Many of the New York Rangers’ top players underperformed or missed extended time with injuries last season. However, they played better in the second half of the season, and many of their young players brought energy and showed promise, including rookie wingers Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora. Both players made the most of their opportunities, and both can be key bottom-six forwards this season.
Jarolsav Chmelar
The Rangers drafted Chmelar in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He spent two seasons playing at Providence College, finishing with seven goals and six assists in 33 games in 2022-23 and five goals and 10 assists in 2023-24. The 6-foot-4, 226-pound winger signed an entry-level contract and had 12 goals and 17 assists in 71 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2024-25.
Last season, Chmelar once again began the season with the Wolf Pack and produced more offensively with eight goals and 17 assists in 46 games. He earned a call-up to the Rangers and got limited ice time on their fourth line, but he was noticeable on the forecheck, played with physicality, and drove to the front of the net. He spent three stints with New York, bouncing back and forth to the AHL, but secured a spot in New York’s lineup in March.
In Chmelar’s first game back with the Rangers after spending time with the Wolf Pack, he scored his first NHL goal as he stole the puck and scored on a deke on a breakaway in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 5. He earned more ice time and created scoring chances by deflecting shots from the point, screening opposing goalies, and battling for rebounds in front of the net. He finished with four goals, two assists, and 53 hits in 28 games while averaging 9:09 in ice time per game.
Chmelar’s toughness and grit made him a valuable player for the Rangers last season, and he could continue to thrive on the fourth line this season. Though he played with physicality, he avoided taking unnecessary penalties while using his size and strength to his advantage in the offensive zone.
Adam Sykora
The Rangers drafted Sykora late in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. After spending a few seasons playing in Slovakia, he signed an entry-level contract and played two games with the Wolf Pack in 2022-23. He spent the next two seasons with them, finishing with eight goals and 15 assists in 66 games in 2023-24 and had nine goals and 21 assists in 71 games in 2024-25.
Sykora spent most of last season in the AHL and had 12 goals and 17 assists in 62 games, and then earned a call-up to the Rangers in March. In his second game, he scored on a wrist shot on a two-on-one in a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on March 27. In his next game, he scored on a deflection to give New York a 1-0 lead in the third period as they went on to beat the Florida Panthers 3-1 on March 29.
Though Sykora is smaller than Chmelar at 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds, he also played with physicality and drove to the front of the net. He used his speed to get in on the forecheck and was able to force some turnovers, and he also used his speed to backcheck and make defensive plays. He finished with three goals, one assist, and 20 hits in 11 games while averaging 11:10 in ice time per game.
Role in 2026-27
While the Rangers added key forwards Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand this offseason, they will need contributions throughout their lineup. They also signed defensive-minded fourth-line center Joe Veleno, and Chmelar and Sykora can play alongside him on the fourth line. They are both fast and gritty, and they can help the team if they continue to play the way they did last season.
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