2026 Rangers Season Previews: Jaroslav Chmelar

This article is part of an ongoing series of Rangers Season Previews, taking a close look at what we can, and should, expect from each member of the 2026-27 New York Rangers. To read other articles in this series, go here.

Jaroslav Chmelar closed out the 2025-26 season playing like he wants to be an NHL regular. But with the New york Rangers looking to get back into the playoffs, free agent signings, and in-house talent all in the mix, there could be more competition for opening night roster spots than expected.

Is Chmelar's role on the team safe or could he be headed back to Hartford to start the season?

Previous Performance

Last season was huge for Chmelar. Drafted in the fifth round of 2021, there really weren’t any expectations for this player so early in his career, let alone high ones. The fact that he was performing at over a half-point-per-game pace in the AHL was great and resulted in a well-deserved call up. His performance at the professional level would be even more promising. Getting his first call up in early November, Chmelar made his NHL debut in a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings. While he was held pointless, he still found a way to make an impression by dropping the gloves with veteran defenseman Travis Hamonic, who’s as tough as they come. 

Chmelar stuck around for the second half of the back-to-back, but would return to Hartford for the next month. Joining the Rangers again in mid-December, Chmelar was looking more and more comfortable at the NHL level. His third call-up would become his last, as he proved to the Rangers he was ready to finish the season with the big club. In his first game back with the Rangers in March, Chmelar picked up his first career goal in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a rather skilled play for a player many surely saw as just another big body for the fourth line.

With three goals and an assist in 15 games throughout the month of March, Chmelar added another goal and assist in April to close out a memorable rookie season. All things considered, Chmelar should be incredibly proud of the season he had, but with that comes the pressure to follow it up with an even better sophomore campaign.

Expectations

Chmelar is entering the final year of his entry-level contract. Given what we saw from him last season, you can expect him to be a consistent fourth line option for this Rangers team heading into this year.

The problem is, there's plenty of competition in the bottom six. As things stand, it's safe to assume that your top six will consist of Mika Zibanjead, Pavel Dorofeyev, Alexis Lafrenière, Gabe Perreault, J.T. Miller, and Oliver Bjrokstrand. With Will Cuylle and Noah Laba penciled into the third line, that just leaves one spot left in the top nine and, of course, the entire fourth line.

With Taylor Raddysh still here, he will surely take one of those spots. Joe Veleno will likely center the fourth line with Tye Kartye also expected to slot in on either the third or fourth line. With that, there are really only two openings left. A right wing role in the bottom six, and the extra forward spot. While Chmelar proved himself as a capable candidate for one of those openings, there are other factors to consider.

Matt Rempe would have to be exposed to waivers if the Rangers wanted to send him to Hartford. Given that he has the most experience, brings some versatility in the sense that he could—in a pinch—play center, and is someone the Rangers by all accounts still value, it feels like he's a lock to start the season as the 13th forward. Now, with just one opening remaining, it could go to either Chmelar, Adam Sykora, or Jusso Parssinen. However, if one or even both of Liam Greentree and Brody Lamb impress in training camp and start the season in the NHL, there's no longer room for either of Chmelar or Sykora.

Fortunately for Chmelar's case, I don't see both Greentree and Lamb making the team out of camp. The Rangers typically don't like to carry a full 23-man roster unless they absolutely have to, and it doesn't make sense to carry both of them when there's only one spot in the top nine for them to play. Unfortunately for Chmelar, it wouldn't surprise me at all if at least one rookie starts the season in the NHL.

All that to say, Chmelar is essentially competing with Raddysh, Rempe, Sykora, Greentree, and possibly even Lamb and Parssinen for an opening night roster spot. While Chmelar has size, speed, and all-around skill in his favor when it comes to competing with Rempe, Parssinen, and perhaps even Raddysh at this stage in his career, roster management considerations suggest that he will start the season in the AHL. With Chmelar being waiver exempt, he can easily bounce back and forth between the NHL and AHL rosters throughout the season, which is beneficial.

However, if no rookie forwards make the team, Chmelar not only has a chance to be a regular in the lineup, but could even get third line consideration as that right wing spot is one of the few job openings on this team. As mentioned, Chmelar has size, speed, and some skill. On top of that, he plays a physical game, which is a big factor working in his favor—one that we know the Rangers tend to prioritize.

Predictions:

NHL: 56 GP | 7 G | 11 A | 18 PTS
AHL: 23 GP | 6 G | 7 A | 13 PTS

It’s fortunate for the Rangers that Chmelar is waiver exempt because if they play their cards right, they can really make the most of this season with his development in mind. Start him in the AHL, and then let him be the first call up option whenever you need a guy. He’ll play important top six minutes in the AHL, while getting chances to fill a role in the NHL.

I see Greentree making the team out of camp. Between the shortened preseason and the fact that his play style and experience show he could be capable of a straight jump to the NHL, the thought of him starting the season on the third line with Laba and fellow Windsor Spitfires alum Will Cuylle makes some sense. How that actually plays out could directly impact Chmelar's chances at a roster spot.

Either way, I'm expecting Chmelar to split time between Hartford and New York this season. The Rangers tend to only carry one extra forward and his ability to pass through waivers is going to allow them the roster flexibility to try different things. I do believe that Chmelar will make a similar impression this year in that, once he is called up, he's going to make it incredibly difficult for the Rangers to send him back down.

Conclusion

While this is a player who plays a physical, prototypical fourth-line-type of game, it's important to note he also has speed, a strong shot, good hands, and very effective all around skill set. We talk a lot about how the Rangers excel at finding bottom six talent mbut the fact is, Chmelar has all the tools to become more of a middle-six forward down the road. Parts of his game remind me of Jesper Fast and honestly, if he can model his game after him, he'll have a promising career ahead of him.