Chmelar received a meaningful NHL audition this year, appearing in 28 games for the Rangers and posting four goals and two assists. His 6-4 frame and willingness to engage physically give him a recognizable NHL profile, but the offensive instincts and puck skills required to sustain a roster spot long-term remain a genuine question. His AHL numbers – 25 points in 46 games with Hartford – are functional rather than impressive. The Rangers’ bottom six has grown considerably more crowded with the arrivals of Tolvanen, Kartye, and Beaudoin alongside the emerging presence of Adam Sykora and a returning Matt Rempe, making it difficult to see how Chmelar secures a similar opportunity next year. Camp will be revealing. Avoid in fantasy; but if you’re already holding, cut once his minors eligibility expires or if he moves on to another league.

After posting five points during his first nine games of the 2025-26 AHL season, Chmelar has earned his first call-up to the Rangers, and could be an option to step right into the lineup, with New York dealing with a couple of banged-up players at the moment. The big right-shot winger has an NHL body at 6-5 and 220 pounds, and has shown a good all-around game thus far this year, posting a plus-six rating in his nine games with Hartford. The Rangers organization has received a pleasant surprise from a fellow young right-handed pitcher this season in Noah Laba, which may help them envision the same kind of success for Chmelar. We’ll have to wait and see if the big-bodied Czech native can make himself stick for any length of time on Broadway.

Chmelar, entering year two of his three-year ELC, appeared in 71 games this past season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, registering 12 goals and 17 assists. Despite appearing in seven regular-season and 10 postseason games with the Wolf Pack the year prior, 2024-25 was the big righty’s first authentic taste of a long pro season. His previous high in games played was 42, at the U18 level in Finland. The hulking winger, 6-5 and 220 lbs, had some good moments for the Wolf Pack but will need to continue to work on the defensive side of the game, as he had an unsightly -37 rating a season ago. Still, this is a player with good offensive tools, and he remains a promising prospect who is expected to contribute offensively at the NHL level after another season or two of development.

After a promising Freshman campaign in NCAA hockey with Providence College, the Czech native was looking for a strong Sophomore season with the club. Having dealt with a fairly significant injury that cost him some games, Chmelar had a positive season, nevertheless, increasing his point totals from his Freshman season, despite having appeared in seven fewer games. The big winger appeared in 26 games with the Friars during the 2023-2024 season, registering 15 points. After getting healthy, he appeared in a few games at the end of the Friars’ season, and upon season’s end, he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Rangers. Chmelar will report to AHL Hartford for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season, and will be a full time AHL player for the 2024-2025 season, after a full Summer of training.

Chmelar suited up for the Czech team in the recently-concluded U20 World Junior tournament in Canada. The Providence Friars’ Freshman left campus to compete for his native country, and he posted five points in seven games, helping his team to earn a silver medal. Thus far this collegiate season, the big forward has accumulated 11 points in 21 games played, nicenumbers for his first NCAA season, and first season in North America. He has been given a nice opportunity in coach Nate Leaman’s lineup, and he is clearly adjusting pretty well to the move across the pond.