Welcome to these prospect ramblings, there were quite a few CHL overage player signings this past week and a bit, so I wanted to highlight a few that could have an impact on the NHL team that signed them down the line. Of course, keep in mind overagers routinely do well in the CHL as they are comfortable in the league and are larger than a majority of players. Meaning as good as they look they have a low percentage likelihood of actually making, and contributing, in the NHL.

Tye Kartye, LW/C, Soo Greyhounds

Signed by Seattle to a three-year ELC that come in to effect in the 2022-2023 season

Kartye was not able to play professional hockey in 2020-2021 thanks to the OHL not playing due to the COVID pandemic. He was progressing well year over year with the Soo Greyhounds going from a 0.38 point per game to a 0.83 ppg. This season he is over a ppg, sitting at 1.29, and it may have been higher this season if he had an extra year of development.

His goal scoring is way up, scoring goals at a 0.73 per game pace, as he is utilizing the strength of his one-timer, especially as the bumper on the Soo powerplay. The threat to score all over the ice is what will bring Kartye to the NHL and he has really worked on his game to get to this level of notice.

If he can make the Kraken, within a few seasons, he could be a goal heavy middle-six winger.

Jordan Frasca, C, Kingston Frontenacs

Signed by Pittsburgh to a three-year ELC that come in to effect in the 2022-2023 season

It will still be a note of interest in fantasy hockey when the Penguins sign a scoring prospect until both Crosby and Malkin either slowdown or their careers finally come to a close. The Penguins need cheap help now and will likely still want to be a strong team once those two are done instead of just immediately rebuild, so taking risks on players like this can only potentially help.

Frasca being a natural centre is likely why Pittsburgh targeted him, and his breakout this season surely helps as well. He also missed all of the 2020-2021 season thanks to the pandemic as well. His play around the net and puck skills are positives to his game, his skating is fine, he has good size, but the issue is that Kingston is a top OHL team so how much of his production is really him versus being on a very good team. He does have 33 goals in 45 games, doubling his goal scoring from the year before in 13 less games.

He likely has a good path to the NHL as the Penguins are low on long-term natural centres. If he can keep up his production he could be a valuable asset early, and a good transition asset for point production on the Penguins long term. A middle-six centre that can produce 50+ points a season.

Bennett MacArthur, LW, Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Signed by Tampa Bay to a three-year ELC that come in to effect in the 2022-2023 season

Tampa signing a skilled QMJHL player that no one has heard that much of: check. Hopefully, for fantasy owners, it works out better than the long-term futures of other skilled undrafted forwards the Lighting have signed. Short-term though, it could pay off in either a trade to improve your roster or a point producing winger on your roster.

MacArthur has just become better each season he has played in the QMJHL with his ppg going from 0.36, 1.21, to 1.57 this season. He is a skilled winger who utilizes his teammates well and does not rely on just scoring goals, or being pass first, he is a player that can do everything well. He will either boom or bust in Tampa Bay’s system, but if he is a late bloomer he could be a rewarding add.

If it all works out MacArthur could become a skilled point-producing winger, one that everyone expected Alex Barré-Boulet to be by now.

Fun note: He played in the possibly longest named league, the New Brunswick-Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League (NBPEIMMHL)

Henrik (Henry) Rybinski, RW/C, Seattle Thunderbirds

Signed by Washington to a three-year ELC that come in to effect in the 2022-2023 season

The Capitals organizations seems to look at the WHL for players to either draft, or sign, around 95% of the time (exaggerated of course, but it seems high). Rybinski has been in the WHL for six seasons now and is only 20, which is a unique feat. He was floundering with Medicine Hat for his first two seasons, and then something clicked going to Seattle and he became a more prominent player.

Rybinski has historically been more of a playmaker than a scorer as he prefers to set up plays instead of shooting, except this season his goal scoring has shot up to 18 in 39 games. He is only rocking a 14.75 shooting percentage, and while it is slightly high it is not absurd levels of production. That is all not to take away from his current play, it all might just have come together for him and he was regarded among many as the top FA in the CHL. He will have time to develop as the Capitals roster is still full of one-way contracts, but they need to add youthful scoring soon and Rybinski could help fill that void.

Rybinski could become a middle six scoring winger for the Capitals.

Thanks for reading,

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