Jaroslav Chmelař

Jaroslav Chmelař
Born (2003-07-20) 20 July 2003
Nové Město nad Metují, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 227 lb (103 kg; 16 st 3 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Right
NHL team New York Rangers
NHL draft 144th overall, 2021
New York Rangers
Playing career 2024–present

Jaroslav Chmelař (born 20 July 2003) is a Czech ice hockey forward who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack as a prospect to the New York Rangers of the NHL. He was drafted by the Rangers in the 5th round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft with the 144th overall selection.[1][2]

Playing career

After playing for junior teams in the Czech Republic, Chmelař came to the United States for the 2022–23 season to attend Providence College and play for the Providence Friars, where he was a teammate of fellow Rangers prospect Brett Berard.[1] At the end of Providence's 2023-24 season he joined the Rangers AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, playing in 7 games and scoring 2 goals.[1][3] He spent the entire 2024-25 season with Hartford, scoring 12 goals and 17 assists in 71 games.[1][2] He started the 2025-26 season with Hartford and was called up to the Rangers in November after scoring 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 games for Hartford.[4][5][6] Ranger coach Mike Sullivan said of Chmelař upon his joining the Rangers that:

The conversations I had with Chris Drury and Ryan Martin told me that he's been the best forward. He’s played extremely well, and he’s deserving of getting the call-up, and that’s why he’s here. I think it's a great message for everybody; Performance matters. It matters, it matters in practice, it matters in the games. Whether you're in New York or you're in Hartford, performance matters.[2]

Of the possibility of making his NHL debut, Chmelař said "I can't describe the feeling, it would be a dream come true. If it happens, I’m going to be enjoying every bit of it."[2]

He made his NHL debut on 7 November 2025 against the Detroit Red Wings. He did not score but had a fight with Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic.[7] He was returned to Hartford on 9 November after playing in two games for the Rangers.[8]

International

Chmelař represented the Czech Republic at the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[1][3][9][10] At the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships he only played 3 games and was primarily valued for his defensive ability.[1][9] At the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships he scored 3 goals and had 2 assists in 7 games as the Czech Republic earned the silver medal.[1][11][12] Partially based on this performance, sportswriter Vincent Z. Mercogliano rated him as the Rangers' 10th best prospect in 2023.[13]

Playing style

Chmelař is a large forward who plays physically and is responsible defensively.[9][12][14] He said "I want to be around the net and make the defense fear going into the corner with me."[14]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2022–23 Providence College HE 33 7 6 13 26 — — — — —
2023–24 Providence College HE 26 5 10 15 29 — — — — —
2023–24 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 7 2 0 2 2 10 2 1 3 0
2024–25 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 71 12 17 29 48 — — — — —
AHL totals 78 14 17 31 50 10 2 1 3 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Jaroslav Chmelar". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Mastey, Remy (6 November 2025). "Connor Mackey And Jaroslav Chmelar Ready To Step Into Rangers' Lineup If Needed". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b Rosner, Stefen (20 March 2024). "Rangers Sign Providence College Prospect Jaroslav Chmelar To Entry-Level Contract". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  4. ^ Walker, Mollie (4 November 2025). "What's behind the Rangers' yo-yoing of Brennan Othmann's roster spot". New York Post. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  5. ^ Mastey, Remy (3 November 2025). "Rangers Send Down Brennan Othmann To AHL After Short Stint". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  6. ^ McGoey, Steven (2 November 2025). "New York Rangers Recall Jaroslav Chmelar, Assign Brennan Othmann To AHL Hartford". The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ^ Walker, Mollie (7 November 2025). "Rangers' Jaroslav Chmelar drops the gloves in exciting NHL debut". New York Post. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Rangers recall F Gabe Perrault from Wolf Pack, assign Jaroslav Chmelař to Hartford". Hartford Wolf Pack. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (9 August 2022). "The y NY Rangers prospects expected to compete". Journal News. p. B7. Retrieved 7 November 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Walker, Mollie (13 August 2022). "Seven Rangers prospects playing in World Junior Championships". New York Post. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Jaroslav Chmelar Earns Silver Medal With Czechia at 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship". Providence College Athletics. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (7 July 2023). "Rangers development camp observations". Herald News. p. 3S. Retrieved 7 November 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (28 August 2023). "NY Rangers 2023 prospect rankings: Successful year forces No. 10 onto the list". Lohud. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  14. ^ a b Martin, Dan (6 November 2025). "Artemi Panarin shaves head again in hopes of breaking his season-long Rangers slump". New York Post. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
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