Speculation: Minor League Affiliates (Hershey Bears, SC Stingrays) - summer 2018 to summer 2019

[Hivemind]

Not sure if it's been mentioned here yet, but Chris Bourque is heading back to Europe (DEL).

 

[hb12xchamps]

Vogel tweeted earlier he thinks Washington/Hershey still in the mix for another vet or two

 

[racingmoose]

I knew it wasn't going to happen, but sad to see Walker go. A team guy, great skater, feisty, penalty killer, and provided offense including on the power play. Too bad.

 

[hb12xchamps]

I knew it wasn't going to happen, but sad to see Walker go. A team guy, great skater, feisty, penalty killer, and provided offense including on the power play. Too bad.

Caps must really think the kids are going to step up in their sophomore seasons. Looking forward to a few more signings before this offseason is over to add some scoring

 

[hb12xchamps]

Jayson Megna signs a one year deal with the Colorado organization. Looks like the Bears lose 4 out of their top 5 scorers from last year.

Still lots of good AHL players out there that haven’t signed yet

 

[hb12xchamps]

 

[Bad Goalie]

Utica Comets fan here. The Comets just signed a former player of yours in Carter Camper. He put up decent numbers for you in his short stretch there, 34/64GP. My question is, "Did he put up those points on the wing or as a center. It appears our braintrust has signed him to play center. Want to clarify that issue. If his points came from the middle it would back up their move.

 

[hb12xchamps]

Utica Comets fan here. The Comets just signed a former player of yours in Carter Camper. He put up decent numbers for you in his short stretch there, 34/64GP. My question is, "Did he put up those points on the wing or as a center. It appears our braintrust has signed him to play center. Want to clarify that issue. If his points came from the middle it would back up their move.

I believe he primarily played center during his tenure but he didn’t have the best year for a guy with a good AHL pedigree. Ended up redeeming himself in the CC playoffs big time on the Bears run to the CC Finals

 

[Holtbyisms]

Interesting...didn't see that coming. ECHL goon for payback games?

 

[hb12xchamps]

Interesting...didn't see that coming. ECHL goon for payback games?

I thought it was an interesting signing as well until I read up on him. Almost a PPG player the past year or two at the ECHL level to go along with the heavy penalty minutes. Also is a great locker room presence and has been a big part of some successful teams. Seems like a great culture fit and I’d rather have him as a 4th line option than small Steve Whitney

 

[Holtbyisms]

I thought it was an interesting signing as well until I read up on him. Almost a PPG player the past year or two at the ECHL level to go along with the heavy penalty minutes. Also is a great locker room presence and has been a big part of some successful teams. Seems like a great culture fit and I’d rather have him as a 4th line option than small Steve Whitney

Guess with some of the boys moving on it'll be good to get some vet leadership in the locker room. Couldn't agree more about Whitney.

 

[blindsideheadshot]

Kinda crazy the guy was a three straight 30 goal scorer in the NHL and can't get back into the league. He'd be a good vet grab for the Bears.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Kinda crazy the guy was a three straight 30 goal scorer in the NHL and can't get back into the league. He'd be a good vet grab for the Bears.

Sadly that was 8 seasons ago.....time flies.

 

[hb12xchamps]

Kinda crazy the guy was a three straight 30 goal scorer in the NHL and can't get back into the league. He'd be a good vet grab for the Bears.

He’s exactly what they need. Almost a point per game player the past two seasons in the AHL. He’d be perfect to help mentor the young guys too

 

[hb12xchamps]

Potential Hershey lineup for next season looks like:

Snively-Sgarbossa-O’Brien
Gersich-Maillet-Pinho
Malenstyn-Pilon-Leason
AJF-Sutter-Clark
McCarthy
Whitney
Kessy

LuJo-Lewington
Fehervary-AA
Geisser-Hobbs
Nardella
Williams
Bindulis

Samsonov
Vanecek

Easily should add a vet forward and a vet defender into the mix just to help the kids along. Also wonder if anyone is sent back to juniors for another year (Kody Clark?) where they can get a lot more playing time.

 

[Hivemind]

Would definitely think they’re interested in a vet top 6 winger, at the very least (perhaps two). LOB and even Pinho as presumptive top 6 wingers is pretty lackluster.

I agree that it’s hard to visualize where Kody Clark fits in and how he gets more than 10min a night.

Also curious if Sutter sticks at center or ends up on the wing. It could help some of their top 9 winger depth, but they’d need another center (Pinho?).

 

[hb12xchamps]

Would definitely think they’re interested in a vet top 6 winger, at the very least (perhaps two). LOB and even Pinho as presumptive top 6 wingers is pretty lackluster.

I agree that it’s hard to visualize where Kody Clark fits in and how he gets more than 10min a night.

Also curious if Sutter sticks at center or ends up on the wing. It could help some of their top 9 winger depth, but they’d need another center (Pinho?).

The more I look at that lineup the more I think two veteran top six guys are needed if they want to have a big year. There’s just too much inconsistent play from young guys throughout the year to put a ton of trust in them. Still some decent options left like Matt Moulson, Wayne Simpson, Erik Condra, TJ Hensick, Kerby Rychel, etc. Hensick can play center and wing from what I can remember and is another AHL vet that’s been around for a long time.

I’d like them to add an experience D as well just to help stabilize the back end. That’s the youngest D core that Hershey has seen since I can remember.

I’d be in favor of Clark going back to Juniors, especially if Sutter ends up playing wing. Still a lot of offseason left to let it all play out.

If anyone is interested, below is a link to AHL free agents. I use this every year in the offseason and it’s a great tool.

2019 AHL Top 100 Free Agents and Beyond – The Big Board

 

[Langway]

Good experience.

 

[neelynugs]

with development camp over and the 2019 draft added, how would you guys update your top 10 from the march poll?
obviously mcmichael in the top 3, and priskie looking like a UFA. who's up/down/added?


1) Alex Alexeyev - D, Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 2018 1st Round, 31st OA
2) Ilya Samsonov - G, Hershey Bears (AHL) 2015 1st Round, 22nd OA
3) Jonas Siegenthaler - D, Washington Capitals/Hershey Bears 2015 2nd Round, 57th OA
4) Lucas Johansen - D, Hershey Bears (AHL) 2016 1st Round, 28th OA
5) Martin Fehervary - D, SV71 (SHL) 2018 2nd Round, 46th OA
6) Chase Priskie - D, Quinnipiac Universtiy (NCAA), 2016 6th Round, #177 OA
7) Vitek Vanecek - G, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2014 2nd Round, #39 OA
8) Connor Hobbs - D, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2015 5th Round, #143 OA
9) Riley Sutter - RW, Everette Silvertips (WHL), 2018 3rd Round, #93 OA
10) Shane Gersich - LW, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2014 5th Round, #134 OA
11) Beck Malenstyn - LW, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2016 5th Round, #145 OA
12) Axel Jonsson Fjallby - LW, Djurgardens (SHL), 2016 5th Round, #147 OA
13) Garrett Pilon - C Hershey Bears (AHL), 2016 3rd Round, #87 OA
14) Kody Clark - RW Ottawa 67’s (OHL), 2018 2nd Round, #47 OA

 

[Silky mitts]

with development camp over and the 2019 draft added, how would you guys update your top 10 from the march poll?
obviously mcmichael in the top 3, and priskie looking like a UFA. who's up/down/added?


1) Alex Alexeyev - D, Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 2018 1st Round, 31st OA
2) Ilya Samsonov - G, Hershey Bears (AHL) 2015 1st Round, 22nd OA
3) Jonas Siegenthaler - D, Washington Capitals/Hershey Bears 2015 2nd Round, 57th OA
4) Lucas Johansen - D, Hershey Bears (AHL) 2016 1st Round, 28th OA
5) Martin Fehervary - D, SV71 (SHL) 2018 2nd Round, 46th OA
6) Chase Priskie - D, Quinnipiac Universtiy (NCAA), 2016 6th Round, #177 OA
7) Vitek Vanecek - G, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2014 2nd Round, #39 OA
8) Connor Hobbs - D, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2015 5th Round, #143 OA
9) Riley Sutter - RW, Everette Silvertips (WHL), 2018 3rd Round, #93 OA
10) Shane Gersich - LW, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2014 5th Round, #134 OA
11) Beck Malenstyn - LW, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2016 5th Round, #145 OA
12) Axel Jonsson Fjallby - LW, Djurgardens (SHL), 2016 5th Round, #147 OA
13) Garrett Pilon - C Hershey Bears (AHL), 2016 3rd Round, #87 OA
14) Kody Clark - RW Ottawa 67’s (OHL), 2018 2nd Round, #47 OA

I'd do it

1. Alexeyev
2. Samsonov
3. Fehervary
4. McMichael
5. Siegenthaler
6. Leason
7. Johansen
8. Vanacek
9. Sutter
10. Hobbs
11. Protas
    
12. Malenstyn
13. Fjallby
14. Gersich

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

with development camp over and the 2019 draft added, how would you guys update your top 10 from the march poll?
obviously mcmichael in the top 3, and priskie looking like a UFA. who's up/down/added?


1) Alex Alexeyev - D, Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 2018 1st Round, 31st OA
2) Ilya Samsonov - G, Hershey Bears (AHL) 2015 1st Round, 22nd OA
3) Jonas Siegenthaler - D, Washington Capitals/Hershey Bears 2015 2nd Round, 57th OA
4) Lucas Johansen - D, Hershey Bears (AHL) 2016 1st Round, 28th OA
5) Martin Fehervary - D, SV71 (SHL) 2018 2nd Round, 46th OA
6) Chase Priskie - D, Quinnipiac Universtiy (NCAA), 2016 6th Round, #177 OA
7) Vitek Vanecek - G, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2014 2nd Round, #39 OA
8) Connor Hobbs - D, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2015 5th Round, #143 OA
9) Riley Sutter - RW, Everette Silvertips (WHL), 2018 3rd Round, #93 OA
10) Shane Gersich - LW, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2014 5th Round, #134 OA
11) Beck Malenstyn - LW, Hershey Bears (AHL), 2016 5th Round, #145 OA
12) Axel Jonsson Fjallby - LW, Djurgardens (SHL), 2016 5th Round, #147 OA
13) Garrett Pilon - C Hershey Bears (AHL), 2016 3rd Round, #87 OA
14) Kody Clark - RW Ottawa 67’s (OHL), 2018 2nd Round, #47 OA

For me:

McMichael #1.
Siegenthaler graduated.
Johansen slightly down.
Fehevary up.
Priskie gone.
Hobbs down.
Malenstyn up
Pilon up.
Clark down.
Leason around 5/6 seems right.

 

[Langway]

Alexeyev getting injured again late in the season gives me pause about putting him on top. I'd tend to put Samsonov there for now, McMichael third & Fehervary fourth. Leason fifth. If Siegenthaler has graduated then Vanacek next. Then Johansen, Sutter, Malenstyn, Pilon, Gersich, AJF, Protas, Snively & Hobbs. It's a crucial year for Johansen & Hobbs to not get left in the dust by players with less experience outperforming and jumping them in the recall order. Given the lack of scoring-line types, Protas & Snively are the most interesting prospects in the system beyond the top five IMO. Hopefully they'll both earn NHL pre-season games to gauge where they're at and what they'll need to work on. Big years from them and they've got a lot of potential to move up.

 

[GoCaps2004]

1. Alexeyev
2. Samsonov
3. McMichael
4. Fehervary

5. Leason
6. Snively
7. Vanecek
8. Pilon
9. Johanson
10. Sutter

I think there's a pretty clear-cut top 4, then it's a crapshoot​

 

[Hivemind]

1. Samsonov
2. Alexeyev
3. McMichael
4. Feverbaby
5. Siegenthaler
6. Johansen
7. Leason
8. Snively
9. Sutter
10. Vanecek

 

[hb12xchamps]

I really like the way Samsonov finished the year so I’m going to rate him slightly ahead of Alexeyev for now. Will definitely be interested in doing this list again once I’ve been able to see most of these guys in Hershey next season

1. Samsonov
2. Alexeyev
3. McMichael
4. Fehervary
5. Johansen
6. Leason
7. Vanecek
8. Snively
9. Malenstyn
10. AJF
11. Pilon
12. Sutter
13. Gersich
14. Hobbs
15. Protas