There’s a feeling of emptiness during the exit interviews on clean-out day. At least that’s the impression given to someone who has never done a clean-out day with an organization. On Wednesday night, Giant Center was packed with anxious but excited fans. The next morning, the home arena for the Hershey Bears was empty as the most decorated franchise in the American Hockey League (AHL) let reality sink in. The Charlotte Checkers swept them, and their season was over.
There were plenty of questions for the players and, of course, head coach Todd Nelson, as there’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding this team. Yes, they are the standard and won the Calder Cup in 2023 and 2024, yet the playoff defeat and early exit leave a big offseason ahead for the Bears. It starts with the head coach and ends with the veteran-heavy roster and big-picture questions about the AHL.
Todd Nelson: The NHL Question
The question had been asked, and Nelson wasn’t comfortable answering it. One of the local TV reporters said the quiet thing out loud and wondered if Nelson was heading to the NHL or had any interest in coaching at the next level. “I haven’t gotten any calls but my phone has been on silent mode.” Nelson joked during the exit interviews. For now, he’s focused on Hershey and getting the team ready for next season. That’s what most coaches say as they try to brush off a possible move to another team, even though secretly, they want to coach at the next level or at an ideal spot.
Nelson accomplished all there is to at the AHL level. He won the Calder Cup title as a coach three times and led the Bears to two titles in a row. He found a home in Chocolatetown, and it’s an ideal spot for him and his family, a small town where he can focus on hockey without all the drama and baggage that comes with the NHL. But money talks, and the pro teams have that. So does winning and having a new challenge, which there’s plenty of opportunity to do at the NHL level.
The problem is that there are only three spots left. The Chicago Blackhawks hired Jeff Blashill this week, so the only teams he can go to are the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken. The Kraken are circling around Lane Lambert, so unless they pivot on the fly, that’s another spot off the board. Then there’s the Penguins, who appear like an ideal fit and easy transition for Nelson but it means GM Kyle Dubas must commit to the rebuild, a tough task when Sidney Crosby is on the roster.
Hershey’s Trineyev a Rising Prospect in the Capitals’ System
The Bears didn’t have a great showing in the playoffs. One of the bright spots through it all was Bogdan Trineyev. he scored 13 goals this season and added five goals in eight playoff games to both lead the team in goals and points (with seven). He found the back of the net in multiple ways and is maturing into a top prospect for the Washington Capitals.
The players agreed during the exit interviews. “He’s just big, physical, and has a couple of toe drags in his toolbox but yeah, he brings it,” Mike Vecchione noted while Riley Sutter added, “He has that perfect balance. He has size, skill, and he can bring that heavy side to his game. I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.” Trinevey was a late bloomer, joining the AHL at 22 initially as a fourth-line checking forward. Now, he’s one of the best skaters on the Bears.
The AHL and NHL are shifting. Players need skill and skating to win a fast-paced game but they also must have the size and discipline to forecheck and defend. It’s why Connor McDavid, Matthew Tkachuk, and Mikko Rantanen are the forwards built for playoff runs. Trineyev added a scoring touch to his game and became a more disciplined forward in all three zones. Paired with his 6-foot-3 and 200-pound frame, it makes him an ideal forward for today’s game.
Turnover in Hershey
There’s always more turnover at the AHL level than the NHL level. Some players retire, some players move up or down a level (and will as the season goes on), some move to Europe, and many are playing on short-term contracts that force them to search for a new team every offseason. The Bears are no exception to this. They have multiple veterans on the way out, and they must replace them.
Mike Sgarbossa already announced he’s playing next season in Switzerland after spending seven seasons with the Bears. Garrett Roe is retiring despite playing at a high level at 37 years old. Speaking of 37-year-olds, Brad Hunt will be that age by the time next season begins.
The Bears are always on the older side in the AHL, with more veterans in their lineup. So, this offseason isn’t new for them. However, the group next season won’t look like the same one that went on deep playoff runs. They’ll have a younger team and a new identity. With the rest of the league catching up to them, the Bears won’t be the juggernaut atop the Atlantic Division anymore.
The Charlotte Checkers Are The New Team To Beat
The Checkers dominated the series against Hershey, with Game 3 being the exclamation point. They play a unique style where they are physical and forecheck but they also play fast and aggressive in the offensive zone. Most teams favor shot quality over quantity but the Checkers have no problems generating 40 shots on the net, knowing they’ll get a few past the opposing goaltender.
Every team was trying to copy the Bears. Now, teams will try to emulate the Checkers and the other teams remaining in the playoffs, who play fast and fire the puck at the net at will. Will the Bears? Not quite. “You have to play to your strengths,” Nelson noted during the exit interviews. Nelson always has the Bears playing a specific brand of hockey but what makes him a great coach is his ability to pivot and get the most out of the roster.
“When you look at our team that first year (2022-23), we were a hard forechecking team, we were systematically sound. Last year’s team, our guys didn’t like to forecheck; they were more of a rush team. This year’s team was more of a hybrid of the previous two teams,” Nelson added. The Checkers play fast, and they can get away with it since they have the speed at the forward position. Other teams don’t have the roster to do that. That said, the AHL is becoming a more talented game, and teams around the league will start to have the players to play that way.
Other Notes From the Hershey Bears Exit Interviews
- The Bears were the better team during the regular season and had the talent to go on a run. The bottom line is they ran out of gas. They had two deep playoff runs, and this was the start of a third. It caught up to them.
- It’s easy to look back at this season as a failure. The mentality in Hershey is Cup or bust, and anything short of a Calder Cup is a disappointment. That said, it’s hard not to look back and see their run as a success. The Bears won nine playoff matchups in a row, an AHL record, and one that probably won’t be topped.
- Any player who was asked about Nelson not only talked about how great a coach he is but also mentioned how he’s a calm and steady presence behind the bench. It’s what stands out about his style and why he’d be a great coach at the NHL level.
