022.[10]

During his second year within the organization while playing for the Jets AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose in the 2023–24 season, Capobianco won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's top defenseman.[11] He was also selected as a First Team AHL All-Star, and played in the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, his fourth appearance at that event.

At the conclusion of his contract with the Jets, Capobianco left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2024.[12]

International play

Capobianco represented Canada at the 2015 U18 World Championships, where he scored 1 goal and 1 assist in 7 games.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2012–13Oakville BladesOJHL301112
2013–14Sudbury WolvesOHL53011111850000
2014–15Sudbury WolvesOHL6810304054
2015–16Sudbury WolvesOHL687364358
2016–17Sudbury WolvesOHL6510374766603310
2016–17Tucson RoadrunnersAHL40000
2017–18Tucson RoadrunnersAHL49228303690002
2017–18Arizona CoyotesNHL10000
2018–19Tucson RoadrunnersAHL407253251
2018–19Arizona CoyotesNHL20000
2019–20Tucson RoadrunnersAHL4210273747
2019–20Arizona CoyotesNHL91012
2020–21Arizona CoyotesNHL20002
2020–21Tucson RoadrunnersAHL20211132210000
2021–22Arizona CoyotesNHL4527938
2022–23Winnipeg JetsNHL14202610000
2023–24Manitoba MooseAHL691242544620220
NHL totals7357124810000

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014Canada OntarioU175th51010
2015CanadaU1871122
Junior totals 122132

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arizona Coyotes sign Kyle Capobianco to three-year, entry-level deal . . 2017-06-30 . 2017-06-30.
  2. Web site: Capobianco recalled by Coyotes from Roadrunners . ArizonaSports.com . 2017-12-04 . 2017-12-04.
  3. Web site: Bruins vs Coyotes boxscore . . 2017-12-04 . 2017-12-04.
  4. Web site: Vest. Dave. 'Yotes Notes: Capobianco Makes NHL Debut in Boston. NHL.com. March 10, 2018. December 7, 2017.
  5. Web site: Coyotes Assign Capobianco to AHL. NHL.com. March 10, 2018. December 11, 2017.
  6. Web site: Coyotes Recall Capobianco from AHL. NHL.com. March 10, 2018. January 1, 2018.
  7. Web site: MORE ALL-STAR ROSTER CHANGES ANNOUNCED. theahl.com. March 10, 2018. January 24, 2018.
  8. Web site: Marlin. Kynan. Tucson Roadrunner defenseman Kyle Capobianco added as AHL All-Star. arizonasports.com. March 10, 2018. January 24, 2018.
  9. Web site: Coyotes re-sign Capobianco and Lyubushkin . . October 5, 2020 . October 5, 2020.
  10. Web site: Jets sign defenceman Kyle Capobianco to a two-year contract . . July 14, 2022 . July 14, 2022.
  11. Web site: Kyle Capobianco Voted AHL's Outstanding Defenceman . Manitoba Moose . Winnipeg Jets . 23 April 2024.
  12. Web site: Stars sign Kyle Capobianco to two-year contract . . July 1, 2024 . July 1, 2024 .