![Jaroslav Chmelar was one of the NY Rangers prospects impressing at the 2023 World Juniors.](https://blueseatblogs.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=737,height=414,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/themes/blueseatblogs-child/assets/images/placeholder-blueseats.webp)
With their 5th round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, #144 overall, the NY Ranges selected Jaroslav Chmelar, a winger out of Finland playing with Jokerit’s Juniors team.
Jaroslav ChmelaĆ is my favorite under the radar prospect for the #2021NHLDraft.
Big bodied forward with goal-scoring ability, good around the net and strong away from the puck.
Here are his best moments from the 2020-21 season with U18 national team. pic.twitter.com/nXXClyNayo
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) July 20, 2021
Per this account, which follows Czech prospects, Chmelar is a project pick, but very toolsy and has a lot of good skill sets that should develop nicely. He’s going to take a while though, since he was just on the U18 team. Expect another 3-4 years before we start hearing about bringing him over to the AHL.
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