Post by Jedediah-Hartford on Oct 20, 2024 16:45:22 GMT -5
Hope Springs in Hartford
We’ve heard this story before, optimism in Connecticut. Before the 2020-21 season it was “Hartford Embarks on a New Era,” as the Mariners looked to return to the postseason for the first time since raising the Cup in 2017, and went on to do so on the back of a 92-point campaign that doubled the previous season’s points tally. Ahead of the 2021-22 season we saw “Mariners Look to Continue Course to Contention,” with Hartford working to build on that momentum. Alas, it was not to be, and despite another 90-point season, the Mariners missed out on the postseason on the last day of the season. Undaunted, the 2022-23 preseason gave us “Mariners Look to Push Forward after Mixed 2021-22,” focusing on the younger players coming up through the Hartford system. It was not to be, with 2022-23 instead a step backwards to 73 points, leading the front office to pump the brakes a bit ahead of the 2023-24 season, with Jake Walman the only significant signing of the off-season. During last season there was an unexpected development in January with the surprise trade of star center Nick Suzuki to Oregon for a package of Jonathan Drouin, Lukas Reichel, and a 2024 1st round pick that ultimate turned into prospect Gavin Brindley.
So why the resurgence of positive vibes in Hartford this fall? It helps that this version of the Mariners includes an offensive squad that looks playoff-caliber on paper. Stars Brandon Hagel and Kevin Fiala are back, Frank Vatrano looks set for a breakout season, and after a season spent mostly on the bench Philipp Kurashev is expected to contribute having turned eyes at training camp. David Perron will see out the last year of his contract in a less demanding role on the 3rd line. Drouin was traded back to Oregon in August for Anthony Cirelli in a move that should address Hartford’s lack of two-way prowess among their forwards. Charlie Coyle and Blake Coleman have been brought in via free agency to bolster the lines. Jaden Schwartz and Ryan Strome, who underwhelmed in middle-six duty last year, will instead contribute in limited action on a 4th line that can be considered a plus for this squad.
The defense isn’t on the same level as the offense, but the Mariners can field 3 pairings that can hold their own and that are interchangable. John Marino and Jake Walman are set for top pairing duties to begin the year, with Cody Ceci and Jordan Harris at the 2nd pair, and Jeremy Lauzon and Connor Murphy filling out the bottom pair, plus Jake Bean and Scott Perunovich available off the bench. Lauzon has turned into a great story going from a 3rd round pick in 2018 to a dependable blueliner having played the full 82 games for five seasons and counting, he looks to make it six as he approaches free agency in the spring.
Goaltending remains an area of some concern as it has been for a number of seasons in Hartford. Calvin Pickard was acquired in a trade this offseason, but Mariners head man Jedediah Folks is expected to keep his options open for a better second option than Trent Miner, depending on how the season goes. The youth program continues to pay dividends, with 2022 draftees Mason McTavish and Harris coming off solid rookie campaigns. Cole Guttman and Alex Laferriere have made the club out of camp, and the coaching staff hopes to reignite Reichel’s career trajectory. The prospect corps is highlighted by the goaltending pair of Jesper Wallstedt and Joel Blomqvist, with Emil Heineman and Carter Mazur continuing to develop well. The 2024 draft class features the likes of Colby Barlow, the aforementioned Brindley, and Nikolai Kovalenko.
So perhaps this time around, the optimism in Hartford will be warranted as the Mariners look to return to the GHL postseason.
We’ve heard this story before, optimism in Connecticut. Before the 2020-21 season it was “Hartford Embarks on a New Era,” as the Mariners looked to return to the postseason for the first time since raising the Cup in 2017, and went on to do so on the back of a 92-point campaign that doubled the previous season’s points tally. Ahead of the 2021-22 season we saw “Mariners Look to Continue Course to Contention,” with Hartford working to build on that momentum. Alas, it was not to be, and despite another 90-point season, the Mariners missed out on the postseason on the last day of the season. Undaunted, the 2022-23 preseason gave us “Mariners Look to Push Forward after Mixed 2021-22,” focusing on the younger players coming up through the Hartford system. It was not to be, with 2022-23 instead a step backwards to 73 points, leading the front office to pump the brakes a bit ahead of the 2023-24 season, with Jake Walman the only significant signing of the off-season. During last season there was an unexpected development in January with the surprise trade of star center Nick Suzuki to Oregon for a package of Jonathan Drouin, Lukas Reichel, and a 2024 1st round pick that ultimate turned into prospect Gavin Brindley.
So why the resurgence of positive vibes in Hartford this fall? It helps that this version of the Mariners includes an offensive squad that looks playoff-caliber on paper. Stars Brandon Hagel and Kevin Fiala are back, Frank Vatrano looks set for a breakout season, and after a season spent mostly on the bench Philipp Kurashev is expected to contribute having turned eyes at training camp. David Perron will see out the last year of his contract in a less demanding role on the 3rd line. Drouin was traded back to Oregon in August for Anthony Cirelli in a move that should address Hartford’s lack of two-way prowess among their forwards. Charlie Coyle and Blake Coleman have been brought in via free agency to bolster the lines. Jaden Schwartz and Ryan Strome, who underwhelmed in middle-six duty last year, will instead contribute in limited action on a 4th line that can be considered a plus for this squad.
The defense isn’t on the same level as the offense, but the Mariners can field 3 pairings that can hold their own and that are interchangable. John Marino and Jake Walman are set for top pairing duties to begin the year, with Cody Ceci and Jordan Harris at the 2nd pair, and Jeremy Lauzon and Connor Murphy filling out the bottom pair, plus Jake Bean and Scott Perunovich available off the bench. Lauzon has turned into a great story going from a 3rd round pick in 2018 to a dependable blueliner having played the full 82 games for five seasons and counting, he looks to make it six as he approaches free agency in the spring.
Goaltending remains an area of some concern as it has been for a number of seasons in Hartford. Calvin Pickard was acquired in a trade this offseason, but Mariners head man Jedediah Folks is expected to keep his options open for a better second option than Trent Miner, depending on how the season goes. The youth program continues to pay dividends, with 2022 draftees Mason McTavish and Harris coming off solid rookie campaigns. Cole Guttman and Alex Laferriere have made the club out of camp, and the coaching staff hopes to reignite Reichel’s career trajectory. The prospect corps is highlighted by the goaltending pair of Jesper Wallstedt and Joel Blomqvist, with Emil Heineman and Carter Mazur continuing to develop well. The 2024 draft class features the likes of Colby Barlow, the aforementioned Brindley, and Nikolai Kovalenko.
So perhaps this time around, the optimism in Hartford will be warranted as the Mariners look to return to the GHL postseason.