We begin our annual prospect review and forecast series for the 2023 off-season with Ryan Chesley, defenseman for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. (You can access all of our Capitals Prospect Reports and player analysis on our “Prospects” page right here.)
VITALS
Chesley, 19, was drafted by the Capitals in the second round (37th overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Capitals acquired the 37th overall pick in a trade that sent Vitek Vanecek and their 47th overall pick to New Jersey for their 37th and 70th overall pick. The 6’0” right-handed defenseman, who hails from Mahtomedi, MN, native remains unsigned by the Capitals.
CAREER SUMMARY
Chesley began his career in Shattuck-St. Mary’s Development program (2017-2019) and the United States National Team Development Program (2020-2022), where he recorded a combined 44 Points in 85 games played with the U.S. Developement team and the National Under-18 Team.
Chesley participated in the Capitals 2022 Prospect Development Camp in July of 2022. During his time at Development Camp, he spoke about his experience and the upcoming season.
“It’s been awesome getting here, getting to know the guys, getting to know the staff and getting on the ice with them, it’s been a fun week so far. I knew it was going to be a hard time here, just a lot of work, it’s been a grind so far, but it’s been fun. A lot of the on-ice stuff has been challenging, which is good I think it’s really helpful…”
Chesley had an action-packed 2022-23 season from start to finish, which included a full freshman season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, participation in the 2023 World Junior Championship for Team USA over the holiday’s and finishing with play in the NCAA national title game. While there were moments of attention-grabbing play, Chesley’s season can best be summarized as a learning experience. His play in the World Juniors was underwhelming at times. The same can be said for his freshman year at Minnesota, as he was relegated to the 8th defenseman role at the end of the season and in the postseason. All fairly typical for a freshman.
2022-2023 MONTH-BY-MONTH RECAP AND TREND ANALYSIS
The following is a compilation of our month-by-month prospect reports for Ryan Chesley during the 2022-2023 season. Also included are his monthly scores (0-5, with 2.5 being average). You can find all of our monthly prospect reports on our “Prospects” page in the top menu.
OCTOBER
Chesley began his freshman season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the right side of the top pairing on October 1. He potted a pair of assists in the Gophers two-game sweep over Linwood to start the season.
Chesley earned the secondary assist on Logan Cooley’s first goal in the game at 5:38 of the second period in a 4-0 victory on October 1. On October 2, Chesley assisted on Brody Lamb’s goal that occurred at 8:54 during the second period of a 6-4 victory.
Chesley played in eight games in October. He did not score any goals but had two assists and was a +4. He took six shots on goal. He took one minor penalty, and blocked seven shots.
Monthly Score: 3.0
NOVEMBER
Chesley played in eight games during the month of November and has played in 16 games for the season. Offensively, he has not scored any goals, recorded two assists and is +5 for the season.
Chesley took 19 shots on goal, 13 during November alone. He has blocked 19 shots on goal, blocking 13 during November. He took one minor penalty for November, having taken a total of two for the season.
Chesley spent the early portion of November on the third defensive pairing but has spent the last three games on the top defensive pairing.
Monthly Score: 2.5
DECEMBER
Chesley was named to Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2023 World Junior Championship on December 5. Prior to leaving for Team USA camp Chesley scored his first goal of the season on December 9.
His first #Gophers goal 🥲
And in the #BorderBattle no less 😎 @ryanchesley_ pic.twitter.com/6gh3iTWwAt
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) December 10, 2022
“I saw a good play in front where Cooley had a good chance to score,” said Chesley of his first career goal. “I thought I could sneak down a bit and he made a good pass. Maybe a little roommate connection for sure.” Another angle of Chesley’s first tally for the Gophers, from upstairs:
Ryan Chesley’s first goal for the Gophers. #ALLCAPS https://t.co/NRfDLgX4Iq pic.twitter.com/aN2dqUzrZj
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) December 10, 2022
Team USA head coach Rand Pecknold spoke to the media about Chesley on December 13. “He fits well in the style we’re going to play. He’s been great here for two days . . . He’s trending in the right direction. He’s a man. He plays hard. Great shot. He’s got that physicality. He plays bigger than his size. I’ve been really happy.”
Chesley notched a tally in Team USA’s first tuneup game against Finland on December 19.
Ryan Chesley fires this one-timer in and USA leads 4-1. Lane Hutson and Cutter Gauthier with the assists. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/eHzI4XGVtH
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 20, 2022
Chesley, while he didn’t see time on either of Team USA’s power play units, was a solid force on the team’s penalty kill in the two tuneup games.
As for the actual tournament, things did not go as well as the tuneup games. Chesley and Team USA fell to Team Slovakia, 6-3 on in the second game. Chesley remained on the second pairing with Lane Hutson, but was removed from the penalty kill following the first game and was beat on the zone entry that lead to Slovakia’s first goal.
Rare mistake by Capitals prospect Ryan Chesley on defense. He’s usually reliable for guiding puck carriers to the wall and stopping the rush. He got beat clean here. https://t.co/nZPAJ4rtl5
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) December 28, 2022
Chesley had a team-low time on ice of 6:02 for the game, which included just 1:14 and two shifts in the first period.
Chesley was dropped to the seventh defenseman for the third game, which would turn out to be his best game of the first three. He would record his first point in the tournament.
Tyler Boucher buries the rebound to extend USA’s lead 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/bgTQRRLWp8
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2022
This year’s tournament was most likely too soon for Chesley, who is still just 18 and will have future cracks at the tournament. Next year’s tournament will be a much better indicator of Chesley’s potential upside.
The speed of the game was at times too much for him. Team USA was somewhat undersized, defensively and Chesley may have been awarded a roster spot because he was one of two defensemen six-foot or taller.
Monthly Score: 2.0
JANUARY
Chesley was a member of Team USA’s World Junior Bronze medal winning team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships. After returning to the Golden Gophers in early January, Chesley played in eight games, scoring one goal and recording three assists.
January 14, a 3-0 victory over Notre Dame on the road, was a very eventful game for Chesley. He took a major penalty at 2:27 in the first period, thanks to an illegal contact to the head. Fortunately for the Golden Gophers, Notre Dame did not score during Chesley’s major penalty. Chesley then got the secondary assist on the team’s first goal which came at 17:45 in first period and was scored by Ryan Johnson.
In the middle of January, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranked Chesley #4 among Capitals prospects, but pointed out that he’s hit some roadblocks this season.
“Though he has defended well for the Golden Gophers in a depth role on a deep team with Frozen Four aspirations, his contributions with the puck have been limited and he really struggled at the world juniors, ultimately moving off longtime partner Lane Hutson’s pair to the No. 7 D role after two games.” Wheeler also pointed out that his game “lacks creativity”.
On January 20, in a 4-3 victory over the Michigan Wolverines, Chesley had the primary assist. He made a diagonal cross-ice feed off the boards to spring his forward for the Gophers second tally of the game.
A grown man’s goal pic.twitter.com/buO4nUYXSI
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 21, 2023
On January 28, which was Hockey Day Minnesota, Chesley contributed a goal and an assist in a wild 6-3 win. Chesley’s goal, which came at 2:41 of the third period, was the team’s fourth goal and the game-winner, the first of his collegiate career. He also assisted on the team’s fifth goal and had the first two-point game in his career for the Gophers.
Dylan Loucks of Gopher Hole described Chesley’s game as follows, from an analytical point of view.
“Ryan Chesley had a monster game yesterday he had 11 controlled exits on 12 attempts, 92% effective. He also had four shot assists which are the most by a Gopher defender all year. Total xGF on the shot assists was 1.252 which is the highest total by any Gopher player all year. Tonight, he notched his second goal on the year picking the top corner to push the Gophers’ lead to 4-2.”
Things we love to see:
1. this@ryanchesley_ pic.twitter.com/jcHHGWoKGC— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 28, 2023
Chesley has played in all 28 of the team’s games, scored two goals and recorded five assists. He made 40 shots on goal and blocked 41 shots and is currently +12. He played on the third defensive pairing during January. Monthly Score: 3.0
FEBRUARY
Chesley played in just two games during the month of February – against the Wisconsin Badgers on February 10 and 11. He was kept off the scoresheet in both games.
Chesley sustained an upper body injury in the Gophers’ game on February 11 and was unable to play in any of his team’s remaining four games in the month of February, which constituted the remainder of their regular season.
Gophers head coach Bob Motzko indicated that Chesley would not play until March, at the earliest. “[Chesley] will come back in the playoffs sometime. Brock, we’re going week-to-week. Injuries are part of sports. They happen, you’ve just got to roll on.”
Until getting injured, Chesley played in all 30 of the Gopher’s games, scoring two goals and five assists. He has taken 45 shots on goal and blocked 44 shots. He played on the third defensive pairing during February.
Golden Gophers Head Coach Bob Motzko considers this year’s defense the best he’s ever had. The top three, Brock Faber, Jackson LaCombe, and Ryan Johnson, are some of the best upper-classman defenders in the nation, with Faber and LaCombe being nominees for the Hobey Baker Award. In addition, three freshman defensemen have played important roles on the team.
According to Dylan Loucks of the Gopher Hole website, “Besides the top three, the Gophers have three freshman defenders who have all played important minutes for Minnesota. Ryan Chesley currently leads the team in hits and has become more and more comfortable in breaking up plays and rush chances. He’s been super physical and more aggressive as the season has been going on.”
The Gophers ended their regular season at 25-8-1 overall and 19-4-1 within the Big Ten Conference. They finished first in their conference. They have a bye week for the first weekend of March and await the playoffs and will host a one game final on March 11 in Minnesota.
Monthly Score: 2.5
MARCH
Chesley and the Minnesota Golden Gophers ended their regular season at 25-8-1 overall and 19-4-1 within the Big Ten Conference, finishing first in their conference.
Chesley spent the early part of March recovering from a wrist injury he sustained during a game on February 11, but was able to return for the playoffs. As it turned out, Chesley would play in the Semi-Finals against Michigan State. He was initially listed as the seventh defenseman. However, he shined in his return to the lineup, recording two assists in a 5-1 victory.
Chesley had the primary assist on the team’s second (and game winning) goal. At 17:51 in the first period, He ripped a shot from the point which John Mittelstadt tipped into the net.
Johnny on the spot! pic.twitter.com/CXsyYrMlnR
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 12, 2023
Chesley also recorded the secondary assist on the team’s last goal, which came at 15:59 into the third period. Chesley passed to Snuggerud who ripped the puck down the ice. Logan Cooley got to the puck and tapped home the team’s last goal.
C🚨🚨ley pic.twitter.com/Ewp7NusXf8
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) March 12, 2023
Chesley’s return to the lineup introduced a physical element to the lineup. Coach Motzko’s specific comment on Chesley’s play was, “Kinda crazy — I don’t think he missed a beat. He’s just a whale of a competitor.”
The Gophers lost in the Big Ten Finals to the Michigan Wolverines but were still the top seed going into the NCAA Tournament. This was the Gophers’ 40th all-time appearance in the postseason, an NCAA record.
The Gophers won 8-2 against Canisius to advance to the NCAA Fargo Regional Final and Chesley was kept off score sheet. The Gophers then faced St. Cloud State in the NCAA Regional Final in Fargo on March 25 and won 4-1. Chesley was kept off the scoresheet in that game as well. The Golden Gophers advanced to the Frozen Four and will travel to Tampa Florida. This is their 23rd trip to the NCAA Frozen Four.
Chesley has been the 6th/7th defenseman for the Gophers in recent games, following his return from a late-season upper body injury. For the season so far, Chesley has played in 34 games, scored two goals and recorded seven assists. He is +14. He has made 49 shots on goal and blocked 50 shots.
Monthly Score: 2.5
APRIL
Chesley and the Minnesota Golden Gophers advanced to the Frozen Four at Amalie Arena after winning the NCAA Regional Final in Fargo. They played the Boston University Terriers on April 7.
The game was tied 2-2 until early in third period when Luke Mittelstadt scored two goals. Chesley had the primary assist on Mittelstadt’s second goal at 3:29, to increase the Gophers’ lead to 4-2. The Golden Gophers won 6-2 to advance to the Frozen Four Finals against the Quinnipiac Bobcats and Chase Clark.
After the Gophers got off to a 2-0 lead, Quinnipiac tied the game late and won in Overtime. Chesley was kept off the scoresheet in that game.
Chesley’s final statistics for the season were: played in 36 games scored two goals and recorded eight assists. He is +15. He had 51 shots on goal and blocked 52 shots.
Monthly Score: 2.5
PLAYER FORECAST
Chesley had an up-and-down freshman year at Minnesota, although he played in every game until sustaining an injury in February. He also had a sub-par showing at the World Juniors, so he will be looking for a rebound season in his sophomore campaign at Minnesota and participation with Team USA in the 2024 World Juniors.
Chesley demonstrated his physicality throughout the season and is a part of his game he will look to capitalize on in his second year. He can control space on the ice and he needs to continue developing that aspect of his game. He can be downright nasty at times.
Offensively, he was a bit of a mystery this season, as he demonstrated a pretty good shot on a number of occasions, yet the scoring did not materialize. Hopefully his sophomore season will include more emphasis on the offensive end.
By Jon Sorensen
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