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The New York Rangers selected Czech winger Jaroslav Chmelar in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick. Chmelar is a big, 6-foot-4 winger from Jokerit.
In 2020-21, Chmelar scored five goals and notched eight assists in 15 games for Jokerit’s U18 club and made three appearances with the U20 club. He also had a goal and an assist in five games with the Czech national team at the 2021 U18 World Championship in Frisco, Texas. He averaged 2.0 SOG/GP in that tournament and finished with a +3 plus/minus rating and a single minor penalty.
#NYR select RW Jaroslav Chmelar with pick No. 144
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) July 24, 2021
Jaroslav Chmelař is my favorite under the radar prospect for the #2021NHLDraft.
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) July 20, 2021
Big bodied forward with goal-scoring ability, good around the net and strong away from the puck.
Here are his best moments from the 2020-21 season with U18 national team. pic.twitter.com/nXXClyNayo
Chmelar is the sixth forward and second European forward drafted by the Rangers thus far in the 2021 Draft. Thus far, with seven picks made, the Blueshirts have yet to select a single defensive prospect. At the time of his selection, Chmelar was just the fifth Czech player taken off the board.
Data courtesy of ElitePropsects.com and the IIHF.com.