Hershey Bears Monthly Prospect Update - December Grades
HERSHEY - New years bring resolutions. And for the Hershey Bears, December was a month to forget as the team went 6-7-1.
But it was memorable in a few ways, specifically the return of Aaron Ness and Nathan Walker. Connor Hobbs made his way back from injury, and then battled an illness to finish 2017 on the ice with his team.
As the door closes on a roller coaster 2017, in honor of the season, this month’s wrap-up will be resolutions for each player...now if only the Tooth Fairy would lend her wand to help turn them into reality instantly because Hershey is running out of time to turn things around.
Special Teams
Power Play
After a sizzling start, Hershey’s PP has struggled recently. The Bears have fallen to 16th in the league with just six PP goals scored in 46 attempts in December.
New Year’s Resolution - stop waiting for the perfect shot and put some shots on goal. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
December Stats: 14 games played, 6 for 46 = 13.0% (zero shorthanded goals against) Season Stats: 35 games played, 27 for 160 = 16.9% - 16th in AHL (zero shorthanded goals against)
Penalty Kill
Hershey was short-handed just over three times per game on average in December. When your team already had difficulty scoring, the added stress of trying to kill off the man-advantage, is far from beneficial. That said, the Bears have scored three more shorthanded goals this month, good for six on the season which trails Syracuse (8 SHGF), Charlotte (7 SHGF), and Binghamton (7 SHGF).
New Year’s Resolution - cut down on the minor penalties that leave the team shorthanded.
December Stats: 14 games played, 44 for 53 = 83.0% (three shorthanded goal for) Season Stats: 35 games played, 134 for 159 = 84.3% - 12th in AHL (six shorthanded goals for)
Goaltenders
Pheonix Copley - Grade CDecember Stats: 7GP, 2-4-0, 5.36, .847 SV%, 0 SO Season stats: 16GP, 7-6-2, 3.26 GAA, .885SV%, 0 SO
It’s really difficult to pin everything on a goaltender on this team. After all, the Bears skaters have taken some head-scratching penalties and have shown a lack of ability to clear the puck from the zone on occasion. That said, the lackluster play of Copley in December has led to more work for Vitek Vanecek. Perhaps Copley’s worst game this season came against Providence on December 16 where he allowed 4 goals on 19 shots before engaging former teammate, Jordan Binnington, in a goalie fight.
New Year’s Resolution - Find the mojo again. Copley, when on his game, is one of the best goaltenders in the AHL. Goaltenders who get in their own heads sometimes have a hard time finding their way out, so Copley needs to do so in a hurry.
Vitek Vanecek - Grade ADecember Stats: 6 GP, 4-3-1, 2.42 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO Season stats: 11GP, 5-4-1, 2.40 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO
While Copley has struggled in December, Vanecek has seized the opportunity to become the #1, a far cry from a season ago when the pressure was a bit too much. This time, Vanecek is dialed in, and if it wasn’t for the mistakes of the skaters in front of him, his stats would more than likely be even better. The lone shutout of the season came December 2 at Giant Center when Milwaukee came to town. Vanecek stopped all 21 pucks he faced.
New Year’s Resolution - keep things going. Staying dialed in and continuing to have games like the one December 30 against the Penguins, which unfortunately for Vanecek didn’t end with a win in OT, is the key to solidifying his future.
Defensemen
Colby Williams - Grade C-December Stats - 14GP, 1G-1A, -13, 16PIM Season Stats - 35GP, 2G-9A, -14, 45PIM
It was a December to forget for Williams for the most part. Despite a shorthanded goal against Charlotte on December 20, Williams has struggled, to the tune of a team-worst -14 on the season. Additionally, his 45 penalty minutes ranks second in Hershey defensemen behind Tyler Lewington, and third overall on the team. The penalty box is definitely not where any coach would prefer to see one or two of his defensemen.
New Year’s Resolution - make better decisions. Williams is on the ice for a majority of the goals the Bears are allowing, and that just can’t continue. While still young and learning, there is going to come a time when he’s going to be expected to play better or watch the game from the fifth floor of Giant Center.
Jonas Siegenthaler - Grade BDecember Stats - 13GP, 2G-0A, -4, 7PIM Season Stats - 34 GP, 3G-2A, -5, 25PIM
Siegenthaler continues to learn on the job. During the month of December, he notched goals in back-to-back games against Milwaukee and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but those came early in the month with nothing in ten games since. Siegenthaler is doing much better in the +/- area than his normal partner on the blueline, Williams. Additionally, there is some fire there and he fought Nicolas Aube-Kubel and appeared to be ready to take on just about any of the Penguins in Hershey’s 2017 finale.
New Year’s Resolution - find the offense while keeping up the strides he’s made in other areas. In order for Hershey to be successful, some of the blueliners need to step up and fill the hole left by the departure of Christian Djoos. Siegenthaler and his fellow rookies could combine to be a pretty potent trio.
Lucas Johansen - Grade BDecember Stats - 14GP, 2G-1A, -8, 0PIM Season Stats - 34GP, 5G-10A, -14, 10PIM
Johansen managed to make it through the month without a single penalty, which is terrific, but his -8 rating this month is particularly troublesome as he is now at a team-worst -14 for the season. Like fellow rookie, Jonas Siegenthaler, Johansen has improved one area, but has struggled in another. In order for Hershey to be successful, he needs to keep making strides but not have set-backs in other areas.
New Year’s Resolution - improve that +/- and not fall back in other areas. Johansen is a rookie, and it’s pretty much expected that rookies will not have terrific years, but there is so much potential there and the kid is learning, so you take the good with the bad, but hope that there is an improvement shown. Afterall, he does lead the defense in points scored so far this season.
Connor Hobbs - Grade IncompleteDecember Stats - 3GP, 0G-0A, 2, 7PIM Season Stats - 13GP, 1G-1A, -7, 18PIM
Welcome back, Connor Hobbs. While the rookie returned from his wrist injury, he did miss a few games due to illness, which limited him to just three games this month. While he hasn’t made his way back to the scoresheet with goals or assists, his +2 in three games is a positive. Additionally, that wrist has healed quite nicely as displayed at Giant Center on December 23 when Hobbs and Blake Pietila got in a fight.
New Year’s Resolution - get back on the ice and stay there the rest of the year. For a kid who said at the season opener that he wasn’t accustomed to being a healthy scratch, the broken wrist and illness that have kept him off the ice have to be making him antsy to get back out there and stay out there.
Hubert Labrie - Grade BDecember Stats - 10GP, 0G-1A, 0, 6PIM Season Stats - 31GP, 1G-5A, -6, 26PIM
With the necessity to have a veteran scratched, Labrie has upon occasion found himself in that position this month. But when on the ice, the steady defender limits mistakes and seems to provide a bit of stabilization on Hershey’s young blueline. Additionally, Labrie stands up for his teammates when necessary.
New Year’s Resolution - increase the offensive production. While not known as an offensive weapon, doing the little things to help teammates score or just throwing an odd puck at the net could provide a much-needed spark to the Bears.
Tyler Lewington - Grade BDecember Stats - 14GP, 0G-4A, +5, 30PIM Season Stats - 34GP, 1G-5A, 3, 92PIM
Lewington’s hot start to December has fizzled a bit. He recorded a pair of assists December 1 against Lehigh Valley and an assist the next night against Milwaukee, but has been relatively quiet offensively the remainder of the month. Additionally, Lewington has two more fights under his belt and leads the league in minor and major penalties, but trails Russ Johnston in penalty minutes (Johnston had 3 misconducts in one game).
New Year’s Resolution - spend more time on the ice and less time in the penalty box. Oh, and also refrain from engaging in fights since four more will result in a suspension.
Aaron Ness - Grade ADecember Stats - 14GP, 2G-11A, +2, 4PIM Season Stats - 14GP, 2G-11A, +2, 4PIM
The arrival of Aaron Ness in Hershey has been a tremendous boost to the young blueline. In just 14 games, Ness has displayed some of the game he’s honed in Washington since the start of the season, with 11 assists and two goals. At nearly a point per game, he’s perhaps just what the Bears needed.
New Year’s Resolution - keep up the scoring because that’s one area the Bears are definitely lacking. Any helpful tips he can pass along to the rookies will be useful as well. While not Tom Gilbert, Johansen, Hobbs, and Siegenthaler can definitely benefit from Ness coming back to Hershey.
Kris Bindulis - Grade IncompleteDecember Stats - 0GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0PIM Season Stats - 6GP, 0G-0A, 0, 2PIM
Bindulis returned to South Carolina and did not appear in any games for Hershey this month.
Tommy Hughes - Grade IncompleteDecember Stats - 2GP, 0G-0A, -2, 2PIM Season Stats - 4GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0PIM
Hughes appeared in just two games early in the month for Hershey before returning to South Carolina.
Paul Geiger - Grade IncompleteDecember Stats - 0GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0PIM Season Stats - 4GP, 0G-1A, -4, 0PIM
Geiger spent all of December in South Carolina.
Forwards
Chris Bourque - Grade A-December Stats:14GP, 2G-10A, -5, 4PIM Season Stats: 35GP, 11G-28A, -11, 34PIM
With just two goals this month, Bourque has still managed to maintain his lead for the AHL’s scoring title. That just may take a hit though if Bourque is selected for the Olympics like many believe he will be. Bourque no longer has the worst +/- on the team, but still has a long way to go to get anywhere hear his career best +20. Now alone in 5th place in scoring in Hershey, how high Bourque climbs just may be limited to how many games he has left to play.
New Year’s Resolution - keep improving the +/- by scoring and/or continuing to set up his teammates.
Travis Boyd - Grade ADecember Stats: 13GP, 4G-2A, -4, 6PIM Season Stats: 34GP, 7G-19A, -10, 10PIM
Travis Boyd finally missed an AHL game - while he was recalled to Washington. Additionally, Boyd seems to have found the scoring mojo as he recorded four goals this past month. While the +/- still needs work, he and his current linemates, Bourque and Liam O’Brien, seem to have found some chemistry on the ice as Hershey’s top line.
New Year’s Resolution - find the back of the net more often...because Hershey fans certainly love to see that smile.
Wayne Simpson - Grade B+December Stats: 14GP, 2G-5A, 2, 4PIM Season Stats: 35GP, 7G-12A, -7, 15PIM
Simpson’s numbers are not nearly what they were last season with Providence, but they are closing in on his stats with Portland two seasons ago. As the anchor of the second PP unit, Simpson has one goal in the man-advantage this year. For Hershey to be successful, Simpson needs to get both his line and PP unit going.
New Year’s Resolution - become more of an offensive threat by scoring and/or setting up his linemates both at even strength and in the man-advantage.
Riley Barber - Grade B+December Stats: 14GP, 4G-5A, -11, 6PIM Season Stats: 35GP, 9G-11A, -12, 22PIM
Barber has moved into third on the team in scoring, but needs to keep improving if he’s going to get back to his 50+ point season his rookie year. While the scoring did pick up in December, the more concerning stat is the -11. With Hershey’s struggles scoring this season, they really need to keep teams off the scoreboard if they are going to be successful, and Barber’s speed could be a huge asset in this area.
New Year’s Resolution - improve the +/- and continue to add goals and assists. With Nathan Walker back in the fold, Barber could be reunited with Walker, which could definitely prove beneficial all around. Oh, and keep the pictures and videos of Ted coming!
John Albert - Grade B+December Stats: 13GP, 1G-3A, -1, 2PIM Season Stats: 22GP, 2G-5A, -5, 8PIM
After missing several games due to injury, Albert is back on the ice. While his offensive production is nowhere near where it has been the past three seasons, Albert’s return to the ice means that there will once again be a netfront presence when he’s on the ice. His lack of penalty minutes is extremely helpful to a team that somehow manages to find themselves short handed three or more times per game on average.
New Year’s Resolution - stay on the ice. While in hockey nobody can ever escape without injury, Albert’s had his share so far this season and Hershey can certainly benefit from him being on the ice.
Liam O’Brien - Grade B+December Stats: 14GP, 5G-1A, 0, 26PIM Season Stats: 31GP, 8G-5A, -2, 34PIM
Offensively, O’Brien is really benefiting from being on a line with Bourque and Boyd. With Bourque’s ability to score from just about anywhere in the offensive zone, O’Brien and Boyd are able to rotate in and out of the crease, and O’Brien has really flourished there. While the penalty minutes have climbed way up this month, much of that is a result of sticking up for his teammates.
New Year’s Resolution - continue to be an offensive threat while cutting down on the minor penalties that have plagued Hershey this season.
Jeremy Langlois - Grade B+December Stats: 7GP, 0G-1A, -3, 2PIM Season Stats: 27GP, 2G-4A, -7, 6PIM
Langlois has not appeared in a game since the 13th of December. His presence on the ice has been missed for sure, but it has also made way for Mathias Bau. When he returns from injury, Mann will have some decisions to make on a nightly basis.
New Year’s Resolution - make it through the remainder of the season injury-free. Easier said than done in hockey, but Langlois, who impressed Mann in the preseason, is one of those guys who can make a difference when he’s on the ice and he doesn’t take costly penalties either.
Garrett Mitchell - Grade B-December Stats: 8GP, 2G-0A, -1, 22PIM Season Stats: 23GP, 5G-0A, -6, 53 PIM
Mitchell’s had a rough month. After returning from injury, he’s found himself in Mann’s doghouse and become a healthy, veteran scratch a few times this month. If he’s going to meet or exceed his offensive production of the past two seasons, he needs to turn it on in a hurry.
New Year’s Resolution - hustle hard every time his skates hit the ice. Mann is nothing if not loyal to “his” guys, but has seemingly reached the end of the line. The good news is it isn’t too late to turn it around, but with the need to scratch a vet every game, it’s going to be harder to maintain that ice time.
Dustin Gazley - Grade B+December Stats: 12GP, 1G-5A, +3, 2PIM Season Stats: 32GP, 3G-9A, +4, 10PIM
Gazley’s speed continues to be a huge asset for the Bears, but with more than enough forwards on the team, he’s been a healthy scratch twice this month. The first was due to his head coach becoming a bit upset with his play. However, when you have the best +/- on the team, you have to be doing something right, right?
New Year’s Resolution - don’t give Mann a reason to be benched again. With Walker back in Hershey, the speedster needs to give hustle every time his skates hit the ice to bring back “Dump and Gazley Chase.”
Mason Mitchell - Grade BDecember Stats: 8GP, 0G-2A, -3, 5PIM Season Stats: 19GP, 1G-3A, -4, 14PIM
The other Mitchell in Hershey started to show signs of improvement, but has been sidelined due to injury. A highlight of the month was a fight against Binghamton’s Jacob MacDonald, but that game was also the last time Mitchell’s appeared on the ice.
New Year’s Resolution - make it back from injury and continue to grow as a rookie in the AHL.
Mathias Bau - Grade A-December Stats: 14GP, 3G-2A, -1, 8PIM Season Stats: 30GP, 9G-4A, -1, 10PIM
Bau continues to impress on the ice as he has moved into 6th place in scoring on the team with three more goals and two assists in December. He is a huge net-front presence that the Bears could definitely use a bit more by throwing pucks on net while he’s camped out in front of opposing goaltenders since his 6’7” body is more than a bit difficult to see around.
New Year’s Resolution - keep learning and improving. The Bears could use more offensive production and Bau just might be the guy who can provide it.
Zach Sill - Grade A-December Stats: 14GP, 1G-5A, -4, 2PIM Season Stats: 35GP, 2G-7A, -8, 14PIM
While his December stats may fall short for some, Sill continues to do the little things when he’s on the ice that the Bears need. Now that the first goal is out of the way, Sill more than doubled his offensive production this month and has done so with a revolving door of linemates all the while limiting costly mistakes. Some of his teammates could learn from that example.
New Year’s Resolution - let teammates know it when they take costly penalties. Sill can become a bit more vocal while continuing to lead by example, especially when it comes to penalty minutes.
Anthony Peluso - Grade C-December Stats - 6GP, 1G-1A, -1, 8PIM Season Stats - 20GP, 2G-2A, -2, 12PIM
Appearing in just six games this month, Peluso has not really contributed to the Bears offensively. Then again, his AHL stats show that he isn’t much of a scoring threat as he is an enforcer. But he’s severely limited his time in the box this season.
New Year’s Resolution - find a niche on this team and go with it. If you don’t score and you don’t stick up for your teammates, you just might not find yourself on the ice.
Tyler Graovac - Grade BDecember Stats - 10GP, 3G-4A, -3, 4PIM Season Stats - 14GP, 4G-5A, -3, 6PIM
Graovac’s return to Hershey from Washington probably was not altogether unexpected since the Capitals are pretty much loaded with talented forwards. His .64 points per game is helpful, but the Bears could definitely use even more from the former member of the Iowa Wild.
New Year’s Resolution - make size an advantage. At 6’5” Graovac can certainly be more of a presence on the ice than he’s been in 14 games, but then again, he’s still feeling his way in Mann’s system, so perhaps that will come.
Nathan Walker - Grade INCDecember Stats: 2GP, 0G-1A, -2, 0PIM Season Stats: 2GP, 0G-1A, -2, 0PIM
Walker returned to Hershey after a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers. His return to the ice for Hershey is definitely something that will become a positive as he reacclimates to the team and his teammates.
New Year’s Resolution - provide a much needed spark to the Bears.
Hampus Gustafsson - Grade INCDecember Stats: 1GP, 0G-1A, +2, 0PIM Season Stats: 14GP, 0G-2A, +1, 2PIM
Gustafsson appeared in one game this month for Hershey. He’s spent the remainder of the month in South Carolina.
Kelly Zajac - Grade INCDecember Stats: 0GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0PIM Season Stats: 2GP, 0G-1A, -2, 0PIM
Zajac remained in South Carolina in December.
Dylan Margonari - Grade INCDecember Stats: 4GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0PIM Season Stats: 4GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0PIM
Margonari’s four appearances this season have not been noteworthy.
