2019-20 Season Preview: Hershey Bears
HERSHEY, PA -- What a summer it has been for the Hershey Bears.
With the salary cap problem hitting the Washington Capitals pretty hard in the off-season, many in and around Hershey knew that some big names would either leave the organization (goodbye Riley Barber, Nathan Walker, Aaron Ness) or return to Hershey to play in the AHL. One of those big names, Christian Djoos, cleared waivers and should definitely hit the ice for Hershey’s season opener Saturday.
The dust still hasn’t totally cleared, but the picture is definitely coming into focus for what the Bears hope will be an exciting season in Hershey as they make a push for their 12th Calder Cup.
Goalies (2)
Vitek Vanecek - Vanecek, coming off a good camp in Washington, had the smallest cap hit of the top four goaltenders in the organization, but Washington’s decision to send the Czech netminder back first further illustrated that there are things in the works to ensure the team is below the cap and also that there is a desire to get him on the ice immediately. Vanecek went 21-16-3 last year in the regular season with a GAA of 2.62 on a team that had to fight to get above .500 midway through the season. Look for him to get some looks from DC this year, especially if the rumor of Holtby’s eminent departure (his contract is up at the end of the season) rings true. Until then, Hershey has an excellent backstop to a solid blueline, but more on that later.
Pheonix Copley? - Vanecek will be joined by presumably either Pheonix Copley or Logan Thompson/Parker Milner if Copley doesn’t make it through waivers. Money here would be on Copley clearing waivers, but if not, Vanecek will shoulder the lion’s share of starts one would think. Also on the horizon would be a swap of Vanecek for Samsonov as Washington would likely try to get them both into some games as opposed to having two rookies next year. Managing their starts in the NHL is likely the focus of placing Copley on waivers - Washington’s gambles with waivers have turned out pretty well in the past and there is no reason to think it won’t this time either. If Copley is back, it makes for a solid tandem in Chocolatetown.
Defense (9)
The return ofChristian Djoos to Hershey makes this really intriguing. Alexander Alexeyev had a strong camp. Lucas Johansen, Connor Hobbs and Colby Williams were all mainstays on Hershey’s roster a season ago. Erik Burgdoerfer, Kris Bindulis, and Tobias Geisser are names Hershey fans are familiar with as well.
So who stays and who goes? Djoos, Johansen, Hobbs, Williams, Alexeyev, and Burgdoerfer would be a top-six blueline that many wouldn’t argue with. Hobbs had some issues last season trying to work back into the rotation, so one would think he’s hungry to earn a spot, stay healthy, and fight to keep it. Djoos could be a bit annoyed with being returned to Hershey, but will hopefully be eager to prove that he’s ready in the event of an injury in Washington. Alexeyev is going to be good. With a season under his belt in Hershey, he could make the jump sooner rather than later. Williams really found his purpose last year as one of the leaders on and off the ice. Hopefully that trend continues and Johansen plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder that he still hasn’t earned a spot in DC. Burgdoerfer is an AHL-only contract, so that’s a bit scary if the Caps demand time for Bindulis, Geisser, and incoming rookie Bobby Nardella (Notre Dame, NCAA), all of whom will certainly be pushing for ice time in their own right and are skilled enough to earn it.
Bottom line - Spencer Carberry has the unenviable position of telling guys they are going to South Carolina or staying in Hershey as healthy scratches.
Forwards (17)
The forward lines for Hershey are about as clear as mud right now as well with 17 still on the roster ahead of Saturday’s opener against Atlantic Division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Liam O’Brien, Michael Sgarbossa, and Shane Gersich have been returned to Hershey by the Capitals. They, along with other familiar names Garrett Pilon, Brian Pinho, and Beck Malenstyn* should prove to be the solid core of forwards.
O’Brien left Washington’s preseason game with the Blues after a fight, showing that he still has that fire and a determination to stand his ground, but Hershey fans will be looking for more consistent scoring out of him after he showed flashes of his scoring ability a season ago. Sgarbossa, was one of the most consistent scorers from last season for the Bears. He’s a versatile center who can play the part of the enforcer where needed too. Between O’Brien and Sgarbossa, there is plenty of experience to pass along to younger forwards as well.
Pilon, Pinho, and Malenstyn all played roles on the 2017-2018 team. Pilon’s 33 points led all Bears rookies. Malenstyn and Pinho ranked 3rd and 4th respectively in rookie scoring for Hershey (Gersich was 2nd). Look for a bigger contribution from all three this season.
Matt Moulson, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, and Steve Whitney have all proven versatile in the preseason, playing on both the left and right wings. A year ago, *Jonsson-Fjallby stormed onto the scene, but his abrupt return to Sweden left many stunned. He’s back this year and ready to pick up where he left off (2G, 1A in 16 games). Moulson is an exciting pick-up for Hershey. With his experience, he should provide lots of stability and insight for what was expected to be a very young crop of forwards. Whitney put together decent numbers last season with 16 points in 60 regular season games and 3 points in 9 post-season games. He will definitely look to build on the upward momentum of the end of the 2018-2019 season.
Among the new(er) faces in Hershey this season are Joe Snively, Kale Kessy, Philippe Maillet, Matt Weis, Chris McCarthy, Brett Leason, Kody Clark, and Riley Sutter.
Leason is coming off of terrific camp in Washington after putting up big-time numbers in the WHL last season (36G, 53A in 55 regular season games). His development could go a long way to success this season for the Bears as they look to get scoring from all four lines. Snively saw action in 11 total games last season scoring 2 goals and 5 assists. Kessy, a guy known for his toughness on the ice, joins the Bears, the 6th AHL team in his career. Mailiet is coming off of a career season with Ontario where he tallied 54 points. Weis spent a majority of his rookie season with a very solid Chicago Wolves team last year. McCarthy hasn’t had an easy time trying to break into an AHL lineup after stints with Hartford and Lehigh Valley. Given the talent mentioned already, it won’t be an easier prospect this year in Hershey either, but his productivity in the ECHL definitely speaks for itself. Clark, who turns 20 on the 13th, has played three seasons for Ontario of the OHL. Sutter is coming off an abbreviated 2018-2019 season with Everett (WHL) after a lower body injury sidelined him for most of their season.
Again, nobody really envies Spencer Carberry as he decides who is staying in Hershey and who is headed south. He’s already made some tough decisions by releasing Casey Bailey and sending Cole Ully, Tariq Hammond, Tommy Hughes, Eddie Wittchow, and Parker Milner to South Carolina...for now.
One thing is sure, Saturday night will definitely paint a clearer picture as the Bears open with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7:00.
