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

eco's bones

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Erne is on the Pack's roster but I don't believe he's signed an NHL or AHL deal.

I kind of suspect when the smoke settles that the Pack will have Berard too. My guess is they'll have a 23 player roster:

F-Berard, Othmann, Sykora, Groulx, Belzile, Leschyshyn, Chmelar, Blidh, McConnell-Barker, Sucese, Roobroeck, Korczak, Nash*---who's currently injured and possibly Erne* if he signs. The other two with the Pack right now are Jenkins and McLaughlin one of whom could take Nash's spot until he comes back and the other if Erne doesn't sign.....all that would give us 14 forwards.

Of the 16 listed above---Nash injured, Erne-unsigned. Sucese, Jenkins and McLaughlin on AHL deals. Sucese is a proven AHL producer....Jenkins not really and McLaughlin not at all.

D-Mackey, Harpur, Fitzgerald, Robertson, Scanlin, Hillman and McCarthy for now seem the 7 most likely. When Lindgren rejoins the Rangers from injury it will probably kick either Mancini or Ruhwedel (if he clears waivers) down to Hartford and probably McCarthy to Bloomington....all that barring further injuries. Berger and Siedman currently still on the Pack roster.

Of the 9 currently on the roster--Hillman, McCarthy, Siedem and Berger on AHL deals. Hillman is a proven AHL defenseman.

G-Domingue, Garand.
 

noncents

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Erne is on the Pack's roster but I don't believe he's signed an NHL or AHL deal.

I kind of suspect when the smoke settles that the Pack will have Berard too. My guess is they'll have a 23 player roster:

F-Berard, Othmann, Sykora, Groulx, Belzile, Leschyshyn, Chmelar, Blidh, McConnell-Barker, Sucese, Roobroeck, Korczak, Nash*---who's currently injured and possibly Erne* if he signs. The other two with the Pack right now are Jenkins and McLaughlin one of whom could take Nash's spot until he comes back and the other if Erne doesn't sign.....all that would give us 14 forwards.

Of the 16 listed above---Nash injured, Erne-unsigned. Sucese, Jenkins and McLaughlin on AHL deals. Sucese is a proven AHL producer....Jenkins not really and McLaughlin not at all.

D-Mackey, Harpur, Fitzgerald, Robertson, Scanlin, Hillman and McCarthy for now seem the 7 most likely. When Lindgren rejoins the Rangers from injury it will probably kick either Mancini or Ruhwedel (if he clears waivers) down to Hartford and probably McCarthy to Bloomington....all that barring further injuries. Berger and Siedman currently still on the Pack roster.

Of the 9 currently on the roster--Hillman, McCarthy, Siedem and Berger on AHL deals. Hillman is a proven AHL defenseman.

G-Domingue, Garand.
lindgren will kick mancini down. FO will want him getting heavy minutes, not exploring Da Mystery of Pressboxin'
 

eco's bones

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lindgren will kick mancini down. FO will want him getting heavy minutes, not exploring Da Mystery of Pressboxin'

Odds are that it will probably work that way. Then again if Mancini plays really really well then who knows if the Rangers explore a deal to send Lindgren somewhere. Ruhwedel is one of those guys almost tailor made to be a 7D. You can not play him and it won't matter and he won't sulk. If you have to throw him in he's a stopgap safe kind of defenseman.
 

Ranger Ric

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Bloomington has signed a bunch of guys recently, roster is now pretty full,
so far only 1 Pack-signed skater (Barbashev) and 1 NYR-signed Goalies - Ollas.

Boyko had been assigned there, but apparently then re-assigned to Tulsa ECHL

Pack or NYR maybe assign a few more skaters later this week

As Eco's Bones comment shows the team likely will have 3 more defensemen and possibly a forward or two from Hartford once Hartford finalizes its roster.

Most of the guys signed by Binghampton are ECHL vets or CMJHL free agents with rather undistinguished records. There are four singees, however, worth keeping an eye on. Unlikely to make it but maybe the Rangers get lucky.

Several already have weighed in on Connor Lockhart. This is a write up from Elite Prospects Rinkside about him in one game:

"Lockhart had a good night on the ice, putting up two assists in the game and was able to skate well around the ice, with a confident stride and good stick skills. He’s a smaller forward with a lot of skill on both sides of the puck, and despite his smaller size he is not afraid to get into tough spots on the ice with contact. His passing ability was on clear display in how he was able to find the open man on both of his assists in this one. A strong night for this over age player as he helped his team to come away with the victory."

WHL defenseman Chase Pauls already has a Hartford contract although he has been sent to the ECHL. In his 2021 draft guide, Steve Kournianos said that Pauls was an in your face defensemen with speed and quickness. This is Steve's analysis of Pauls:

Steve Kournianos 2021 Draft Guide ranked 148 tough in your face competitor speed and quickness at high levels

"Pauls is a late 2003 right shot defenseman who looks to take care of his end first. At 6’4″ 215 pounds he has the ability to shut things down very quickly and manhandle opposing forwards forwards in the corners or in front of his net. We like his skating posture and feel that as he continues to gain strength through training he will become quicker, faster and more agile. At this point in his season he has zero goals, but that certainly is not from a lack of ability to get his point shots through. Along the offensive blueline Pauls shows the ability to smoothly handle poor passes and get his snap shots through. He also is not afraid to slide to the middle for one time opportunities. To be totally honest, Pauls is going to make his way into professional hockey as penalty killer / shut down defender and we like what we see from him as he plays in straight lines and is more than willing to sacrifice his body by blocking shots. We view him as a long shot to be drafted, but we think NHL teams and development coaches would like to have a late round 6’4″ right shot defender to work with and help develop."

Noah Dorey is another WHL defensemen. The 2022 Elite Prospects Prospects Guide had this to say about Dorey:

"A powerful stride propels Dorey past forecheckers, while no-tell punch turns provide in-tight separation. Whether he’s moving laterally, backwards, or forwards, he shows NHL fluidity and movement. On retrievals, he uses his edge-to- edge quickness to deceive – angling his toes in one direction, then cutting back the opposite way. Handling skills combine with the skating to make Dorey an effective creator. He cuts away from one defender, then dekes around the next. In moments, he even manipulates incoming pressure, before passing cross-ice to create an advantage up the rink."

Finally, Mitchell Smith is an offensive defensemen who played on a 2022-2023 Saginaw team that had six NHL drafted players including Anaheim's Pavel Mintyukov (D) and Calgary first round pick, Zayne Parekh. He signed with the Orlando Solar Bears but never played a game. He had attended development camps with Colorado and San Jose.

This year the Rangers ECHL team may be a little more interesting with the players likely to be sent down from Hartford and a few of the Bloomington signees.
 

cwede

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Most of the guys signed by Binghampton are ECHL vets or CMJHL free agents with rather undistinguished records. There are four singees, however, worth keeping an eye on. Unlikely to make it but maybe the Rangers get lucky.
...
WHL defenseman Chase Pauls already has a Hartford contract although he has been sent to the ECHL. In his 2021 draft guide, Steve Kournianos said that Pauls was an in your face defensemen with speed and quickness. This is Steve's analysis of Pauls:

Steve Kournianos 2021 Draft Guide ranked 148 tough in your face competitor speed and quickness at high levels

"Pauls is a late 2003 right shot defenseman who looks to take care of his end first. At 6’4″ 215 pounds he has the ability to shut things down very quickly and manhandle opposing forwards forwards in the corners or in front of his net. We like his skating posture and feel that as he continues to gain strength through training he will become quicker, faster and more agile. At this point in his season he has zero goals, but that certainly is not from a lack of ability to get his point shots through. Along the offensive blueline Pauls shows the ability to smoothly handle poor passes and get his snap shots through. He also is not afraid to slide to the middle for one time opportunities. To be totally honest, Pauls is going to make his way into professional hockey as penalty killer / shut down defender and we like what we see from him as he plays in straight lines and is more than willing to sacrifice his body by blocking shots. We view him as a long shot to be drafted, but we think NHL teams and development coaches would like to have a late round 6’4″ right shot defender to work with and help develop."
Thanks
FYI, re Pauls, I only find reports of him signing with Bison, not the Pack

IF ANY of these 3 D,
or the 3 NCAA D Pack(McCarthy, Berger, Siedem) signed during summer,
show NHL potential, that's a win
 
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GAGLine

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Do you guys think it’s possible Roobroeck is sent back to oshawa for his final season? Would be better than going to the ECHL IMO.
No, and I don't think it would be better for him. At his size, he doesn't need to be playing against mostly 16 to 18 year olds.

Starting in the ECHL doesn't mean he will stay there all year.
 

nyr2k2

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Do you guys think it’s possible Roobroeck is sent back to oshawa for his final season? Would be better than going to the ECHL IMO.
It's possible I suppose. The team sent Ryder Korczak back a couple years ago. That said, Roobroeck is a lot more physically prepared for the rigors of the pro game than Korczak was. But if the team doesn't think he's ready for more than a bit part in Hartford, then it could happen.

Who would Oshawa sit if Roobroeck went back? Torrance?
 

Leviathan899

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It's possible I suppose. The team sent Ryder Korczak back a couple years ago. That said, Roobroeck is a lot more physically prepared for the rigors of the pro game than Korczak was. But if the team doesn't think he's ready for more than a bit part in Hartford, then it could happen.

Who would Oshawa sit if Roobroeck went back? Torrance?
Yeah I know he’s physically ready for it but I think he would benefit offensively from playing all situations and getting a lot more puck touches than what he’ll get in pro this year. But ya, Torrance is likely the odd man out if he’s sent back.
 

Ranger Ric

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Thanks
FYI, re Pauls, I only find reports of him signing with Bison, not the Pack

IF ANY of these 3 D,
or the 3 NCAA D Pack(McCarthy, Berger, Siedem) signed during summer,
show NHL potential, that's a win
Paul's Elite Prospects' page shows him with Hartford for 2024-2025. . Chase Pauls - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Under his transactions, however, there only is a link to him signing with Bloomington. So maybe linking him to Hartford is a mistake.

Completely agree if any of the six comes close to getting to the NHL that's a victory.
 

GAGLine

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I agree that he will likely stay, but two years ago they let Korczak play 5 games in the AHL regular season before sending him back.
It's not exactly the same scenario.

Korczak was drafted in his 1st year of eligibility but, because he is old for his draft class (Sep 23rd birthday), he was eligible to play in the AHL in his D+2 season. He wasn't ready and got sent back. Most kids drafted out of the CHL, including Othmann, play their D+2 season in the CHL.

Roobroeck is young for his draft class (July 27th birthday), but he was passed over in his 1st year of eligibility. He then played what would have been his D+2 season in the CHL, So, this is essentially his D+3 season.

Age-wise, Roobroeck is only 2 months older than Korczak was 2 years ago, but developmentally they were a year apart.
 

nyr2k2

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Hartford seems to be getting close to a final roster.

Forward
Berard
Sykora
Leschyshyn
Jenkins
McConnell-Barker
Blidh
Groulx
McLaughlin
Roobroeck
Sucese
Korczak
Chmelar
Belzile
Othmann
Erne

Defensemen
Berger
Fitzgerald
Harpur
McCarthy
Mackey
Hillman
Siedem
Robertson
Scanlin

Goalies
Garand
Domingue

26 total. I would think the candidates to go down would be Jenkins and McLaughlin up front and some combination of Berger, McCarthy, and Siedem on the back end.
 

cwede

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Erne or Bowey getting AHL deals ?
Bowie's HWP PTO was terminated a few days ago
Now he's signed an AHL PTO w Cleveland

Erne signing could have come today, in time for 5pm formal roster for league,
but nothing seems to have been announced (yet)
 

eco's bones

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Bowey was released and signed on with the Cleveland AHL team.

There is room for Roobroeck on the Pack. It's almost the same situation as when Rempe turned pro. Some thought he would do some time in Jacksonville. The Pack will dress 12 forwards and Othmann, Berard, Sykora, Groulx, Belzile, Leschyshyn, Blidh, Chmelar, McConnell-Barker make 9. Riley Nash is dealing with an injury. Erne remains unsigned. Then there's Korczak and Roobroeck who have actual NHL deals. So if they sign Erne and Nash comes back that would be 13 barring any other injuries and there's always someone getting injured in the AHL. Then we look at AHL signees---Sucese has had some success. Jenkins and McLaughlin not really and Dufort is making the jump out of the CHL. Jenkins, McLaughlin and Dufort should end up in Bloomington or somewhere else. Just saying I don't think Roobroeck is necessarily heading to the ECHL. It might happen or happen at some time but my guess for now is that he won't. I also think Korczak has as much chance going to the ECHL as he does and we can possibly even throw in BMB in that case too.
 

cwede

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... Dufort is making the jump out of the CHL ...
agree with all that

FYI, although still listed both at EliteProspects and The AHL site Pack roster (likely just as result of his announced signing in summer) there is no indication that Dufort has actually joined the Pack
(shades of Tristan Mullan last season, signing was announced in summer 2023, then NEVER heard from again at any hockey sites)

Isaac was not on announced Hartford Camp roster, is not listed at Pack site roster page, did not skate in preseason games
he was listed on NYR's Rookie camp roster release, but since then, nothing
1728658283262.png
 
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nyr2k2

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Forwards
Berard
Sykora
Leschyshyn
Jenkins
McConnell-Barker
Blidh
Groulx
McLaughlin
Roobroeck
Sucese
Korczak
Chmelar
Belzile
Othmann
Erne

Defensemen
Fitzgerald
Harpur
Mackey
Hillman
Siedem
Robertson
Scanlin

Goalies
Garand
Domingue

Berger and McCarthy were sent to Bloomington. So this is the roster. 15F, 7D, 2G.

Erne is still on a PTO according to Alex Thomas.
 

Clark Kellogg

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That sucks. Considering so many of the games were literally just using the feed from the jumbotron, it seems like the cost to produce the games wouldn't be much.

I used to have a HockeyTV subscription to watch USHL games. I see that HockeyTV is now part of FloSports. I guess they're trying to expand.
It was some time ago when you had posted that the AHL was having a half end-of-the-season sale.
I said “why not”.
Then when I saw the one camera feed for most of the Wolf Pack games I thought “what did I get myself into”?
Hartford was going strong and then had a complete collapse.
For me though I came to really appreciate the one camera and in fact I prefer it.
I am able to see what the players are doing away from the puck. Once again for me I think it helps me see which players have the hockey sense to take the next step.
Of course there are many factors that propel a prospect to become an NHL player, not just hockey iq, but it certainly helps.
 
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