Washington Captials End Of Year Prospect Report - Hershey Bears Grades
HERSHEY - As the proverbial door closed on the 80th Season of hockey in Hershey, it would be hard not to be critical of the team’s performance this year. After all, Hershey fans are accustomed to seeing postseason hockey in Hershey and lifting Calder Cup banners. But the team wound up in last place in the Atlantic Division and missed out on the playoffs.
However, things are not as dire as they seem. Confused? Consider that Hershey lost a majority of the top scorers from a year ago. Travis Boyd, Christian Djoos, Chandler Stephenson, and Jakub Vrana are all in Washington. Paul Carey signed with the New York Rangers in the off-season. Stan Galiev left for the KHL. Christian Thomas spent the season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Of the top 10 scorers from last season, only Chris Bourque, Liam O’Brien, and Riley Barber were on the roster as of last night’s season finale, and Barber was scratched due to an injury back in early March which forced him to miss all of the team’s games since March 9. Speaking of injuries, both netminders, Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek started the season on the mend, prompting Parker Milner and Adam Carlson to fill in.
With the potential loss of many veterans again next season, here’s a look at the players from this season, their contract status, and an assessment of strengths and weaknesses heading forward.
Special Teams
Power PlaySeason Stats: 76 games played, 50 for 327 = 15.3% - 26th in AHL (seven shorthanded goals against)
Hershey’s powerplay took on many different looks this season with injuries, recalls, and Bourque’s departure for the Olympics. For a team that was the last to give up a shorthanded goal, the Bears steadily fell down the league rankings all season with a few bumps back towards the top here and there. Uncharacteristic of Hershey, the Bears found themselves 26th in the league with only four teams with a lower power play success rate. Hershey players always looked for “Grade A” chances as opposed to just throwing pucks on the net with a big man camped out in front to try to deflect it or put the rebound into the net. The lack of shot attempts also seemed to limit the success. The old adage about missing 100% of the shots you don’t take rings true. If you want to score, you first must shoot.
Penalty KillSeason Stats: 76 games played, 266 for 321 = 82.9% - 17th in AHL (nine shorthanded goals for)
Like the powerplay, Hershey’s penalty kill took on some different pairings this season as players moved between Hershey and Washington and injuries forced players into different roles. The speedy Dustin Gazley and steady veteran presence of Zach Sill and Aaron Ness provided a much-needed boost to this aspect of Hershey’s special teams. With a majority of the Bears not under contract next season, it will either be up to the newbies to step up or the Bears will need to bring some much-loved veterans back into the fold.
Goaltenders
Adam Carlson - Restricted Free Agent - Grade Incomplete Season stats: 6 GP, 2-3-0, 2.85 GAA, .903 SV%, 0 SO
Between Washington and Hershey, there was a logjam of goaltenders that prevented Carlson from seeing much action with the exception of October when Copley and Vanecek were both injured, and March during Copley’s recall to Washington. The 24-year-old found himself scattered around the ECHL this season as the Capitals hoped to get him ice time. Carlson is behind Braden Holtby, Philipp Grubauer, Pheonix Copley, and Vitek Vanecek in the organization’s pecking order and Ilya Samsonov is rumored to be heading east for next season. While Carlson has tremendous upside, it remains to be seen if the Capitals will tender an offer, and if they do, where he will end up next season. For a young guy playing with an equally young defense in front of him, Carlson made an impression this season. He has the skill set to continue to refine to have a decent career.
Pheonix Copley - Under Contract - Grade BSeason stats: 41GP, 15-17-6, 2.91 GAA, .896 SV%, 2 SO
While Copley’s first stint in Hershey may have been more memorable for fans and the netminder, it’s hard to fault the guy for his numbers this season in terms of wins and losses. Statistically, it’s been the worst season of his professional career, but it’s hard to place the blame for Hershey’s woes this season squarely at the feet of Copley, who was the last line of defense, sometimes the only line of defense it seemed, as Hershey’s young defense corps took their lumps. Pair that with an offense that failed to generate Troy Mann’s hopes for three goals in a night in order to win games, and you have a recipe for disaster. Copley did his best and many of the victories Hershey secured were thanks to him. He was the recipient of the Kenny Smith Memorial Player of the Game Award due to earning the most first star honors on the team. Despite missing several games due to an early season injury and being recalled to Washington down the stretch, Copley has made a case for himself going forward next season. His contract is a one-way deal next year, so Washington will have some things to consider when it comes to Holtby, Grubauer, and Copley, especially with Samsonov added to the mix.
Parker Milner - Free Agent (Signed 1-year AHL deal with Hershey last season) - Grade Incomplete Season stats: 6 GP, 1-4-1, 3.81 GAA, .865 SV%, 0 SO
The sole AHL-only guy on the list this year for the Hershey Bears, Milner made six appearances in October while Copley and Vanecek were sidelined with injuries before returning to the ECHL’s Stingrays where he backstopped South Carolina’s second place finish in the South. He was recently selected as a member of the ECHL’s First Team, posting staggering numbers that are sure to get the undrafted netminder recognized. He’s posted a GAA (1.88) which is fifth best in league history. Hershey has seen success at the ECHL level pay dividends in the AHL and beyond; look no further than to recent ECHL-to-NHL success of Holtby and Grubauer to reinforce that statement.
Vitek Vanecek - Under Contract - Grade BSeason stats: 32 GP, 12-13-2, 3.04 GAA, .888 SV%, 2 SO
Vanecek’s season started with an injury, and never really got going at the rate of success that the young Czech probably hoped thanks in part to a Bears team that was heavily decimated by players graduating to Washington and others leaving. Equally disheartening was the departure of fellow Czech, Jakub Vrana, who Vanecek referred to as his brother due to their close relationship. The kid has all of the focus and concentration as well as skills that will help him go far, but with a bunch of talent in front of him, Vanecek is waiting his time for his chance. Given the nature of this season’s team, it’s easy to see that Vanecek has improved from a season ago even if his numbers don’t show it.
Defensemen
Kris Bindulis - Under Contract - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 12 GP, 0G-1A, +6, 6 PIM
It’s hard to get a read on what the future will hold for Bindulis. Washington has a number of defensemen and he spent a majority of the season in South Carolina. The rookie made half of his appearances early in the season while Ness was still in Washington, returning to Hershey in March. He recorded his first AHL point, an assist, March 31 against Laval.
Madison Bowey - Restricted Free Agent - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 9 GP, 2G-6A, -1, 6 PIM
With the lone exception of opening night, Bowey only appeared in a handful of games with the Bears this season while on a conditioning loan from Washington. The defenseman seemed to learn a bit while in Washington, with his two goals and six assists coming in the eight games in March. With Hershey’s season coming to a close, Bowey returned to Washington, but has yet to appear in a game for the Capitals since. He posted 12 assists in his rookie season for the Caps with a -3 rating.
Paul Geiger - Free Agent - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 5 GP, 0G-1A, -4, 0 PIM
Geiger signed a one-year, AHL-only contract a year ago and spent a majority of this year in South Carolina. In 58 games for the Stingrays, Geiger posted 12 goals and 23 assists. He’s a big guy, 6’3” and 214 pounds, who may get his chance in the AHL next season.
Connor Hobbs - Under Contract - Grade B Season Stats - 44 GP, 3G-13A, -11, 61 PIM
Hobbs was a delight to watch on the ice this season. Heck, he was even delightful off the ice when he missed a number of games due to an upper body injury, a fracture of his wrist, midway through the season. He progressed quicker than anticipated and got himself back on the ice, which shows a level of determination that will certainly be useful at the next level. That said, he’s not ready for that just yet and should benefit from another season in Hershey. The rookie can hit and has a wicked shot, and he’s learning how to make sure he’s in the correct position on defense. The future for Hobbs is bright; you’ll see him in a Washington Capitals uniform sooner, rather than later as long as he keeps working hard.
Tommy Hughes - Free Agent - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 10 GP, 0G-0A, -1, 2 PIM
Hughes signed a one-year AHL-only deal with the Hershey Bears last June. He spent a majority of the season in the ECHL with the organization’s affiliate, South Carolina. Hughes appeared in 39 regular season games for the Stingrays this season, but after four years in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Hughes will likely try to find a spot on an AHL roster next season, and that likely won’t be in Hershey.
Lucas Johansen - Under Contract - Grade A-Season Stats - 74 GP, 6G-21A, -13, 22 PIM
Johansen won the Jack Gingrich Rookie of the Year Award as Hershey’s best rookie, with some pretty stiff competition among his fellow blueliners. Johansen though shows a poise on the ice far beyond his experience. As the year went on, he found some success on the scoreboard as well. More of a finesse player as opposed to a tough-guy like his fellow rookie Hobbs, Johansen will also end up in Washington sooner, rather than later. This season, he trailed only Aaron Ness in points among the blueliners. If he gets a bit more velocity on his shot and is willing to shoot it, good things will happen. A member of the PP unit, Johansen scored two powerplay goals this season - not bad for a rookie.
Tyler Lewington - Restricted Free Agent - Grade B-Season Stats - 71 GP, 2G-9A, -2, 149 PIM
Lewington wound up third in the league in penalty minutes this season. Additionally, he was suspended for two games after getting into his tenth and 11th fights of the season. In order to make it to the next level, particularly a Barry Trotz-coached team, Lewington will have to curb the penalties. There is a fine line between sticking up for a teammate and taking costly penalties, and he needs to find that in a hurry. A season ago, he avoided the tenth fight and had penalty killers around him to pick up the slack while he spent 142 minutes in the sin bin, but it was a different story this season as his penalty minutes ended up costing Hershey on the scoreboard more times than not.
Aaron Ness - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade ASeason Stats - 55 GP, 4G-25A, -6, 26 PIM
Ness returned to Hershey in December after starting the season in Washington, and immediately made an impact on the Hershey blueline. Ness was awarded the team’s Milton Garland Memorial Award as the team’s best defenseman, and it’s not hard to see why when you watch him play. He led the Hershey defense corps with 29 points this season, scoring four goals and recording 25 assists, but that’s not the biggest upside to the rather diminutive (5’10”, 184) defender; he understands his role in the system and sees the ice very well, using both to his advantage and limiting costly turnovers and mistakes. He makes the guys around him better by becoming a steadying force on a youthful blueline. Whatever team gets him next year will be getting a savvy veteran leader.
Jonas Siegenthaler - Under Contract - Grade BSeason Stats - 75 GP, 6G-6A, -20, 61 PIM
There have been moments this season when you’d be hard-pressed to remember that Siegenthaler is in his rookie campaign with the Bears and then there are moments that remind you the Swiss defenseman is still not used to the North American-style of hockey. There are moments of absolute brilliance when he uses his quick release to his advantage, but other head-scratching moments of turnovers, after all he is still a rookie. For a big guy, he is a very smooth skater. Going forward, he’ll look to get a bit more velocity on his shot and become more of a physical presence, something Hershey fans caught a few glimpses of late this season.
Colby Williams - Under Contract - Grade B-Season Stats - 69 GP, 3G-14A, -13, 94 PIM
Williams now has two full seasons under his belt, but there are times when he still seems a bit unsure of himself. That needs to change heading into his third season. Midway through the season, Williams was suspended three games for a hit on Lehigh Valley’s Danick Martel that forced the latter to have jaw surgery. Williams missed the Outdoor Classic and stated that he felt terrible for the neutral zone collision. Going forward, Williams must be more sure of himself, but the coaching staff did award him the Daniel Sernoffsky Memorial Award for the most improved player on the team.
Forwards
Riley Barber - Restricted Free Agent - Grade A-Season Stats: 60 GP, 10G-18A, -13, 49 PIM
Barber’s season was cut short due to an injury, which kind of sounds a bit like deja vu. Last year, Barber missed games due to a knee injury, and in 2015-2016, his collegiate career ended early due to injury. If anyone is due for some good luck, it’s certainly Barber whose newly adopted dog, Ted, melted the hearts of Hershey fans. Despite missing 16 games this season, Barber still ended up fourth on the team in scoring with 38 points. He excelled on special teams, leading the team with ten powerplay goals and exhibiting his speed, tacking on a shorthanded goal. If he comes back to camp 100% healthy, he should once again press for a spot on Washington’s roster.
Mathias Bau - Free Agent - Grade B+Season Stats: 58 GP, 13G-10A, -19, 14PIM
Hershey signed Bau to a one-year deal last season because they wanted to add some size. They did just that with Bau, the 6’7” native of Denmark. Little was known about him prior to Hershey signing him over the summer; however, the rookie made a bit of an impression, notching 13 goals, including five on the powerplay. The big guy had to adapt to a smaller rink, meaning he had to get faster, which he certainly did by the end of the season.
Chris Bourque - AHL Only (Option to return next season) - Grade A-Season Stats: 64 GP, 17G-36A, -23, 63 PIM
After not being offered a two-way deal by the Capitals last season, Bourque signed an AHL-only deal with the Bears that reportedly included an option for a second year. While it remains to be seen if Bourque and the Bears will exercise that option, it’s been one heck of a year for the veteran. He was named to the AHL All-Star team for the sixth time. With the Bears hosting the Outdoor Classic, Bourque’s father, Ray, suited up with the Hershey Alumni against the Flyers. Then it was off to South Korea as a member of the US Olympic Hockey Team. While the Bears were not able to make it to the postseason, Bourque, who led the team in scoring, moved into 7th place in franchise history. With many milestones under his belt, Hershey would certainly welcome him back for one final season if he decides to keep playing, but an improvement in the +/- would certainly be nice.
Travis Boyd - Restricted Free Agent - Grade ASeason Stats: 61 GP, 15G-32A, -24, 12 PIM
Since last season, it’s been apparent that Travis Boyd would eventually find his way onto an NHL roster, either with the Capitals or, like Paul Carey a season ago, finding a spot on another team’s roster. The centerman was an iron-man in Hershey, not missing a game in his first two seasons and being selected to the AHL All-Star Team last year. The first AHL game Boyd missed in his career was during his well-deserved recall. The recall was the only thing that kept Boyd from the 50-point plateau. Often paired with Bourque on the top line and top PP unit, the duo proved to be a potent combination, but the likelihood is that Boyd’s days in the AHL and Hershey are more than likely over.
Adam Chapie - Restricted Free Agent - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats: 36 GP, 2G-5A, -8, 6 PIM Hershey Stats: 5 GP. 0G-0A. 0, 0 PIM
Chapie came over from Hartford hoping to get some more playing time, but things did not go as he probably hoped as Mann and company only fit him into the lineup five times. Unfortunately for Chapie, there are not many positives to report on what can be called a lost season.
Dustin Gazley - Free Agent - Grade A-Season Stats: 71 GP, 11G-21A, -1, 46 PIM
Gazley signed a one-year AHL only deal with the Bears in the off-season, much to the delight of the coaching staff and fans alike. While last year he suffered an unfortunate injury after finally getting into the lineup, the silver lining was that Gazley did not play in enough games to incur the Veteran tag, allowing Hershey to have a guy on the ice with lots of games of experience. The speedster seemingly has no fear, flying into the zone after the puck no matter the size of the opponent standing in his way. He certainly played the part of a spark plug this season. He has tremendous upside in that he can play special teams and seems to have limitless energy, but the veteran tag may play a huge role in whether or not Gazley returns next season, but if Mann, who frequently praises Gazley’s efforts in post-game pressers, has anything to say about it, he will be.
Tyler Graovac - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade B+Season Stats - 53 GP, 12G-17A, -5, 12 PIM
In the offseason, the Washington Capitals acquired Tyler Graovac from the Minnesota Wild. After seeing just five games in Washington, the Capitals sent him to Hershey where he sometimes joined Mathias Bau, Hampus Gustafsson, or Anthony Peluso on the ice to make one of the biggest line combinations in the AHL. Unfortunately, Graovac and the other taller players were a bit inconsistent in parking themselves in front of the opposing goaltender. Would it have made a difference in the season outcome? Probably not, but with bodies that big, it could have proved helpful.
Hampus Gustafsson - Under Contract - Grade B-Season Stats: 29 GP, 3G-4A, +4, 4PIM
Gustafsson is a another big body for the Bears who spent half of the season with the South Carolina Stingrays this season due to a logjam of forwards at times in Hershey. While his numbers aren’t awe-inspiring by any means, he only incurred two minor penalties in 29 games and was one of only three players on Hershey’s roster to have a positive +/- this season. Since he’s under contract for next season, look for the Swede to continue to make improvements in his game and gain a bit of confidence in Mann’s system. With Stephenson, Boyd, and Sill all potentially gone from the roster next season, he’s going to have to step into one of the four center slots. With confidence, hopefully Gustafsson will shoot the puck a bit more.
Jeremy Langlois - Free Agent - Grade BSeason Stats: 52 GP, 6G-13A, -8, 20 PIM
Langlois caught the attention of Troy Mann in camp after joining the team this summer on a one-year, AHL-only contract. Hershey became his sixth AHL team in five years. Langlois missed a handful of games this season due to injury, and coupled with the task of learning another new system, he wasn’t as productive as he was two years ago in San Jose. But he often won faceoffs at key moments this year and scored the final goal of Hershey’s historic 80th season.
Dylan Margonari - Free Agent - Grade Incomplete*Season Stats: 4 GP, 0G-0A, 0, 0 PIM
Margonari did not appear in enough games in Hershey this season to really make an impact or an impression. He has found some success with the organization’s ECHL affiliate, South Carolina, recording 31 points in 43 regular season games. He had been on an AHL-only contract.
Tim McGauley - Restricted Free Agent - Grade Incomplete Season Stats: 14 GP, 0G-3A, -2, 2 PIM
Like Margonari, Tim McGauley spent a majority of the season in South Carolina where he too found a measure of success, recording 36 points in 48 regular season games. In 14 games for Hershey, he was not able to register a goal, but he did accumulate three assists in the little time he had to try to adjust to a different level of hockey. Now in the final year of his initial contract with the Washington Capitals, McGauley is going to need to prove himself in camp to ensure his continued success while hopefully graduating to the AHL.
Garrett Mitchell - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade B-Season Stats: 47 GP, 7G-1A, -8, 70 PIM
A year ago, Mitchell and his wife welcomed their second daughter and the captain not only got recalled to Washington, he ended up taking the opening faceoff, kicking off a roller coaster of emotions as the Capitals did not offer him a contract for this season. Instead, Mitchell chose to sign an AHL-only deal with the Bears to remain in Hershey. The Bears needed to sit a veteran for most games this season, and the captain ended up in that role and the team floundered without him. Hershey’s final game this season was his 400th in his nine-year career with the Bears.
Mason Mitchell - Under Contract - Grade B+Season Stats: 29 GP, 1G-4A, -3, 35 PIM
Mason Mitchell burst onto the scene in Hershey this year, and although he’s currently in South Carolina playing for the Stingrays, this Mitchell will almost assuredly be in Chocolatetown next season. In just 29 games with the Bears this season, he has proven that he is a hard-hitting forward who is not going to back away from a confrontation. Additionally, he’s a bigger body (6’2”/206) who can move on the ice quite well. He’s found some offensive success in South Carolina with four goals and two assists in six games, which makes it pretty clear he has a bright future.
Liam O’Brien - Restricted Free Agent - Grade B+Season Stats: 69 GP, 17G-9A, -8, 79 PIM
One major change in Liam O’Brien’s game this season with the amount of time he spent in the penalty box. While fans might not be happy with seeing fewer fights, certainly maturing and realizing you can’t do your team any favors by sitting in the penalty box is an improvement. Make no mistake, he still loves to hit, but those hits aren’t drawing the penalties and there are fewer, costly mental errors, which in turn limits the penalties often seen as one tries to recover. He’s worked hard to draw the good attention from the staff, and has a much sharper focus prior to puck drop than he’s had in previous years. Last season, it took quite some time to iron out a contract. You can bet with the improvements to his game he’s made, the positive accolades will be helpful in getting a deal done a bit earlier. With continued focus in the off-season, O’Brien could once challenge for a role in Washington.
Anthony Peluso - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade C+Season Stats - 38 GP, 7G-4A, +3, 34 PIM
Another off-season signing by the Capitals, Peluso seemed to struggle to find a role to fill this season in Hershey. He appeared in just two games with the Capitals and arrived in Hershey with a ton of experience under his belt. But the journeyman didn’t fit the role of scorer like Chris Bourque. He wasn’t quick to engage in fights while sticking up for his teammates like Tyler Lewington, but did so when challenged personally. As a result, his ice time was limited by Mann to 38 games. The hope was for the big guy to fill a lead by example due to his experience, but it seemed almost as if he had to work overtime to try to find a niche on a team in need of quite a bit this season.
Zach Sill - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade BSeason Stats: 76 GP, 7G-15A, -8, 60 PIM
The well-loved veteran has come pretty far from his days as a member of the hated Pittsburgh Penguins organization. In just three seasons in Hershey, Sill is far and away one of the most well-known and well-loved members of this year’s team with t-shirts and jerseys bearing his name showing up often in the stands. Sill, known for being a tough guy, has adapted to the role of leader on a relatively untested group of Bears. His veteran presence will be a huge attribute to any team that signs him as he has an uncanny ability to coach players on the ice.
Wayne Simpson - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade A- Season Stats: 76 GP, 14G-28A, -14, 17 PIM
Simpson joined the team in the off-season after playing a large role in Hershey’s departure from the Calder Cup Playoffs last season. As the cornerstone of the second power play unit for much of the season, Simpson rather quietly made an impact, accumulating 42 points on the season. It’s easy to see the forward has a great skill-set, but it’s almost a certainty that Mann and his staff had hoped that Simpson would take some of the focus off of Bourque and Boyd and provide an anchor to a secondary scoring line. While it wasn’t flashy, Simpson quietly did just that.
Chandler Stephenson - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade Incomplete Season Stats: 6 GP, 5G-1A, -6, 2 PIM
Stephenson appeared in just six games for Hershey this season before being recalled to Washington. In Hershey’s game in Grand Rapids on October 21, Stephenson recorded a hat trick. He’s made a place for himself in Washington’s lineup, and the likelihood that he returns to the AHL is very slim.
Nathan Walker - Under Contract - Grade ASeason Stats: 40 GP, 9G-13A, -8, 36 PIM
What a wild season it’s been for the Aussie. He spent some time in Washington until the Capitals placed him on waivers, thinking he’d clear and head back to Hershey. But, Edmonton picked him up. A bit later, it was the same thing - Walker on waivers, but the Capitals claimed him and reassigned him to Hershey where he had already won the hearts of the Bears faithful. Upon his return, it was pretty easy to see he had become a bit faster and honed his skill set. Never one to back away from any type of physical confrontation, no matter the size of the opponent, Walker’s return brought more speed and strength to a very depleted Hershey forward corps. Off the ice, Walker is constantly attending community service functions as a representative of the team, which makes him an asset to the organization on and off the ice.
Joe Whitney - Unrestricted Free Agent - Grade A-Season Stats: 62 GP, 14G,19A, -10, 32 PIM Hershey Stats: 22 GP, 5G-9A, +2, 16 PIM
With the playoffs getting further and further out of reach, the Washington Capitals stepped in and made a trade with the New York Rangers that brought a very experienced Joe Whitney to Hershey. Whitney appeared in just 22 games with the Bears this season, but his arrival added a bit of confidence to the Hershey forward lines. Whitney’s ability and skill set speak for themselves. His contributions to the Bears were not enough to lift Hershey out of the basement of the Atlantic Division though. Perhaps no single player could have done that this season. Still, on the final night of the season, it was Whitney who ended up as one of the healthy scratches, allowing Hershey fans to bid adieu to some of their beloved players, some for perhaps the final time in chocolate and white.
Kelly Zajac - Free Agent - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats: 2 GP, 0G-1A, -2, 0 PIM
Zajac spent most of the season in South Carolina where he enjoyed a tremendous regular season with 56 points in 60 games on an AHL-only contract.
