Hershey Bears enter 2026-27 season with intriguing mix of proven veterans, top Capitals prospects

The Hershey Bears begin their 89th season in the American Hockey League with a roster that looks considerably different from the championship-heavy veteran groups Bears fans became accustomed to seeing earlier this decade.

That does not mean expectations in Hershey have disappeared.

Hershey enters the 2026-27 season with one of the more intriguing combinations of experienced AHL players and young Washington Capitals prospects in recent memory. Andrew Cristall, Terik Parascak, Ryan Chesley, Leon Muggli and several other developing players give the Bears plenty of upside, while veterans such as Jonny Brodzinski, Louie Belpedio, Jacob MacDonald, Justin Holl and Cal Petersen give head coach Derek King an experienced foundation.

The Bears officially open the season Saturday, Oct. 3 against the Charlotte Checkers at GIANT Center. It begins a franchise-record seven-game homestand to start the season and a 72-game schedule that will once again feature plenty of battles with Atlantic Division rivals.

For a franchise accustomed to competing for the Calder Cup, the objective remains the same.

The path to getting there, however, could look much different.

A different Hershey team

The 2025-26 season represented something of a transition for the Bears. Hershey had become the standard of the AHL after winning consecutive Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024, but last season featured a younger roster and a coaching transition under King.

Hershey finished the regular season 28-29-6-5 before qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Bears’ postseason ended against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but the experience gained by Hershey’s younger players could prove important entering this season.

That youth movement remains evident on the opening roster.

Hershey announced a 30-player opening roster Friday consisting of 19 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Nineteen of those players appeared for Hershey during either the 2025-26 regular season or 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, providing some continuity despite significant offseason turnover.

The Bears also have six players classified as AHL rookies and eight classified as veterans under AHL roster rules. The average age of the opening roster is just over 26 years old.

That balance could become one of Hershey’s biggest strengths.

Cristall could become Hershey’s offensive centerpiece

There might not be a more exciting player for Bears fans to watch this season than Andrew Cristall.

Cristall’s offensive ability has made him one of Washington’s most intriguing young players, and the 21-year-old enters the season with an opportunity to become one of Hershey’s primary offensive weapons.

The second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft has already shown that his skill can translate to professional hockey. His creativity, puck handling and ability to create offense should give Hershey a dangerous option in the top six and on the power play.

Cristall is also only one member of a much larger group of young Capitals prospects developing in Hershey.

Terik Parascak makes the full-time jump to professional hockey after Washington selected him in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. The Bears listed Parascak among their opening-night forwards after he joined Hershey as a Black Ace following the conclusion of his junior season last spring.

Parascak’s development could be one of the biggest storylines of the season.

Hershey also has 19-year-old Lynden Lakovic, Washington’s first-round selection at No. 27 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. Lakovic is the youngest player on Hershey’s opening roster.

That gives King several high-upside forwards who could potentially change the complexion of Hershey’s offense.

Trineyev returns after breakout season

While some of Hershey’s younger players remain relatively unknown at the AHL level, Bogdan Trineyev has already established himself.

Trineyev returns for his fourth professional season in North America after producing career highs across the board last year.

He recorded 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in 62 games, making him one of the Bears’ most productive forwards.

Another step forward from Trineyev would give Hershey a proven scoring option alongside its incoming prospects.

Alex Suzdalev, Ludwig Persson, Eriks Mateiko, Sam Bitten, Jalen Luypen and Grant Cruikshank provide additional depth. Hershey also retained Matt Strome, whose name will forever be connected to Bears history after his overtime goal clinched the 2024 Calder Cup.

The result is an unusually deep collection of forwards.

Hershey’s opening-night group includes Joey Anderson, Bitten, Brodzinski, Cristall, Cruikshank, Josh Dunne, Tyler Kopff, Lakovic, Luypen, Mateiko, Theodor Niederbach, Parascak, Persson, Petr Sikora, Spencer Smallman, Dalton Smith, Strome, Suzdalev and Trineyev.

Not everyone will play every night, and Washington’s roster moves will inevitably change Hershey’s lineup throughout the season.

That competition could be beneficial.

Brodzinski adds major experience

One of Hershey’s most significant offseason additions is Jonny Brodzinski.

Brodzinski spent the previous two seasons primarily in the NHL with the New York Rangers and appeared in 55 games last season, recording six goals and 10 assists. He has played 264 NHL games during his career.

His AHL résumé is even more impressive.

Brodzinski has 267 points in 313 career AHL games and previously served as captain of the Hartford Wolf Pack. He was also an AHL All-Star during his time with Ontario.

The Capitals signed Brodzinski to a one-year contract July 1, and he opens the season in Hershey.

For a team featuring so many developing forwards, his presence could be extremely valuable.

Brodzinski can provide offense, but his experience might be just as important. Players such as Cristall, Parascak and Lakovic will be learning how to handle the demands of a professional season. Having a veteran who has spent substantial time at both the NHL and AHL levels gives Hershey another leader who understands that process.

The Bears have already recognized that leadership.

Brodzinski will serve as one of Hershey’s alternate captains this season.

Belpedio takes over as captain

Louie Belpedio will wear the “C” for Hershey.

The Bears named the 30-year-old defenseman captain Friday, continuing a recent trend of defensemen leading the franchise. Belpedio follows Dylan McIlrath and Aaron Ness as Hershey captains.

Belpedio earned the responsibility after an outstanding first season with the Bears.

He recorded nine goals and 25 assists for a career-high 34 points and led Hershey defensemen in scoring. He also received the Milton W. Garland Award as Hershey’s top defenseman.

Belpedio brings extensive AHL experience with 476 regular-season games entering the year.

He will not lead alone.

Brodzinski and Jacob MacDonald will serve as alternate captains during home games, while Josh Dunne and Spencer Smallman will wear the “A” on the road.

It gives King an experienced leadership group surrounding a roster filled with prospects.

Defense could be a major strength

Hershey’s blue line has the potential to be one of its strongest areas.

Belpedio headlines a group that also includes Cam Allen, Ryan Chesley, David Gucciardi, Justin Holl, MacDonald, Jon McDonald and Leon Muggli.

MacDonald is particularly interesting.

The veteran defenseman produced one of the greatest offensive seasons by a defenseman in AHL history during 2024-25, scoring an AHL-record 31 goals for a blueliner while playing for the Colorado Eagles. He finished that season with 55 points and won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman.

His 2025-26 season was limited by injury, but a healthy MacDonald gives Hershey another major offensive weapon from the blue line.

Then there is Holl.

The 34-year-old has appeared in 405 NHL games and previously won the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies in 2018.

Holl provides another veteran presence who can help stabilize a group containing several important Capitals prospects.

Chesley and Muggli will be especially important players to follow from Washington’s perspective. Their development could ultimately determine how quickly they challenge for NHL opportunities.

The combination of experienced professionals and high-end prospects gives Hershey significant depth.

Goaltending becomes the biggest question

If there is one position that Bears fans should monitor closely early in the season, it is goaltender.

Hershey unexpectedly lost Clay Stevenson when the Winnipeg Jets claimed him on waivers during Washington’s final roster cuts. Stevenson had become an important part of the Bears’ organization during the previous three seasons.

He won 63 games in 109 appearances for Hershey and was part of a Calder Cup championship team. Last season, Stevenson led the Bears with 18 victories and posted a .912 save percentage.

His departure forced Hershey to adjust quickly.

The Bears responded by signing veteran Cal Petersen to an AHL contract.

Petersen brings 106 games of NHL experience and another 248 games in the AHL. He spent last season with the Iowa Wild, going 13-16-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average, .896 save percentage and four shutouts.

Petersen has also spent significant time playing against Hershey.

He played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms from 2023-25 and produced a .911 save percentage in 15 games against the Bears.

Hershey will also carry Mitch Gibson and Garin Bjorklund to begin the season.

Gibson worked his way from the ECHL into Hershey’s lineup and earned an NHL contract, but he sustained an injury during the preseason. King indicated this week that Hershey is comfortable carrying three goaltenders while the situation develops.

Petersen does not necessarily need to replicate Stevenson’s production immediately.

He does need to give Hershey stability.

With the amount of talent the Bears appear to have at forward and defense, reliable goaltending could determine just how high this team’s ceiling becomes.

Derek King enters second season behind the bench

Continuity behind the bench could also help Hershey.

King enters his second season as Bears head coach after taking over a roster that went through substantial turnover last year.

This season’s coaching staff also includes a familiar name in Hershey.

Former Bears forward Louis Robitaille joined King’s staff as an assistant coach during the offseason. Robitaille played 200 regular-season games for Hershey from 2005-08 and helped the Bears capture the 2006 Calder Cup.

Robitaille spent 14 years coaching in the QMJHL before coaching last season in Russia’s VHL. He also served as an assistant coach for Canada when it won gold at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.

His experience developing younger players should fit well with the direction of Hershey’s roster.

Schedule starts heavily in Hershey’s favor

Few teams will get more home cooking to start the season than the Bears.

Hershey begins its 72-game schedule with seven consecutive games at GIANT Center from Oct. 3 through Oct. 24, the longest season-opening homestand in franchise history.

The season begins against Charlotte on Oct. 3.

That opening stretch provides Hershey an opportunity to establish chemistry before facing the grind of the AHL schedule.

Atlantic Division rivalries will once again dominate the calendar.

Hershey plays both the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 12 times. The Bears face Charlotte eight times and Hartford and Springfield six times each.

Hershey will also play Cleveland, Providence, Rochester, Belleville, Hamilton, Laval, Syracuse, Toronto and Utica.

Texas is the Bears’ only Western Conference opponent, with Hershey scheduled to face the Stars four times.

Those games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton should be particularly interesting after the Penguins eliminated Hershey from the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Five players to watch

Andrew Cristall: Cristall has the offensive skill to become one of Hershey’s most dangerous forwards. How quickly he develops into a dominant AHL player will be one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Bears.

Terik Parascak: Parascak begins his first full professional season after becoming one of Washington’s most important forward prospects. The adjustment from junior hockey to the AHL can be significant, but his offensive upside gives Hershey another potential difference-maker.

Bogdan Trineyev: After scoring 45 points last season, Trineyev has an opportunity to establish himself as one of Hershey’s most reliable offensive players.

Jacob MacDonald: A defenseman who scored 31 goals during an AHL season demands attention. If MacDonald remains healthy, Hershey could have an unusually dangerous offensive threat on its blue line.

Cal Petersen: Petersen might be the biggest X-factor on the roster. Hershey knows it has scoring talent and defensive depth. If Petersen can provide consistent goaltending, the Bears become much more difficult to play against.

The Capitals prospect pipeline is coming through Hershey

Perhaps the most exciting part of this Bears season is how closely it connects to Washington’s future.

Hershey has traditionally balanced two responsibilities better than almost any AHL franchise: developing NHL players and competing for championships.

Those goals do not always perfectly align.

This season, however, they might.

Cristall, Parascak, Lakovic, Chesley, Muggli, Mateiko, Suzdalev and others give Hershey a substantial collection of young talent. At the same time, Belpedio, Brodzinski, MacDonald, Holl, Dunne, Smallman and Petersen provide the professional experience needed to keep a young roster competitive.

Washington will inevitably affect that balance.

Injuries and roster moves with the Capitals can quickly remove important players from Hershey’s lineup. That is simply life in the AHL.

The depth of this roster should make Hershey better prepared to withstand those changes.

What needs to go right

Hershey does not need every young player to become a star immediately.

The Bears need steady development.

Cristall and Parascak need to generate offense. Trineyev needs to build on his breakout season. The young defensemen need to continue progressing alongside Belpedio, MacDonald and Holl.

Most importantly, Hershey needs an answer in goal.

Losing Stevenson days before opening night creates uncertainty at the most important position on the ice. Petersen has enough professional experience to handle the responsibility, while Gibson remains an intriguing option if healthy.

If the goaltending settles down quickly, Hershey has the pieces to be a difficult team to handle.

The Bears have size, skill, veteran leadership and an impressive collection of young talent.

Now they have to turn those pieces into a team.

MSB Take

This might be one of the most interesting Hershey Bears teams we have covered in years.

The back-to-back Calder Cup teams were veteran-heavy groups built to win immediately. This version of the Bears feels different. Hershey is still trying to win, but Bears fans are also getting an extended look at players who could become important pieces of the Washington Capitals over the next several seasons.

Cristall and Parascak are the two players I will be watching most closely. Both have legitimate offensive upside, and getting them significant minutes in Hershey could be extremely valuable for their development.

I also really like what Hershey has done around its young players. Brodzinski is exactly the type of veteran an AHL team with this much youth needs. Belpedio already proved what he can do in Hershey last season, while MacDonald and Holl give the Bears an enormous amount of professional experience on defense.

Goaltending is the concern.

Losing Stevenson on waivers was a significant blow, especially this close to opening night. Petersen has plenty of experience, but Hershey will need someone to establish himself as a dependable No. 1 option as the season progresses.

Still, there is a lot to like about this roster.

Hershey might experience some growing pains because of its youth, and the lineup will undoubtedly change whenever Washington needs reinforcements. But the talent is there for the Bears to make noise in the Atlantic Division and develop into a dangerous team as the season moves toward spring.

The Calder Cup standard in Hershey never really changes.

The players attempting to reach that standard have.

And beginning Saturday night at GIANT Center, we will start finding out how quickly this new generation of Bears is ready to take the next step.