Photo: Coachella Valley Firebirds
While the fans are still basking in the glory of the thrilling Calder Cup championship victory, the Hershey Bears organization has been busy reshaping their forward corps, as the new-look Bears begin to take shape for the 2023-24 season.
Playoff heroes Garrett Pilon, Mason Morelli, Henrik Borgstrom, Sam Anas and Shane Gersich have all since departed for other opportunities. On top of those losses, Aliaksei Protas, Beck Malenstyn and Connor McMichael could very well elevate to the Washington Capitals this fall.
Hershey vice president Bryan Helmer and Washington general manager Brian MacLellan have been busy restocking the organizational depth. With many players under contract, there are plenty of potential line combinations on the table for head coach Todd Nelson.
TOP LINE
One unit that will probably stay the same from last season is Mike Sgarbossa flanked by Mike Vecchione and Ethen Frank. The trio was dominant at times for the Bears last season.
Sgarbossa topped the team’s scoring list in the regular season with 58 points, but missed the last three rounds of the playoffs with an injury. Vecchione was right behind Sgarbossa on the scoring list with 55 points and scored the Calder Cup winning goal in game seven at Coachella Valley. Frank was Hershey’s top goal scorer with 30, but struggled to find the back of the net in the playoffs. Still, he was a big goal scoring threat in the regular season.
Mike Vecchione – Mike Sgarbossa – Ethen Frank
SECOND LINE
After the top line, things become a little less clear. Hendrix Lapierre will be afforded the chance to take the second line center role. Whether or not he seizes that opportunity remains to be seen. Lapierre started out strongly last season, but was inconsistent the rest of the way. He will need to be more consistent in his effort to remain as the second pivot.
If Lapierre cannot grab the job, Alex Limoges could slot into the role. Limoges can also play left wing, but could be the second line center if Lapierre falters.
Matthew Phillips, assuming he does not force his way onto the Capitals roster, is basically a lock to be the right wing on the second threesome. Phillips ended last season as the second leading goal scorer in the American Hockey League (AHL) with 36 tallies. The winger also finished fifth in the league in scoring with 76 points. He is a bona fide scorer at the AHL level and has back-to-back 30 goal seasons on his resume.
The left wing will either be Limoges or Joe Snively. Limoges was the leading scorer for the Manitoba Moose last campaign, potting 20 goals and dishing out 34 assists for 54 points. Snively has a chance to open the season with Washington in the NHL after splitting the 2022-23 season between the Capitals and the Bears. The Herndon, Virginia native posted 27 points in 32 games with Hershey, but then led the chocolate and white in playoff scoring with 15 points.
Joe Snively/Alex Limoges – Hendrix Lapierre – Matthew Phillips
THIRD LINE
As for the third line, rookie Ryan Hofer could slide into the center role. A sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL entry draft, Hofer amassed 68 points (40 goals, 28 assists) in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in a season split between the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers. He added 15 points in the postseason as Kamloops won two rounds before losing to eventual champions Seattle in the semifinals. Hofer is known as a shooter and is not afraid to use his body.
Pierrick Dube should fill the right wing spot on the third line. The Lyon, France native enjoyed a solid first season as a professional with the Laval Rocket this past season. Dube tallied 16 goals and added 16 assists in 44 games with the Rocket. Moving over to the left wing, one of Snively and Limoges line up on that spot if both are on the roster. However, Snively could make the Capitals roster, and would make the third line left winger less clear.
Matt Strome is back, but he is a more of a fourth liner. Julian Napravnik plays on the right side normally, but is a lefthanded shot. He could move over to the left wing if needed.
There are a pair of wild cards for the position. One is Alexander Suzdalev. The winger had a big rookie season with the Regina Pats, compiling 86 points to lead the WHL in rookie scoring. Suzdalev was somehow bypassed for the WHL’s rookie of the year award despite outscoring winner Ryder Ritchie by 31 points. He sees the ice well and is a creative player. However, he is of slight build and needs to get stronger. Suzdalev could return to Regina for another season or he could play in Hershey.
Washington has said that where Suzdalev plays next season will be determined in training camp. The other wild card is Ivan Miroshnichenko. The Capitals first round pick in 2022 has had to overcome some serious health issues after battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After being cleared to return to hockey, he split the season between the KHL, VHL and MHL. Miroshnichenko did not put up big offensive numbers, but did play in a total of 55 games including the postseason coming off his battle with cancer. He will transition to North America this season. Miroshnichenko needs to build up his stamina and could begin the season in South Carolina. He needs ice time and a chance to develop and his best chance to do so may be in the ECHL. Still, he will be given an opportunity in training camp and could force his way into the Hershey lineup.
Joe Snively/Alex Limoges – Ryan Hofer – Pierrick Dube/Alexander Suzdalev
FOURTH LINE
One of the reasons the Bears won the Calder Cup this past season was the strength of their fourth line. The unit was a physical force and came up with big goals in the playoffs. However, much of that line will not be back in Chocolate Town.
Shane Gersich signed in Sweden. Beck Malenstyn likely gets a well earned shot in the NHL. Mason Morelli, who played on the line in the playoffs, signed with the Vegas Golden Knights. The fourth line needs to be rebuilt.
Returning to anchor the unit is center Riley Sutter. The native of Calgary, Alberta was a revelation for the Bears last season. He developed into a strong fourth line player after struggling to get into the lineup during the first three seasons of his career. Sutter proved to be Hershey’s best faceoff taker and evolved into the team’s top penalty killer. Who joins Sutter on the unit?
Second year forward Henrik Rybinski is a clear candidate to take the right wing slot. Rybinski skated in 51 games for the Bears as a rookie. He netted five goals and had 13 assists. His biggest contributions came on the penalty kill. Sutter’s left wing is a bit more of a question mark.
Strome saw some time in that spot last season. He is a strong penalty killer and that can work in his favor as Hershey has several penalty killers to replace from last season. Veteran Garrett Roe was signed to an AHL contract and brings a physical element to the lineup. He could split time with Strome on the left wing. Napravnik could figure into the mix on both wings on the fourth line and Jimmy Huntington is another option after coming over from the Milwaukee Admirals.
Matt Strome/Garrett Roe – Riley Sutter – Julian Napravnik/Jim Huntington
As one can see, there are a lot of forward options for the Hershey Bears as the franchise looks to defend their Calder Cup title this coming season. The depth can come into play as injuries will undoubtedly arise for both the Capitals and Bears, but the Bears are poised to have an even more potent offense than the one that recently led the team to a championship.
By Eric Lord