Jaroslav Chmelar was one of the NY Rangers prospects impressing at the 2023 World Juniors.

It has been a while since the last Around the Farm back in December, and while there have not been a ton of developments due to the NCAA break and the CHL losing many of its best players, the NY Rangers prospects impressed during December’s World Juniors tournament.

Brennan Othmann

The big name at the tournament for Rangers fans was Brennan Othmann. Othmann featured on one of Canada’s top two lines with Shane Wright and Dylan Guenther, as well as their top powerplay unit playing in a net-front/goal-line role. He posted 2 goals and 4 assists in 7 games, and I thought he was one of Canada’s better players when we got to the business end of the tournament.

His numbers this season don’t jump off the page like they did last year, but it really seems like it’s down to shooting luck. He had to play a complementary role in this tournament and he did it really well. He is a perfect example of why the NHL-CHL agreement sucks, it is clear that he progressed out of that league last year. His projection as a top-6 winger with PP1 upside remains.

Jaroslav Chmelar

Jaroslav Chmelar (2021 5th-round pick) was the big surprise of the tournament, posting 2 goals and 3 assists en route to a Silver medal. He was one of Czechia’s most consistent players in my viewings, and his willingness to battle in the middle of the ice was key. He is having a decent freshman season at Providence, with his frame and style an NHL role is not impossible.

Kalle Vaisanen

Kalle Vaisanen was another key performer for his Finland team and was included as one of the Finland coaches’ players of the tournament. Honestly, this Finland team didn’t excite me so I only had a couple of viewings, but he seemed to fit a similar style to Chmelar.

Adam Sykora

Adam Sykora was probably the second biggest name Rangers fans kept an eye on. He was not productive, with just 1 goal in his 5 games played, but he was absolutely one of the most important players on Team Slovakia and was another nominee for Slovakia’s player of the tournament by his coaches.

Sykora is a toolsy player for someone of his size, and we all know that he works his ass off. He led Slovakia in ice time, averaging over 21 minutes a game, and keep in mind that he was the youngest D+1 player at the tournament. Assuming he is released for next year’s tournament, he will be one of the key players on one of the most experienced and talented Slovak teams in recent memory.

Noah Laba

Noah Laba only suited up for one game, the bronze medal game against Sweden. He received just 41 seconds of ice time, so unfortunately there is not much to take away from his tournament. He did receive a Bronze medal though, so a pretty cool experience regardless.

Overall, NY Rangers prospects impress at 2023 World Juniors

Overall, it was an impressive tournament for Rangers prospects. Despite not boasting the most highly rated group of prospects, NYR prospects finished 3rd amongst NHL teams in expected cumulative points, ahead of rebuilding teams like Buffalo, Anaheim, Columbus, and the Devils!

2023 Prospect of the Week

Gavin Brindley, RW, 5’9”, 157 lbs, University of Michigan (NCAA), American

Brindley played on Team USA’s 4th line at the WJC with fellow draft-eligible Charlie Stramel, and they were arguably USA’s most consistent line at the tournament. Brindley was particularly impressive, posting 4 points in 7 games, and was one of USA’s standout performers against Team Canada.

He is small, but his skill set is impressive, as he is a quick, agile skater with above-average puck skills and a willingness to drive into central areas. He is the type of prospect where even if he does not live up to being a top-6 forward, he would still thrive in a bottom-6 role on an NHL team. He is buried on a stacked Michigan team, but he is one to keep an eye on.

Liiga

  • Leevi Aaltonen (KooKoo)
    • 21 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 4 PIM, -3
  • Kalle Vaisanen (TPS)
    • Liiga Stats: 32 GP, 4 G, 0 A, 4 PIM, -3
    • u20 Stats: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM, -1

SHL

HockeyAllsvenskan

  • Oliver Tarnstrom (Tingsryds)
    • HockeyAllsvenskan Stats: 12 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 2 PIM, -4
    • SHL Stats (Rogle): 25 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PIM, -1

Slovakia Extraliga

OHL

  • Brennan Othmann (Peterborough Petes)
    • 29 GP, 14 G, 23 A, 54 PIM, +3
  • Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
    • 41 GP, 23 G, 28 A, 10 PIM, -5

QMJHL

  • Maxim Barbashev (Moncton Wildcats)
    • 39 GP, 22 G, 17 A, 22 PIM, +6

WHL

  • Talyn Boyko (Kelowna Rockets)
    • 23 GP, 3.73 GAA, .891 SV%
  • Jayden Grubbe (Red Deer Rebels)
    • 38 GP, 10 G, 35 A, 45 PIM, +16
  • Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw Warriors)
    • 25 GP, 18 G, 21 A, 18 PIM, +18

 NCAA

  • Hank Kempf (Cornell)
    • 14 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 4 PIM, +7
  • Hugo Ollas (Merrimack)
    • 14 GP, 2.33 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO
  • Brett Berard (Providence)
    • 24 GP, 7 G, 12 A, 29 PIM, +7
  • Jaroslav Chmelar (Providence)
    • 21 GP, 6 G, 5 A, 14 PIM, 0
  • Riley Hughes (Northeastern)
    • 22 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 14 PIM, -2
  • Eric Ciccolini (Michigan)
    • 13 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 6 PIM, +1
  • Brody Lamb (Minnesota)
    • 19 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 2 PIM, +5
  • Zakary Karpa (Harvard)
    • 12 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 6 PIM, 1
  • Victor Mancini (Nebraska-Omaha)
    • 17 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 4 PIM, 2
  • Noah Laba (Colorado College)
    • 19 GP, 7 G, 6 A, 24 PIM, -11

Hartford Wolf Pack

Forwards
  • Lauri Pajuniemi:
    • 33 GP, 8 G, 4 A, 14 PIM, -1
  • Bobby Trivigno:
    • 32 GP, 6 G, 8 A, 12 PIM, +2
  • Matt Rempe:
    • 31 GP, 5 G, 3 A, 69 PIM, 1
  • Karl Henriksson:
    • 35 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 12 PIM, -4
  • Will Cuylle:
    • 36 GP, 11 G, 7 A, 34 PIM, 3
  • Gustav Rydahl:
    • 27 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 26 PIM, 1
  • Ryder Korczak:
    • 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM, -4
Defensemen
  • Matthew Robertson:
    • 33 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 23 PIM, -13
  • Zac Jones
    • 18 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 PIM, 10
  • Hunter Skinner:
    • 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 2 PIM, -1
Goalies

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