Jaroslav Chmelař
Jaroslav Chmelař is a Czech professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack as a prospect to the New York Rangers of the NHL. He was drafted by the Rangers in the 5th round of the NHL Entry Draft with the 144th overall selection.
Playing career
After playing for junior teams in the Czech Republic, Chmelař came to the United States for the 2022–23 season to attend Providence College and play for the Providence Friars, where he was a teammate of fellow Rangers prospect Brett Berard. At the end of Providence's 2023-24 season he joined the Rangers AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, playing in 7 games and scoring 2 goals. He spent the entire 2024-25 season with Hartford, scoring 12 goals and 17 assists in 71 games. He started the 2025-26 season with Hartford and was called up to the Rangers in November after scoring 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 games for Hartford. Ranger coach Mike Sullivan said of Chmelař upon his joining the Rangers that: Of the possibility of making his NHL debut, Chmelař said "I can't describe the feeling, it would be a dream come true. If it happens, I’m going to be enjoying every bit of it."He made his NHL debut on 7 November 2025 against the Detroit Red Wings. He did not score but had a fight with Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic. He was returned to Hartford on 9 November after playing in two games for the Rangers.