2 weeks Ago By Hannah Stuart
At some point in a prospect's development there comes a time when both team and player have to decide whether to move forward, or move on. That point is so individual to player and team that it can be difficult to predict in an overarching way. Sometimes it's at the end of an entry-level contract.
Sometimes it's deciding whether to sign a player to an ELC at all, or to let him re-enter the draft. Sometimes it's as simple as noticing a player doesn't fit a system and deciding to give both player and team a fresh start. We've got a few guys we think are approaching that make-or-break point this season.
What the outcome will be is up to them to decide. Shane Wright is a good guy to lead off with, because if anyone knows the weight of high expectations, and how they can affect your career trajectory, it's him. After being granted exceptional status, Wright was quickly slapped with the top prospect label only to miss his entire D-1 season due to Covid.
Being drafted lower than expected (as if fourth overall is low) and not immediately starting in the NHL had people calling him a bust without cause. He then, of course, went on to have a terrific first season in the AHL, really showing what he can bring to the table as a player at the pro level, and came into camp this year with a great attitude. It helps that he's familiar with new Kraken head coach Dan Byslma and assistant coach Jessica Campbell, having played for them in Coachella Valley last season.
His points aren't quite there yet—he's currently sitting at 2 in 8 games at the time of writing—but the nuts and bolts of his play are there. Wright brings great skating, and he really pays attention to the details at both ends of the ice, something his time in the AHL helped him hone. He's got a great shot and he's continually getting better at getting pucks, and more importantly we're seeing more creativity in how he uses them.
He's also showing more confidence on the ice, a factor that will be crucial across his first full NHL season. Obviously the X factor here is whether his offensive production can catch up. We think it can, and will.
Key thing for people to remember, though? You can't call a guy a total bust at 20 years old. Brennan Othmann is the best prospect the Rangers have in the AHL right now. It was widely believed he was a good candidate to crack the NHL roster this season, and he had four points in six preseason games.
So far this season with the Hartford Wolf Pack he has four points in three (though he just went down with an upper body injury, so all of this is with the caveat that it applies after his recovery and return). Hallmarks of Othmann's game include several things that would be useful to the Rangers: a great shot with real power behind his release, skill at protecting the puck, and a good motor. So why was Othmann sent down? Head coach Peter Laviolette explained that the Rangers want Othmann to spend time in the AHL because he needs to establish consistency in utilizing those traits.
It makes sense—playing in the AHL gives him the opportunity to get valuable minutes in all game situations. He probably wouldn't get that at the NHL level right now. We'd really like to see his point totals rise from last season's 49 in 67 AHL games, and if he begins using that skill set night in and night out, they should.
Something to keep an eye on: Othmann's situation is of the sort where a team might begin to think about moving on, and might consider him a trade chip, if the season doesn't pan out how they hope (this is about prospects in general—not some insider knowledge about Othmann specifically). Lambert is another Wright-esque example of high expectations that a young player didn't quite live up to. But once again: the guy is still 20 years old.
Can we all just calm down? Of course not, this is hockey Lambert got one Jets game last season, and he's off to a good start in the AHL this season with 3 points in 4 games. He the Moose in scoring last season, likely due to his great shot and high-end playmaking abilities. And that's to say nothing of his skating—he was one of the best in the AHL last season (still true now) and is so dynamic.
His skating has never been an issue with his game, which is good because it gives him a solid foundation to build on. He's also particularly frustrating for opponents in transition, a skill set that will serve him well if he can translate it to the NHL level. What Lambert needs is to add strength, and to play more to the interior.
You can't stick to the outside in the NHL. Still, he's getting there; he's made noticeable strides in his game year over year, remaining just as good offensively while improving his two-way play. That's a difficult balance to strike.
Look for him as an obvious callup option for the Jets this season, especially if his offensive production increases. Unless he takes a huge and unexpected step back, he'll probably be an NHL regular sooner rather than later. Let's be honest upfront: the Boston Bruins were at the bottom of our prospect pool rankings for good reason.
With that in mind, the prospects that they do have need to either pan out or move on. We hope—and we imagine they're probably hoping—Fabian Lysell is one that pans out. So far, all signs point to that being likely.
Lysell is a terrific skater, and was called out in his draft year for being a highly skilled creator for both himself and his teammates. He's also got a great release. He finished the 23-24 AHL regular season with 50 points in 56 games with the Providence Bruins, and while he only has two points in four games so far this season, a slow start doesn't indicate a bigger problem just yet.
Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney implied at the time that Lysell was sent down that he didn't expect him to necessarily spend the entire season in Providence. He indicated that what Lysell needs to work on are the details of his game, and—the usual refrain—consistency. It's a valid concern, but also, at some point you have to give a prospect consistent time in the NHL in order to accurately judge whether he can use his skill set consistently at the NHL level.
The Bruins' even-strength offense has not been at its best so far this season; if Lysell gets a callup stint, perhaps he can lean on that to make his case to stick with the big club. Jiri Kulich has spent the last two seasons with the Rochester Americans, and it feels odd to remember that he's only 20 years old and so early in his development. He looked incredible at the prospects tournament, and while he only has one point in six games this season, that one point was his first NHL goal.
To stick at the NHL level and not return to Rochester, however, he's going to need to showcase the type of play that led the Sabres to picking him in the first round in 2022. He's an excellent skater, with great top-end speed, and makes intelligent decisions with the puck; this allows him to play the game with pace and utilize his goal scoring abilities at game speed. He has said he spent last season working on his 200-foot game—a good sign for his NHL career.
Although he's been at 46 and 45 points respectively his last two AHL seasons, the Sabres are going to want to see a step forward during his time in the NHL. Keep in mind that a slow start doesn't mean a bad season, especially when you're still trying to find your footing and so is your team. Kulich is very much a watch-and-see sort of situation.
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