Prospect Info: Hershey Bears/South Carolina Stingrays 2023-24 Seasons | Hershey 12x (and Defending) Champions Edition

[HTFN]

That’s great to hear. Does he have the size and athletic ability to be a potential #1 in he NHL? I haven’t really had a chance to watch him play yet.

Even if he doesn't, I'm not so tied to the size thing. I'm sure there's a limit but Juuse Saros has been out there doing his thing for a while now without falling to pieces, I think it's probably okay if the goalie is okay.

If that sounds funny on the back of all this Phillips talk, well, nobody's allowed to touch the goalies anyway so as long as you're good you might just... be good.

granted Stevenson is something like 6'4" so no problems there but yeah, I'd take a small goalie if they keep stopping pucks and aren't crap on rebounds. Don't care how, just how many. It'd be like passing up on Hasek because he looks funny.

 

[RedRocking]

Even if he doesn't, I'm not so tied to the size thing. I'm sure there's a limit but Juuse Saros has been out there doing his thing for a while now without falling to pieces, I think it's probably okay if the goalie is okay.

If that sounds funny on the back of all this Phillips talk, well, nobody's allowed to touch the goalies anyway so as long as you're good you might just... be good.

granted Stevenson is something like 6'4" so no problems there but yeah, I'd take a small goalie if they keep stopping pucks and aren't crap on rebounds. Don't care how, just how many. It'd be like passing up on Hasek because he looks funny.

Fair enough, and 6’4” is plenty big. Was curious if there was some physical reason why he wasn’t drafted. Just seems like the modern game is so fast that goalies can’t get by as much reacting to shots, and need their size to bail them out. Not everyone can be Saros. I mean take Shep - as good as he’s been for the Bears, at his his size, he just doesn’t scream NHL starter imho (happy to be wrong).

The trend appears to be teams finding huge dudes that take up as much of the net as possible and slapping some goalie pads on them, lol.

So seeing that Clay is putting up these numbers AND has prototypical size is just that much more exciting.

 

[DWGie26]

Clay has been fantastic. He is 24, and goes 6’4 195. CapFriendly didn’t have a scouting report on him. I remember is a was a big deal we signed him out of college. Similar to Aktel and Frank.

Also didn’t realize that Shepherd is under contract next year as well and is 28.

Gibby and Clay both 24 and RFA after this season. Plus Garin and Clark. We have some good talent at Goalie. Probably can get value for Chucky. Would prefer to move Keumper and his salary. But we have some options.

 

[SherVaughn30]

That’s great to hear. Does he have the size and athletic ability to be a potential #1 in he NHL? I haven’t really had a chance to watch him play yet.

6ft 4in 195lbs age 24

 

[SherVaughn30]

Fair enough, and 6’4” is plenty big. Was curious if there was some physical reason why he wasn’t drafted. Just seems like the modern game is so fast that goalies can’t get by as much reacting to shots, and need their size to bail them out. Not everyone can be Saros. I mean take Shep - as good as he’s been for the Bears, at his his size, he just doesn’t scream NHL starter imho (happy to be wrong).

The trend appears to be teams finding huge dudes that take up as much of the net as possible and slapping some goalie pads on them, lol.

So seeing that Clay is putting up these numbers AND has prototypical size is just that much more exciting.

Shep could be an NHL backup at best. His time in the AHL is suffering this season in terms of GAA and SV%. I'm not sure if his limitation are finally catching up to him or he's not as engaged playing in the AHL because he wants to play in the NHL.

Clay has been fantastic. He is 24, and goes 6’4 195. CapFriendly didn’t have a scouting report on him. I remember is a was a big deal we signed him out of college. Similar to Aktel and Frank.

Also didn’t realize that Shepherd is under contract next year as well and is 28.

Gibby and Clay both 24 and RFA after this season. Plus Garin and Clark. We have some good talent at Goalie. Probably can get value for Chucky. Would prefer to move Keumper and his salary. But we have some options.

I would be furious if they traded Chucky away! He's been the Caps MVP in this first quarter of the season.

 

[DWGie26]

To be fair I don’t want to trade Chucky. But at 1.1M and term he is pretty damn attractive right now. And probably at TDL. If we try to stack assets at TDL, he is in play for me. If we are in the hunt then all bets off.

In order of trade preferences: Keumper, Shepherd, Gibson, Clay, Chucky.

Value in trade: Chucky, Keumper, Shepherd. Don’t think Clay or Gibson are really trade candidates.

 

[trick9]

Really poor game from Haman Aktell. I haven't followed his Hershey journey that closely but perhaps that is why they are so interested in Bear?

Watched 2 of the goals right next to the eventual goalscorer and in the 2nd goal both him and McIlrath went to hit the same guy causing both of them being way out of position.

Lapierre looked really good though. SHG and him and Dube created a really good chance from Dube's hit, empty-net yawning right at Miro but the D managed to poke the puck out in front of him.

 

[DWGie26]

That’s too bad to hear about Aktell. he is a lefty so has no bearing on Bear being signed.

We are going to have to look seriously at Dee in the draft the next couple of years. Next year 1st and 3rd. In 2025 a first and 3 2nd’s. Plus anything we might add this year.

 

[Ridley Simon]

BPA for draft. That’s it, and that’s all.

 

[Marshall]

Bears = wagon

 

[DWGie26]

BPA for draft. That’s it, and that’s all.

Agree. Hope that is defensemen!

 

[Strawberry Fields]

This was the most dominant game I've been to in a long time. And the powerplay finally clicked for three goals. Roe-Lapi-Trineyev were buzzing. Roe had a hat trick for his first three goals as a Bear. Great feel good story and you could tell all the guys were pumped for him.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Can we just have the Bears come up and play as the Caps for the rest of the season? =)

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Can we just have the Bears come up and play as the Caps for the rest of the season? =)

Honestly, AHL TV is worth it. It has the old school vibe to it.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

Vrana gives Shepard a shove at the final buzzer then yaps at McIlrath. Really don't think that's a fight he wants to pick, lol.

 

[DWGie26]

Vrana gives Shepard a shove at the final buzzer then yaps at McIlrath. Really don't think that's a fight he wants to pick, lol.

Saw him bark at Sutter first. Then McIlrath. Wonder what was said!

 

[Strawberry Fields]

Saw him bark at Sutter first. Then McIlrath. Wonder what was said!

Yeah, after he went at Shep, he tangled up with Sutter first, then Shep gave a shot back, then Mac came in to play peacekeeper and Jake had some teammates tugging on his sleeve to try and guide him back to the bench as he started yapping back, lol. Do feel bad for the guy though. Always liked him here.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

I figured Dube would be a lowkey nice addition but he's exceeded my expectations even.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Vrana is parody of himself now…

 

[DWGie26]

I figured Dube would be a lowkey nice addition but he's exceeded my expectations even.

Yeah. Young at 22 and 3 years of waiver exempt status. He is small at 5’9 but who knows. He can score.

I think Trineyev is having a good (but quiet) season. He is strong and can bang but has that 3RW skill as well. he is only 21, but just one year left of waivers exempt. He isn’t NHL ready yet either but I am excited he can be a call up with roster potential after the old guys go.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

V wants to come home.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Maybe I was too harsh on first reports.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Maybe I was too harsh on first reports.

It is sad to see. He’s like the real life version of Xavier Laflamme from Goon. I’m a big sucker for the human interests side of sports and the redemption arcs so I would love to see Jake come back here and be reborn as the player everyone knows he can be but the way he left makes it unlikely in my opinion.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Great comparison, Jake has all the talent but other things are holding him back.

 

[Ridley Simon]

It is sad to see. He’s like the real life version of Xavier Laflamme from Goon. I’m a big sucker for the human interests side of sports and the redemption arcs so I would love to see Jake come back here and be reborn as the player everyone knows he can be but the way he left makes it unlikely in my opinion.

The kid can score. That’s for certain.

But it seems that franchises keep throwing him life lines. He probably needs to either step away for a while, or ride the AHL humble bus for a few months.

Trading for him now and adding him to the parent roster arguably won’t change any dynamics, at all.