Prospect Info: Hartford Wolf Pack/Bloomington Bison Thread: Part XV

[cwede]

stats like this come back to bite
lotta easy-ish points left behind, by far worst in league (1 team has 5)

added to some of their blown leads, Pack making it harder than it needs to be ...

 

[wolfgaze]

Do any of the defensemen in Hartford look like they could do a better job this season at the NHL level than Harpur currently does? Thinking about defensive depth during the playoffs. If Harpur is our 7th, that's not exactly a promising option in the event of an injury.

 

[nyr2k2]

Do any of the defensemen in Hartford look like they could do a better job this season at the NHL level than Harpur currently does? Thinking about defensive depth during the playoffs. If Harpur is our 7th, that's not exactly a promising option in the event of an injury.

Robertson really picked it up lately IMO but I feel like he's one of those guys who will have a learning curve when he makes the jump.

I really like Emberson but he's a different type of player than Harpur. I'd love to see what he can do, I think he's close to making the jump, but it's really hard to know until you see it.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Do any of the defensemen in Hartford look like they could do a better job this season at the NHL level than Harpur currently does? Thinking about defensive depth during the playoffs. If Harpur is our 7th, that's not exactly a promising option in the event of an injury.

This is not going to be a popular answer but at the AHL level I have really been appreciating Libor Hajek’s game lately.
He uses his hip and leg strength to not allow opposing players to stay in front of the crease. He sticks up for his teammates and is not afraid to get rough during scrums.
Whether that translates back to the NHL level when he returns will have to be proven.
And of course Zac Jones is %100 ready but don’t know if Gord Murphy and Gallant want to size down.

 

[cwede]

Do any of the defensemen in Hartford look like they could do a better job this season at the NHL level than Harpur currently does? Thinking about defensive depth during the playoffs. If Harpur is our 7th, that's not exactly a promising option in the event of an injury.

first off, Harpur actually has been quite decent during this stretch with Lindgren out

but mostly, as always, whether its
Harpur, Hajek, Jones, Kalynuk(26 NHL GP) Robertson(promising NYR high pick,) Emberson, or Scanlin,
it's up to coaching staff to give the player the best prep, and usage as best suits their games

IMHO posters here sometimes get way too granular re 6/7/8 D and 12/13/14 F.
Every team has marginal depth guys, team just needs to prep and deploy them optimally

Folks here dumped on Jack Johnson and Nick Holden as unacceptably poor alternatives for NYR,
but last 3 seasons one, or other, has been an effective depth D in long postseason runs

 

[wolfgaze]

first off, Harpur actually has been quite decent during this stretch with Lindgren out

I don't disagree however I'm specifically concerned about how he would hold up and perform in the playoffs facing some of the most intense competition night in and night out. If we lose a defensemen due to injury for a game or two during the playoffs I can live with Harpur filling in, however if there's a significant injury I would not feel comfortable with him being our #6 D for long stretches of playoff games and was wondering about our other options.

 

[nyr2k2]

I didn't mention Jones earlier. He's probably the most "ready" of the prospects but his defense is still eh and I wonder how he'd hold up physically in the playoffs. More than anything the coaches don't seem to trust him, which for me kind of rules him out at this point.

 

[NYR Viper]

I don't disagree however I'm specifically concerned about how he would hold up and perform in the playoffs facing some of the most intense competition night in and night out. If we lose a defensemen due to injury for a game or two during the playoffs I can live with Harpur filling in, however if there's a significant injury I would not feel comfortable with him being our #6 D for long stretches of playoff games and was wondering about our other options.

I hear this about Harpur quote a bit but I will say that come playoff time, big guys who can clog the middle of the ice and use their reach effectively seem to do better rather than worse at playoff time. Clutching and grabbing and scrums become a more normal occurrence

 

[wolfgaze]

I hear this about Harpur quote a bit but I will say that come playoff time, big guys who can clog the middle of the ice and use their reach effectively seem to do better rather than worse at playoff time. Clutching and grabbing and scrums become a more normal occurrence

It's his lack of footspeed and his puck management in the defensive zone that I would be concerned about when going up against top teams in the playoffs.

 

[Raspewtin]

I hear this about Harpur quote a bit but I will say that come playoff time, big guys who can clog the middle of the ice and use their reach effectively seem to do better rather than worse at playoff time. Clutching and grabbing and scrums become a more normal occurrence

Harpur doesn't clog the middle. He's absolutely dreadful at defending zone entries and he's soft as baby shit in front of the net. He absolutely will not be an asset here besides being a 6'7" meatshield.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Harpur has trouble with carrying and passing the puck so I don’t see Harpur as a playoff option. If we face a coach like Jon Cooper my guess is that he would have the Lightning player’s just dump the puck to Harpur’s corner and play the turnover.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Harpur has trouble with carrying and passing the puck so I don’t see Harpur as a playoff option. If we face a coach like Jon Cooper my guess is that he would have the Lightning player’s just dump the puck to Harpur’s corner and play the turnover.

Teams are already doing this. It's the ol' how to attack Marc Staal when he's out there tactic.

 

[egelband]

Too many 3rd periods like that.

The good news is, Cuylle continues to score. He now has 16 points in his last 14 games. 37 in 57 on the year, including 21 goals.

This is terrific. When is the last time the rangers let a prospect spend a full year in the minors to develop? Chytil? Was Chytil even down for a full season?

 

[egelband]

This is not going to be a popular answer but at the AHL level I have really been appreciating Libor Hajek’s game lately.
He uses his hip and leg strength to not allow opposing players to stay in front of the crease. He sticks up for his teammates and is not afraid to get rough during scrums.
Whether that translates back to the NHL level when he returns will have to be proven.
And of course Zac Jones is %100 ready but don’t know if Gord Murphy and Gallant want to size down.

I hope the rangers rotate those two as the 6 and 7 D next season. Hajek actually was pretty good this season for stretches. The team probably decided to play it safe with harpur for the rest of this year but I’d be fine with giving Hajek another shot. And maybe the year in the minors is exactly what Jones needed. Wishful thinking maybe but the team with for sure need inexpensive depth next season.

 

[wolfgaze]

I didn't mention Jones earlier. He's probably the most "ready" of the prospects but his defense is still eh and I wonder how he'd hold up physically in the playoffs. More than anything the coaches don't seem to trust him, which for me kind of rules him out at this point.

Is Scanlin out of consideration too?

Not expecting much out of these players in this role but wondering who can potentially do an adequate job and present the least liability.

I had forgotten about Hajek and wouldn't be opposed to him getting in some games if necessary.

I personally don't believe that internet posts can 'jinx' professional hockey players or teams so I will point out that the Rangers have been remarkably healthy this season. Would love to see that continue through the playoffs.

 

[GAGLine]

This is terrific. When is the last time the rangers let a prospect spend a full year in the minors to develop? Chytil? Was Chytil even down for a full season?

Chytil played most of his D+1 season in the AHL, only getting called up to the NHL for the last handful of games.

There have been a lot of players who have spent a full year or more in the AHL, but most are them aren't good enough for full time NHL duty.

The list of guys who spend at least a full year there before making it to the NHL full time is obviously much smaller. Anisimov spent 2 full years in the AHL (played only 1 NHL game in 2nd year), but he was only 19 when he started in the AHL. Dubinsky played 6 games in the NHL his 1st pro year and the rest in the AHL. Callahan played most of his 1st pro season in the AHL. Girardi started in the ECHL and worked his way up.

Recently there are less, as some guys have been accelerated due to the rebuild. Maybe Robertson will be that guy. He's supposedly doing well, but has yet to get a sniff at the NHL level in nearly 2 years.

 

[nyr2k2]

Is Scanlin out of consideration too?

Not expecting much out of these players in this role but wondering who can potentially do an adequate job and present the least liability.

I had forgotten about Hajek and wouldn't be opposed to him getting in some games if necessary.

I personally don't believe that internet posts can 'jinx' professional hockey players or teams so I will point out that the Rangers have been remarkably healthy this season. Would love to see that continue through the playoffs.

Scanlin has seen a few scratches lately, not because he's bad but apparently because the coaches "trust" some of the veteran guys more during this desperate push for the playoffs. So it seems like on the hierarchy, he's not close to the top, even if he's still an interesting prospect.

 

[egelband]

Chytil played most of his D+1 season in the AHL, only getting called up to the NHL for the last handful of games.

There have been a lot of players who have spent a full year or more in the AHL, but most are them aren't good enough for full time NHL duty.

The list of guys who spend at least a full year there before making it to the NHL full time is obviously much smaller. Anisimov spent 2 full years in the AHL (played only 1 NHL game in 2nd year), but he was only 19 when he started in the AHL. Dubinsky played 6 games in the NHL his 1st pro year and the rest in the AHL. Callahan played most of his 1st pro season in the AHL. Girardi started in the ECHL and worked his way up.

Recently there are less, as some guys have been accelerated due to the rebuild. Maybe Robertson will be that guy. He's supposedly doing well, but has yet to get a sniff at the NHL level in nearly 2 years.

The organization in a lot of ways was a wasteland post-2015. Maybe things are turning around now. Seems the past couple years things have gotten somewhat…normal…professional…am I crazy? there was a pretty deep hole they’re digging out of.

 

[bmoak]

Mike Sauer played 3 full years in the AHL with only a handful of call-up games before his rookie NHL season.

 

[GAGLine]

Mike Sauer played 3 full years in the AHL with only a handful of call-up games before his rookie NHL season.

Ryan Graves played a lot of AHL games too before making it to the NHL. 2 full seasons in Hartford plus most of a 3rd before he was traded to Colorado.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Scanlin has seen a few scratches lately, not because he's bad but apparently because the coaches "trust" some of the veteran guys more during this desperate push for the playoffs. So it seems like on the hierarchy, he's not close to the top, even if he's still an interesting prospect.

Do you think a reason for playing the vets could be to get them ready for the black ace’s? I thought Trivigno and Scanlin are having steady AHL seasons but maybe the organization is looking at a bigger picture.

 

[cwede]

Berard signed Pack ATO for this season, after signing his NYR ELC for next 3 seasons

FYI CHL regular season schedules end this coming weekend
5 (Othmann, Grubbe, Boyko, Barbashev, Korczak) of NYRs 6 Junior prospects are on teams which qualified for league layoffs

Bryce McConnell-Barker's season ends on Sunday afternoon,
could be a pack ATO candidate*
drafted just last spring,
as 18 year old produced > Pt/Gm

66

29

45

74

* Pack with a bloated roster at F, with 16 healthy (Khodo, Smith hurt long term)
F's who didn't play Saturday:: Trivigno, Berard (obvi) Tardif, Digiacinto

 

[cwede]

roster move with Berard incoming, Pack had already been scratching 3 Fs lately

2023-03-21

Ben Tardif (F)

Hartford

DEL

Loaned to Jacksonville (ECHL)

 

[Ranger Ric]

Do you think a reason for playing the vets could be to get them ready for the black ace’s? I thought Trivigno and Scanlin are having steady AHL seasons but maybe the organization is looking at a bigger picture.

Rodolfo, I think you’re being too kind to the coaches. I think these decisions reflect panic. A few days ago I posted this tweet from AHL.com writer patrick Williams.


PATRICK WILLIAMS

@pwilliamsAHL


“Rangers management undertook a significant remaking of the Hartford roster this week. I said coming into this week that Hartford going back to the postseason for the first time since 2015 is an organizational goal. The Rangers did their part, and so far the players have as well. “

This is year 4 for this coach. Year 1 was great until shesterkin recalled and the team began to collapse before Covid ended the season. Year 2 was the shortened Covid year when the team couldn’t win its 3 team division. Last year was a complete end of year collapse after brodzinski recalled. The tweet indicates winning was its goal. I think the coaches are feeling the pressure and are going with veterans. By scratching trivigno and scanlin and sometimes rempe prospect development does not appear to be a priority.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Rodolfo, I think you’re being too kind to the coaches. I think these decisions reflect panic. A few days ago I posted this tweet from AHL.com writer patrick Williams.


PATRICK WILLIAMS
@pwilliamsAHL


“Rangers management undertook a significant remaking of the Hartford roster this week. I said coming into this week that Hartford going back to the postseason for the first time since 2015 is an organizational goal. The Rangers did their part, and so far the players have as well. “

This is year 4 for this coach. Year 1 was great until shesterkin recalled and the team began to collapse before Covid ended the season. Year 2 was the shortened Covid year when the team couldn’t win its 3 team division. Last year was a complete end of year collapse after brodzinski recalled. The tweet indicates winning was its goal. I think the coaches are feeling the pressure and are going with veterans. By scratching trivigno and scanlin and sometimes rempe prospect development does not appear to be a priority.

Thanks, I remember your original post.I’m grasping at straws I guess.
The decision of the organization between creating a non-losing culture vs development of talent.