The latest to have a chance to stay on Broadway is rookie forward Jaroslav Chmelar, New York’s fifth-round pick (No. 144 overall) in 2021. Manning the right wing on the fourth line and averaging 8:03 of ice time, the Czech Republic native and Providence College product is doing enough in that limited audition to make a good impression on coach Mike Sullivan.
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At 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, Chmelar possesses more than the size the organization craves. His strong skating produced two highlight goals, his first two in the NHL, this month. The first came on March 5 in a 6-2 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he grabbed a loose puck in the neutral zone and single-handedly attacked goalie Joseph Woll, then beat him with a nifty move that showed off the hands of a scorer.
Jaroslav Chmelar’s improvement in game deserves praise from Mike Sullivan
Chmelar’s second goal came on March 14 in a 4-2 road win over the Minnesota Wild, in a play very similar to his first goal. The 22-year-old got behind the defense and received a pass from Taylor Raddysh. Using his big frame to contain a Wild defender, he scored on a beautiful backhand to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the second period.
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The Rangers recalled Chmelar from AHL Hartford in early November and he played six mostly inconsequential games. His most memorable moment in that stretch came in his NHL debut on Nov. 7, when he hit Detroit Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic in a scramble during the Rangers’ 4-1 victory.
Chmelar returned to Hartford in early December. But the Rangers called him up on March 3 and he’s now a lineup staple, thanks to what his coach sees as substantial growth in his game.
“The biggest observation I’ve had this time is that Jaro is playing with a lot more pace,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “Both with his anticipation skills, his recognition skills and his physical foot speed. His ability to stay on top of people and pucks, and he’s using his size to his advantage. He’s a physical guy, he’s a big man. And he’s strong and he’s hard to play against. When he finishes checks, it can create anxiety; it can make the opponent nervous.
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“I think he’s taken a step forward. He’s faster in every way, which I think helps him be more successful.”
Chmelar didn’t put up great numbers in Providence, finishing with 12 goals and 28 points in 59 games during his two seasons with the Friars. However, his uncommon skill set for such a big player (strong skating, speed, and excellent hands) make him the latest unicorn forward prospect to get a chance to show the Rangers organization that he might be capable of playing a regular role. Big forwards who can score, play with physicality and keep pace enough to impact the game are among the NHL’s most sought-after commodities. The Blueshirts hope their low-risk approach of trying to uncover some late in the draft will net them at least a couple of goaltenders.
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Chmelar plays on a fourth line where 6-7, 232-pound Adam Edstrom, a sixth-round pick in 2019, is getting a look at center, thanks to the strong skating and all-around game that goes with his enormous size and reach. Chmelar effectively took the place of the injured Matt Rempe, the 2020 sixth-rounder who is still trying to establish himself as an NHL player in his third season. The 6-foot-9, 261-pound Rempe’s skillset closely resembles Chmelar’s as another massive winger with speed and offensive ability that is rare for such a big frame.
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There’s also 6-7, 205-pound Dylan Roobroeck, a 2023 sixth-round pick who could get a chance with the Blueshirts this season. In the midst of a second straight strong season with the Wolf Pack, Roobroeck’s advantage over his fellow big men wearing XXL blue jerseys is the fact that he is a natural center.
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Chmelar’s supposed chance to prove himself could end up being nothing more than fool’s gold, with the Rangers running out the chain on a miserable season and filling their lineup with rookies. The club’s last place in the Eastern Conference is resulting in largely pressure-free games, although that doesn’t change the fact that Chmelar is doing enough to catch Sullivan’s eye.
Despite his size, speed and skill, Chmelar is still raw. Like all young players, he needs to continue improving his game in all three zones and away from the puck to gain more ice time.
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But Sullivan’s comments were encouraging for Chmelar’s possible future role on Broadway as the Rangers work to change the team’s identity amid what general manager Chris Drury has called a “retooling” rather than a rebuild.
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