CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach J.D. Forrest knew that the 2021-22 season would begin with a bit of an adjustment period for defenseman Chris Ortiz as he made the jump from the QMJHL to pro hockey.
Ortiz, who went undrafted in 2021 and later signed a two-year AHL contract with the Penguins, weighed just 172 pounds at the beginning of last season, which is probably the biggest reason as to why he spent the majority of his first pro season in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, picking up 12 goals and 26 assists in 54 games.