It's currently the AHL's All-Star break, signaling the end of the first half of the 2015-16 season and the start of the second half push for the playoffs.
With the team enjoying a few days off before returning to the ice Friday, let's take a player-by-player look at how the team has fared through the first half of the season.
First up are the forwards.
DEREK RYAN | 43 GP, 13g-21a-34pts
Ryan was brought in to be the offensive catalyst for a Checkers’ team that struggled mightily to score last season, and that’s exactly what he’s done. The 29-year-old kicked off his first North American season with stunning consistency, not going scoreless in consecutive games until late December, and helped quarterback one of the best power-play units in the league, leading to his selection to the AHL All-Star Classic. Ryan has hit a bit of a slump heading into the break, with just two points in his last nine games, but all signs point to him having the skills to get things rolling again in the second half.
BROCK MCGINN | 26 GP, 12g-12a-24pts
After an impressive rookie season where he was countlessly foiled by posts, ridiculous saves and bad breaks, McGinn has seen things swing the other way in the first half of his sophomore year. He has split his time between the Checkers and the Hurricanes since making his NHL debut earlier this year, only appearing in 26 games for Charlotte thus far, but has made in impact in his short time. McGinn is already just three shy of his 73-game goal and point totals from a season ago and is finding the back of the net in droves, with four multi-goal games under his belt. The young forward will likely continue to bounce up and down from the NHL during the second half, given his success with the Hurricanes and the nature of his contract, but when he is with Charlotte look for him to continue to be a dominant force.
ZACH BOYCHUK | 42 GP, 9g-13a-22pts
Boychuk has been an elite scorer at this level for several years now, with a league goal-scoring title under his belt and the distinction of being the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. This first half of this season has been different for the longtime Checker, however, as his current point total is the lowest through 42 games in his five six seasons with Charlotte. But while Boychuk hasn’t been piling on the points, he has come into a more rounded role with the team, spending a large chunk of the first half being a physical presence on a fourth line that has been one of the team’s most consistently strong groups. He went into the break on an upswing with seven points in his last 11 games and has been deadly on the power play all year (his six power-play goals lead the team), so it appears that Boychuk could be poised to have a big second half, should he be able to return from an injury that forced him out of the team’s last contest in Iowa.
JUSTIN SHUGG | 33 GP, 7g-14a-21pts
Without the scoring burden that he had last year, Shugg has flown a bit under the radar through the first half, but is quietly putting together another solid offensive season. He has taken on a bit more of a playmaking role and is currently on pace to surpass his career high in assists. Shugg has had some injury issues this season, missing a chunk of games at the start of the year and now currently out after taking a big hit against Chicago, so getting back on the ice at 100 percent will be the key to his second half success.
T.J. HENSICK | 32 GP, 6g-14a-20pts
Brought in over the offseason to help the team as a veteran scorer, Hensick’s numbers are down a bit through the first half of this season. A broken foot that forced him out for a month early in the season has a lot to do with that, as Hensick has had to battle back and regain his scoring touch. The good news is that Hensick has gained some steam heading into the break with 13 points in his last 17 games. He has also been a key contributor on the man advantage, with his 10 helpers tied for the team lead, as well as in the shootout, where he has picked up two game winners.
SERGEY TOLCHINSKY | 40 GP, 5g-13a-18pts
Unlike last year, the Checkers’ roster has been fairly light on rookies, with Tolchinsky being the most consistent first-year pro in the lineup through the first half. The 20-year-old Russian has had some struggles adjusting to the pro game, being slid up and down the lineup, but he has shown flashes of what makes him such an exciting player. He has shown a knack for scoring in bunches - five points in four games to start the season, eight points in five games at the beginning of January – so translating those offensive explosions to a more consistent output could help the rookie get going in the second half.
BRODY SUTTER | 43 GP, 8g-8a-16pts
Like several players from last year’s team, Sutter has taken on a new role this season. With less of an offensive burden on his plate, the 24-year-old has shifted more into a two-way style, centering a largely untouched third line between Brendan Woods and Patrick Brown. That’s not to say Sutter has lost his scoring touch through the first half of the season completely, as the center has come through in clutch situations with two game winners, the second-most on the team.
DAVID WOHLBERG | 43 GP, 6g-7a-13pts
Originally on the team via a professional tryout, Wohlberg embedded himself in the lineup early and impressed enough to earn an AHL contract in December. The fourth-year-pro has been a stabilizing force on the fourth line so far this season, possessing the prototypical size and physicality of the role while also showing an offensive flair that has netted him a career-high point total through the first half alone.
PATRICK BROWN | 43 GP, 6g-5a-11pts
Brown has emerged as a key piece of the Checkers’ impressive third line alongside Woods and Sutter in the first half of the season. Offensively, the second-year pro has seen a huge uptick in production, already surpassing his rookie totals in goals and points, while establishing himself in other areas of the game. Brown has been tapped by head coach Mark Morris as a reliable penalty killer and has produced in that area as well, sharing the team lead in shorthanded points. He was also named an alternate captain, taking on a leadership role in the locker room.
BRENDAN WOODS | 34 GP, 7g-3a-10pts
Much like his linemate Sutter, Woods’ shift in role has seen his point total dip a bit through the first half, but he has turned into a dangerous two-way player for Charlotte. After an injury forced him to miss nearly the entirety of the month of December, Woods is getting back into the swing of things, heading into the break with five points in his last five games. He has also started being utilized on the man advantage, notching his first power-play goal of the season against Chicago on Jan. 23.
ERIK KARLSSON | 29 GP, 1g-5a-6pts
The rookie forward has been the victim of the Checkers’ depth up front, often finding himself the healthy extra. But when Karlsson has been in the lineup he has shown flashes and the coaching staff has taken notice, making an effort to insert Karlsson into more situations. Five of the rookie’s six points have come on the power play, where he has started to get more playing time. As he continues to get more acclimated to the North American game, Karlsson could be called upon more consistently to fill some holes in the lineup in the second half.
KYLE HAGEL | 42 GP, 1g-3a-4pts
Hagel has done exactly what the team has asked him to in the first half of this season: be a physical force on the fourth line and be a leader in the locker room. There was no doubt that the veteran would be able to contribute that much to the team, but he also has chipped in in other areas. Playing alongside some skill players, Hagel has already matched his point total from a year ago, and continues to be a solid penalty killer when called upon. He even spent time playing defense when his shorthanded squad needed it.
