The latest analysis from two New York Rangers beat reporters is a good example of why fans shouldn’t get overly attached to any prospect. Adam Sykora’s NHL chances, discussed at length by The Athletic writers Peter Baugh and Vince Mercogliano, are still not super high. He and fellow prospect Jaroslav Chmelar sparked the Rangers late last season. Still, that may not be enough to earn a roster spot this season for either player.
The two ranked him 10th in their yearly evaluation of Rangers prospects. This ranking does not include Noah Laba, Scott Morrow or the much-discussed Gabe Perreault. This is part of the reason why fans should not overrate Adam Sykora’s NHL chances.
The Pint-Sized Winger Provided a Spark in 2025-26
Sykora seemed to endear himself to the fanbase and his teammates almost instantly. He has a well-reported friendship with fellow winger prospect Jaroslav Chmelar. The two European forwards played reasonably well down the stretch for the Rangers last season. Teammates praised Sykora regularly. Connor Sheary, now with the Buffalo Sabres, raved about Sykora.
“I don’t know if you guys can see it, but his energy is unmatched. He is constantly up on his feet. He’s banging his stick. … He just brings an energy that’s contagious. He’s fun to be around, fun to play with.”
The reality, though, is that Sykora and Chmelar are competing for similar roles this season. It’s why fans shouldn’t get too attached just yet. In particular, fans should not overrate Adam Sykora’s NHL chances this season. Similarly, they shouldn’t panic if he’s not on the roster.
Offense is Probably Not the Deciding Factor in Adam Sykora’s NHL Chances
Sykora provided last season’s moribund Rangers with a spark. He scored three goals in 11 games, which is much more offense than he typically shows at lower levels. Sykora failed to surpass 0.5 points per game in a single AHL season. For his AHL career, he’s a 0.46 points-per-game player. Typically, players don’t see their offense improve as they go up a level. It only gets harder to do what’s already the hardest thing to do in hockey — score goals.
Admittedly, Hartford doesn’t have a great track record lately. It’s part of the reason the organizational overhaul included bringing in head coach Jay Leach. The infusion of young talent in Hartford this season has the chance to make the Wolf Pack more exciting than they’ve been in years. That, among other reasons, is why Sykora shouldn’t be rushed into the NHL.
Sykora Flashed Last Season, But Offense is a Question
Sykora flashed some good compete level and skill. Moreover, he didn’t look out of place in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to be an everyday NHL contributor. It was only an 11-game sample. Critically, his advanced possession metrics and defensive metrics were dreadful in that sample. This isn’t to rag on Sykora. No one is denying what he flashed last season. That flash doesn’t guarantee him an NHL job. Comparatively speaking, the 6-foot-4 Jaroslav Chmelar showcased more promising metrics.
Notably, he’s still one of the younger players in the prospect system. Sykora was one week away from being eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft. As one of the youngest players from his class — and something of an undersized project — it’s no surprise that he’s not busting down the door immediately. This is part of the reason that, short of a massive step forward shown in training camp, Sykora should likely start the year with Hartford in the AHL. In Hartford, Sykora will have a chance early in the season to prove that he’s capable of being the guy at a lower level. And even if that’s not what the Rangers expect of him in the NHL, it’s fair to ask a prospect wanting to beat down the door of the NHL to excel in the AHL.
Rangers Roster Construction Limits Adam Sykora’s NHL Chances
The Rangers forward situation is fairly murky, meaning Adam Sykora’s NHL chances are similarly murky. It’s not clear if the team will carry 13 or 14 forwards this season. It’s also not clear exactly how many spots are up for grabs. There are likely eight players who are roster locks: Pavel Dorofyev, J.T. Miller, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Gabe Perreault, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle and Noah Laba. Then Joseph Veleno and Tye Kartye probably aren’t locks, but they’re close. Some have connected winger Taylor Raddysh to a trade with Toronto. Barring a trade, it’s hard to see him not making the roster. Matt Rempe is a wildcard, but likely has an edge competing for a 13th forward job.
So, unless Raddysh gets traded, Sykora and Jaroslav Chmelar will be competing with newly acquired prospects Liam Greentree, Nathan Aspinall, Cole Beaudoin, Brody Lamb, and Jacob Battaglia for the final roster spot. Veterans like Juuso Parsinnen and Justin Dowling are likely also pushing for the final roster spot. And none of this includes any PTO contracts, which the Rangers have not yet awarded. In the past few seasons, wingers Connor Sheary and Jimmy Vesey both made the Rangers off of PTO contracts. That’s not a route the Rangers have ever feared in the Chris Drury era.
There’s not much room. Either the Rangers need to move a contract, or Sykora needs to blow the coaching staff away at training camp. Either way, fans should keep their expectations lower on the Adam Sykora experience in 2026-27.
New York Rangers Fans Should Pump the Brakes on Adam Sykora Expectations