Mariners Look to Push Forward after Mixed 2021-22

[Jedediah-Hartford]

Twelve months ago, the Hartford Mariners were aiming to build on the successes of the 2020-21 campaign and take the next step towards serious contention in the GHL. Not only was the talent there to make a 2nd straight trip to the playoffs, but there was optimism at the prospect of a deeper run. The squad was not elite, but still strong. However, results on the ice did not match up with the expectations on paper. Goalie Philipp Grubauer was decent yet underwhelming, and the defense did not perform to expectations. That said, the Mariners maintained a strong Smythe Division position in the early months of the season before slowly fading into the background as the calendar turned to 2022. This left the club in a juggling act of potentially buyer and seller as the trade deadline approached. Team boss Jedediah Folks determined that given the top-heavy nature of the league, it was in the best long-term interest for the team to be sellers as there were valuable assets approaching free agency. Grubauer was the first to go, in a deal that helped net an additional 1st round pick for Hartford. Sami Vatanen, brought in just that year, netted a lower round pick. The hardest goodbye was for captain Vincent Trocheck, the last player remaining from Folks’ first draft class, and a key pillar of the 2017 Cup winners.

In the end the goal of a return trip to the postseason was not met, the Mariners falling out of a playoff spot during the final few days of the season and the work for 2022-23 beginning in earnest. Despite this, there were several bright spots to the season. Kevin Fiala made a huge leap with an 85-point season including 58 goals to lead the squad in both categories. Young players flourished as well – John Marino and Nick Suzuki continued to thrive as their sophomore seasons built on their first-year outputs. Rookies made a splash as well. Brandon Hagel, Jacob Bryson, Philipp Kurashev, and Nick Merkley were regulars in the lineup, while Niko Mikkola, goalie Jonas Johansson, and Jack Studnicka all got their first tastes of life in the GHL.

With all that youth in the squad (and a large chunk of salaries coming off the books) Folks and the rest of the Hartford brass have been aggressive in adding established veterans. This offseason saw Ryan Strome, Cody Ceci, and Frank Vatrano brought in, while David Perron stayed in town after signing late in free agency. Jaden Schwartz and Martin Jones were acquired via trades during the draft. The Mariners’ draft itself was active, with the club ultimately making 12 selections. While the club feels strongly about the GHL chances of several picks, Mason McTavish is the one whose development will be front and center for Mariners fans. All expectations are looking towards a 2023-24 debut for the young forward.

What does this mean for Hartford’s season expectations? Postseason qualification remains the goal, as the Mariners only missed out last year due to a tiebreaker. One more win and the team would have been the 5th seed in the Campbell Conference. The offense looks improved though the defense might have taken a step back. While they start the year with yet another new face in front of net, Martin Jones is not facing the high expectations that the likes of Grubauer and Anton Khudobin have in recent seasons. It’s a different idea for reaching the same goal, time will tell if this experiment works.