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

cwede

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... I thought Kale McCallum, who attended the development and rooking camps and showed some offensive skill in junior might be given a chance but he wasn't brought to the Rangers training camp.
McCallum may still be invited to Pack Camp.
Dufort (AHL contract) was with the NYR rookies last week, but not invited to NYR Camp
 
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GAGLine

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I'm not a fan of Korczak (who already is in the 3rd year of his entry level contract having been sent back to the WHL for his first year and not producing or showing much in year 2)
I wouldn't give up on him just yet. He's 2 1/2 months older than Othmann. They were drafted the same year, both in their first year of eligibility. Because of when his birthday falls, he was eligible to play in the AHL a year earlier than Othmann, but he wasn't ready for it, so he went back. The CHL classifies it as an overage season, but it was only his D+2 season, and most kids drafted out of the CHL spend their D+2 season in the CHL.

He didn't have as good of a season in the AHL as I hoped he would, but he is by no means behind in his development. Hopefully he can make a significant jump this season.
 

cwede

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Bisons added 3 more guys today
1726859190483.png


Engelbart, a 6'4" bottom 6 C, had been teammate of Berard and Chmelar
 

RangersFan1994

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Two more Bison additions: Lockhart had pretty good numbers in the OHL but is really small.


Connor Lockhart was a decent prospect for the Canucks, shocked they did not sign him. I wonder if the Rangers might try to sign him down the road. He seems like a speedy pest type of player. Not a bad player to have even if it’s AHL NHL depth at best.
 
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cwede

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took an early look at possible Pack veterans and the Maximum Veteran rule

I included Brodz, and Bowey and Erne, and Ruhwedel
(maybe unlikely but I did notice his new deal is 2-way)
And Nash is out til we hear otherwise
(if i missed someone, or toher erros, let me know)
So while 8 guys listed >320 RS GP, in reality will be fewer

Leschyshyn seems only guy in the 260<RS GP<320 classification

so not quite the roster crunch it looks like from the chart,
and of course we want the prospects playing as much as reasonable

NamebirthdateReg Season pro games <Oct'24
Nash8905>320
Ruhwedel9005>320
Belzile9108>320
Brodzinzki9306>320
Harpur9501>320
Blidh9503>320
Bowey9504>320
Erne9504>320
Leschyshyn9903279
Sucese9607220
Hillman9601189 (+91 ECHL
Fitzgerald9702211
Mackey9609164

What is the AHL’s development rule?
Of the 18 skaters (not counting two goaltenders) that teams may dress for a game,
at least 13 must be qualified as "development players."
Of those 13,
12 must have played in 260 or fewer professional games (including AHL, NHL and European elite leagues),
and one must have played in 320 or fewer professional games.*
All calculations for development status are based on regular-season totals as of the start of the season.
 

cwede

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Two more Bison additions: Lockhart had pretty good numbers in the OHL but is really small.

and 3 more Bison adds, via Future-Considerations trades

Evans is 27,had been 'try-out' invite to NYR Camp, already re-assigned to Pack camp in that early round of cuts. Has had 2 ECHL seasons following 4 at UConn,
 

bmoak

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I predict that whoever the goalies are in Bloomington are going to have some rough sledding.

And boy are their jersey logos a mess.
 

Leviathan899

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Lockhart was outstanding last year in Oshawa. Plays a lot bigger than his size. Great skater and very skilled, but plays the game like a pest. I think you might something there with him if he can fill out and get a little bulkier. The plauer he reminds me of the most is Justin Danforth on Columbus. Short but stocky, can really skate and gets to the net hard. He has the skill to play at the NHL level, it’s just whether he can handle the strength.
 

RangersFan1994

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Lockhart was outstanding last year in Oshawa. Plays a lot bigger than his size. Great skater and very skilled, but plays the game like a pest. I think you might something there with him if he can fill out and get a little bulkier. The plauer he reminds me of the most is Justin Danforth on Columbus. Short but stocky, can really skate and gets to the net hard. He has the skill to play at the NHL level, it’s just whether he can handle the strength.
I hope the Rangers give him a ELC at some point. Is going to be signed to an AHL with Hartford if he has a good camp? He would definitely add some RW depth to this organization even if he doesn't pan out. Worth the risk. A pest is always a good to have in this organization. Lockhart was a teammate of Brennan Othmann for Peterborough in 22-23 season
 
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GAGLine

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Lockhart played with Othmann in Peterborough 2 years ago. I imagine the Rangers are very familiar with him. He's going to need to show pretty quickly that he is too good for the ECHL if he's going to have any hope of an NHL career. He's going into his D+4 season and forwards rarely, if ever, go from the ECHL to the NHL.
 
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Leviathan899

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I hope the Rangers give him a ELC at some point. Is going to be signed to an AHL with Hartford if he has a good camp? He would definitely add some RW depth to this organization even if he doesn't pan out. Worth the risk. A pest is always a good to have in this organization. Lockhart was a teammate of Brennan Othmann for Peterborough in 22-23 season
Yeah he should light up the ECHL I feel. Hopefully gets into the AHL at some point. But yeah he’s a driven kid and works his tail off, and has skill. Was once a top 5 OHL pick, and was considered right there with fellow Ottawa native Mason McTavish. Struggled his first couple years in Erie but then was very good with Ptbo, where you’re right he played with Othmann. Who I’m also high on. Lockhart also played last year with fellow prospect Roobroeck. Oshawa should be a memorial cup contender this year so I’m hoping Roobroeck comes back eventually for his last year. To me he’s a big guy who broke out offensively last season and will receive a lot of PP and PK time in oshawa, get to play with high end talent and go on a long run. To me that’s more beneficial than bottom 6 AHL or ECHL time. But I know he’s massive, so they might want him playing with men. But I think more puck touches as well as the confidence he’ll gain this year being a go to player and leader will benefit him more.

Lockhart played with Othmann in Peterborough 2 years ago. I imagine the Rangers are very familiar with him. He's going to need to show pretty quickly that he is too good for the ECHL if he's going to have any hope of an NHL career. He's going into his D+4 season and forwards rarely, if ever, go from the ECHL to the NHL.
That’s true. But look up the year by year progression of Justin Danforth. He’s from my hometown of oshawa as well and is a small player like Lockhart. Didn’t play in the OHL but played NCAA, got a cup of tea in the AHL but then went overseas to Finland and Russia for a few years, did well and made Columbus as a 29 year old. Now he’s a mainstay there. I don’t think there’s any rush with these late bloomers.
 

cwede

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and 3 more Bison adds, via Future-Considerations trades

Evans is 27,had been 'try-out' invite to NYR Camp, already re-assigned to Pack camp in that early round of cuts. Has had 2 ECHL seasons following 4 at UConn,
and 2 more guys, who had started Camp w NYR,
and were assigned early to Pack camp, have been signed by Bloomington

"The Bloomington Bison announced the signings of forward Brett Budgell and defenseman Jake Murray to contracts for the 2024-25 season.

 
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cwede

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Pack Training camp begins today, initial roster includes 12 "try-outs" including the Bloomington guys who were in NYR Camp to start
(btw last fall Lavi Jr was also in pack Camp, but then just played in ECHL with team unrelated to NYR)

"...Wolf Pack agreed to professional tryout agreements (PTO) with 12 players.
Joining the club on a PTO are
goaltender Brad Arvanitis, defensemen Griffin Luce, Jake Murray, and Chase Pauls, and
forwards Brett Budgell, Matt DeMelis, Wyllum Deveaux, Dalton Duhart, Jonny Evans, Linus Hemström, Peter Laviolette, and Chongmin Lee"

Forwards (13): Maxim Barbashev, Alex Belzile, Brett Budgell*, Matt DeMelis*, Wyllum Deveaux*, Dalton Duhart*, Jonny Evans*, Linus Hemström*, Blade Jenkins, Peter Laviolette*, Chongmin Lee*, Jake Leschyshyn, and Blake McLaughlin

Defensemen (8): Carter Berger, Ben Harpur, Blake Hillman, Griffin Luce*, Case McCarthy, Jake Murray*, Chase Pauls*, and Ryan Siedem

Goaltenders (3): Brad Arvanitis*, Talyn Boyko, and Hugo Ollas
++++++++++++++++++++
Lots of posiiblel/likely Pack guys still in NYR Camp

Domingue, Garand
Fitzgerlad, Mackey, Scanlin, Robertson, Mancini, Ruhwedel, Bowey

Brodzinski, Blidh, Groulx, Nash(injured),
Rempe, Othmann, Berard, Edstrom, Chmelar, BMB, Roobroeck, Sykora,Korczak(injured)
Sucese, Erne,
 

cwede

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"...Wolf Pack agreed to professional tryout agreements (PTO) with 12 players.
Joining the club on a PTO are
goaltender Brad Arvanitis, defensemen Griffin Luce, Jake Murray, and Chase Pauls, and
forwards Brett Budgell, Matt DeMelis, Wyllum Deveaux, Dalton Duhart, Jonny Evans, Linus Hemström, Peter Laviolette, and Chongmin Lee"
some info on the new names revealed today

Brad Arvanitis age 27, from MA,
spent 1st pro season in SPHL '22-23, last season w Maine ECHL

defensemen
Griffin Luce age 26, from upsate NY, 4 seasons at UMich, not much offense, 4 pro seasosn but last year was primarily ECHL

forwards
Matt DeMelis, rookie pro following5 seasons at Northeastern

Wyllum Deveaux, age 24 LW, after4 seasons at Harvard was rookie last season mostly in ECHL

Dalton Duhart age 23, following 2 seasons at Canadian Uni after 6 in OHL DUHART IS ALREADY SIGNED BY BLOOMINGTON

Linus Hemström undrafted 20 yr old Swede wing played last 2 season w Kingston(OHL)

Chongmin Lee - weird profile for pro try-outage 25, korean-born, BC raised, was at Anchorage NCAA for a year but didn't play, spent '21-22 and '22-23 in lower tier Swedish leagues, last season in Asia League and signed there again for coming season
 

Ranger Ric

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Not at camp:

Kale McCallum, who attended the development and rooking camps one back to Canadian college
Isaac Dufort, who signed an AHL contract with Hartford but not a Rangers rookie camp
Connor Lockhart, who several of us talked about in this thread
 

cwede

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Not at camp: ...Isaac Dufort, who signed an AHL contract with Hartford but not a Rangers rookie camp ..

the Dufort thing might be less noticeable to me, if similar thing hadn't occurred a year ago

in summer 2023, Pack signed Tristan Mullin to an AHL contract
but then he wasn't at their Camp,
and hasn't been locatable in hockey circles since ...
 

eco's bones

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Yeah he should light up the ECHL I feel. Hopefully gets into the AHL at some point. But yeah he’s a driven kid and works his tail off, and has skill. Was once a top 5 OHL pick, and was considered right there with fellow Ottawa native Mason McTavish. Struggled his first couple years in Erie but then was very good with Ptbo, where you’re right he played with Othmann. Who I’m also high on. Lockhart also played last year with fellow prospect Roobroeck. Oshawa should be a memorial cup contender this year so I’m hoping Roobroeck comes back eventually for his last year. To me he’s a big guy who broke out offensively last season and will receive a lot of PP and PK time in oshawa, get to play with high end talent and go on a long run. To me that’s more beneficial than bottom 6 AHL or ECHL time. But I know he’s massive, so they might want him playing with men. But I think more puck touches as well as the confidence he’ll gain this year being a go to player and leader will benefit him more.


That’s true. But look up the year by year progression of Justin Danforth. He’s from my hometown of oshawa as well and is a small player like Lockhart. Didn’t play in the OHL but played NCAA, got a cup of tea in the AHL but then went overseas to Finland and Russia for a few years, did well and made Columbus as a 29 year old. Now he’s a mainstay there. I don’t think there’s any rush with these late bloomers.

That basically shows lots and lots of perseverance on Danforth's part and that's not something that's either predictable with any given player or likely going to happen all that often. Anyway Lockhart's a long way from 29 years old if that's what it's going to take for him. It's also not that the Rangers haven't gone down this road before like with Bobby Trivigno who's even smaller than Lockhart but had a stellar college career....and it didn't work out on his ELC which was all in the AHL. If Lockhart sticks in Bloomington he'll have to have a good year. The Rangers also had Sahil Panwar (an OHL'er) an AHL signee last year who I thought played fairly well for Cincinnati in the ECHL with 54 points in 64 games as a 21 year old. The organization did not renew him though. It can be really tough for CHL players to make the jump to the AHL as it is. When a forward is starting in the ECHL he's climbing a big mountain. I think if Lockhart manages to get an NHL deal he's going to have to do real well in the ECHL.....then establish himself in the AHL or one of the better European leagues and it's probably going to take him 2 to 3 years at the least to get that NHL deal.
 

RangersFan1994

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some info on the new names revealed today

Brad Arvanitis age 27, from MA,
spent 1st pro season in SPHL '22-23, last season w Maine ECHL

defensemen
Griffin Luce age 26, from upsate NY, 4 seasons at UMich, not much offense, 4 pro seasosn but last year was primarily ECHL

forwards
Matt DeMelis, rookie pro following5 seasons at Northeastern

Wyllum Deveaux, age 24 LW, after4 seasons at Harvard was rookie last season mostly in ECHL

Dalton Duhart age 23, following 2 seasons at Canadian Uni after 6 in OHL DUHART IS ALREADY SIGNED BY BLOOMINGTON

Linus Hemström undrafted 20 yr old Swede wing played last 2 season w Kingston(OHL)

Chongmin Lee - weird profile for pro try-outage 25, korean-born, BC raised, was at Anchorage NCAA for a year but didn't play, spent '21-22 and '22-23 in lower tier Swedish leagues, last season in Asia League and signed there again for coming season



Intrigued by Linus Hemstrom
 

nyr2k2

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I don't see anything online about Hemström. Other than random mentions in Fronts tweets and articles. Doesn't appear he was ever ranked anywhere.

I'm not sure where he'd play if he doesn't sign a pro deal since he's the dreaded Over-age/import combo, and not a lot of teams have room for that.
 

RangersFan1994

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the Dufort thing might be less noticeable to me, if similar thing hadn't occurred a year ago

in summer 2023, Pack signed Tristan Mullin to an AHL contract
but then he wasn't at their Camp,
and hasn't been locatable in hockey circles since ...
So why would Dufort sign with the Pack earlier this year for this season and he's not even at Wolfpack camp? Did he sign an NHL contract with another team? That makes no sense at all.
 

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