16 rookies to observe within the AHL this season

The AHL season is about to start Friday. The early season is all the time a bit distinctive as we’re coming all the way down to the wire to see when and which gamers will probably be made out there to the AHL golf equipment, however we’re already beginning to get that image.

With the season simply across the nook, I believed we’d check out among the contemporary faces we expect to see across the league. Many rookies on the AHL groups will show to be essential belongings for the NHL dad or mum golf equipment down the street. Right here’s a superb take a look at gamers that will probably be spending a superb chunk of their first season within the AHL.

Radim Mrtka, D, Rochester People (BUF)

The Sabres have a large number of choices for easy methods to deal with Mrtka, who was chosen ninth total final June. He’s nonetheless junior eligible and might be despatched to the Seattle Thunderbirds within the WHL, the place he completed out final season. But it surely appears as if the Sabres need to have him a minimum of begin in Rochester. Mrtka is a 6-foot-6 right-shot defenseman who had some restricted professional expertise in Czechia. We’ll have to attend and see if Mrtka sticks in Rochester, however he’s an thrilling expertise with an enormous ceiling and can be enjoyable to observe if he sticks within the AHL. 

Tom Willander, D, Abbotsford Canucks (VAN)

After a will-he, received’t-he saga final offseason, Willander signed with the Canucks after two NCAA seasons at Boston College. The 20-year-old Swede was picked eleventh total in 2023 and appears poised to make an affect in Yr 1 for the defending Calder Cup champions. Willander is a robust two-way participant with nice mobility and a excessive hockey IQ. He bought a glance with Sweden’s nationwide senior workforce final 12 months, so has a minimum of had a small style of pro-level hockey. As a two-time World Junior participant and having performed within the NCAA Frozen 4 final 12 months, he has by no means shrunk within the highlight. Canucks followers will probably be watching him further carefully this season.

Oliver Moore, C, Rockford IceHogs (CHI)

One of many quickest gamers not at the moment within the NHL, Moore is a two-time World Junior gold medalist and first-year professional after two years on the College of Minnesota. Chosen nineteenth total in 2023, he’s among the many many Blackhawks first-rounders getting prolonged time within the AHL. Moore appeared in 9 video games with the Blackhawks final season, registering 4 assists. I’d count on him to play rather a lot with Rockford, getting reps as a middle-six middle. He’s lots of enjoyable to observe when he will get a head of steam, so maybe we’ll get an opportunity to see him on the AHL All-Star Basic in Rockford.

psst… the help from Oliver Moore is his first NHL level👏 pic.twitter.com/iWzHkgEpNm

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 5, 2025

Andrew Cristall, LW, Hershey Bears (WSH)

An enormous take a look at awaits Cristall who has met each problem in his younger profession with an terrible lot of factors. The 5-foot-10 ahead has been doubted for his dimension, however final season he scored 132 factors together with 48 objectives within the WHL. He had one other 41 factors in 19 playoff video games. Probably the most productive gamers in junior hockey during the last three years, Cristall has to show he can deal with the professional grind, in addition to the scale and energy of his opponents. There are few higher locations to learn to deal with it, although, than Hershey.

Gabe Perreault, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)

Rangers followers could also be upset he’s not with the massive membership, however Perreault going to the AHL is goingt o be a superb probability for him to get the reps wanted to be a top-six ahead on the subsequent degree. He’s going to get a ton of mintues and elevated roles in Hartford, which is what you need to see on your finest gamers. The 2023 twenty third total decide had 108 factors over two seasons at Boston Faculty, received two World Junior golds and is among the many smartest playmakers in his age group. We’ll learn how a lot of the manufacturing Perreault has made a trademark of his profession interprets to professional. If it does shortly, he seemingly received’t want to attend lengthy for a name from the Rangers.

Tanner Molendyk, D, Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)

The twenty fourth total decide in 2023, Molendyk is about for his first season of professional hockey. The factor that can stand out instantly is his skating, however he additionally has the flexibility to maneuver pucks and make performs. Molendyk had 47 factors in 49 WHL video games final season earlier than posting 20 in 18 playoff video games as Medication Hat received the WHL and reached the Memorial Cup Closing. With expertise on the massive stage on the World Juniors and the Mem Cup, Molendyk ought to thrive within the Milwaukee market.

Igor Chernyshov, LW, San Jose Barracuda (SJS)

After showing in simply 23 video games with the Saginaw Spirit within the OHL final season, Chernyshov is getting his first full season of North American professional hockey. In these 23 video games, the Russian ahead had 55 factors as he dominated the junior ranks. He additionally has 34 profession KHL video games below his belt, so he’s no stranger to the professionals. Now with San Jose, the 6-foot-3 ahead will enter with some excessive expectations and a complete lot of intrigue as he makes the adjustment to the AHL. With the ability Chernyshov possesses, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him seize a number of highlights this season.

IGOR CHERNYSHOV FIRST AHL GOAL! 🚨@sjbarracuda | @SanJoseSharks | @LockedOnSharks @OHLHockey | @SpiritHockey #AHL #CalderCup #TealBitesBack #BarracudaHockey #TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/sNNhutk127

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) Could 8, 2025

Oliver Bonk, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)

Chosen twenty second total in 2023, Bonk is about for his first professional motion within the AHL. The final two seasons with the London Knights had lengthy playoff runs to the OHL title and journeys to the Memorial Cup. That left no room to even get a style of professional video games on the finish of his season. Bonk was a standout in junior, a two-time Canadian World Junior participant and by no means had fewer than 40 factors in an OHL season. His stable two-way play will probably be honed in Allentown, with a probable top-four position. Bonk is at the moment nonetheless with the Flyers as an injured non-roster participant whereas coping with an upper-body harm.

Stian Solberg, D, San Diego Gulls (ANA)

Solberg appeared in 10 video games on the finish of final season with San Diego and now figures to be a distinguished participant of their roster this 12 months. Solberg has performed professionally the final two years, first in Norway’s high professional league and final 12 months within the SHL. One fixed in his recreation is that he performs bodily, and opposing groups want to pay attention to when he’s on the ice. Solberg has lots of nice qualities to his recreation, which ought to enable him to play lots of minutes for the Gulls this season.

Ivan Ryabkin, LW, Chicago Wolves (CAR)

Ryabkin is likely one of the youngest gamers within the AHL coming into the season, making the uncommon, however not unprecedented, leap straight from the USHL to the AHL. He additionally performed some KHL video games in the previous couple of years, however Ryabkin ought to put together for the brand new problem that can come taking part in within the AHL at 18. Ryabkin has an amazing shot, however he additionally performs the sport with a little bit of a mood. There will probably be questions on if he’s actually prepared for what the AHL will throw at him, however ought to the Hurricanes select, he nonetheless may be despatched again to junior. 

Brayden Yager, C, Manitoba Moose (WPG)

Chosen by Pittsburgh in 2023, 14th total, Yager was traded to Winnipeg within the Rutger McGroarty deal. Yager has been among the many extra productive gamers within the WHL the previous couple of seasons, together with an 82-point marketing campaign in 2024-25. He received a WHL title with Moose Jaw in 2024 as properly. Yager has lots of ability and can seemingly play excessive in Manitoba’s lineup. He’ll be attempting to study the ropes of a top-six participant to see if he can match that position as he reaches the NHL.

Colby Barlow, assisted by Brayden Yager 🚨 🍎

F U T U R E 🤖 pic.twitter.com/cEcOKxcCUy

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 22, 2024

Daniil However, LW, Tucson Roadrunners (UTA)

A 6-foot-6 ahead is tough sufficient to search out, however even more durable to search out one with the ability degree However possesses. He seemed good within the NHL preseason, however goes to get his toes moist within the AHL earlier than making the massive time. After two full seasons within the KHL, However must modify to North American professional hockey. Along with his dimension and his arms, nonetheless, it may be simpler than we expect for him. The twelfth total decide in 2023, However has lots of expectations on him and may begin constructing in the direction of these with a robust begin in Tucson.

Trevor Connelly, LW, Henderson Silver Knights (VGK)

Connelly is beginning the season injured, which suggests he’ll seemingly be ticketed for the AHL when he returns to well being. He was Vegas’s nineteenth total decide in 2024 and shocked some when he signed proper after his freshman 12 months at Windfall. He’s nonetheless eligible to signify the U.S. on the World Juniors, and was truly harm through the coaching camp for that occasion. Ranging from behind might show troublesome for Connelly as he tries to catch up. We’ll should see if the Golden Knights finally resolve to maintain him within the AHL or presumably ship him to junior.

Ilya Protas, Hershey Bears (WSH)

Protas completed second within the OHL with 124 factors final season and remains to be eligible to return, however as a result of he was drafted out of the USHL, he’s eligible to go to the AHL to start out the season. That’s the place Washington has the 6-foot-5 middle proper now and he might stick round there. If Protas exhibits he can nonetheless play with the ability he has proven in junior on the professional degree, he’s going to be a call-up possibility for Washington earlier than lengthy.

Quinn Hutson, RW, Bakersfield Condors (EDM)

An undrafted free agent who signed with Edmonton on the finish of final season and even bought into two video games with them, goes to start out the 12 months in Bakersfield. Hutson, whose youthful brother Lane received the Calder Trophy because the NHL’s rookie of the 12 months, had his personal success final season. Quinn posted 23 objectives and 50 factors in serving to lead BU to the Males’s Frozen 4. Because the Oilers look to get low-cost manufacturing, gamers like Hutson might do them an enormous favor by incomes a spot with the massive membership. One must suppose he’s an early candidate for remembers if the Oilers want somebody in a pinch.

Jack Devine, LW, Charlotte Checkers (FLA)

After main the NCAA in scoring final season, Devine joined the Checkers for his or her run to the Calder Cup Finals. He didn’t play repeatedly within the playoffs, however was inserted into the lineup through the last sequence and made an affect. He completed the playoffs with 5 factors over his final 4 video games, giving a style of what might be to return this season. A supremely gifted playmaker, Devine seems to be like a professional menace to be a Rookie of the Yr contender.

🔥 This child is on fireplace! 🔥

Jack Devine makes it 2-0 Charlotte with Powell and Okuliar connecting on the odd-man break. Devine has factors in each recreation since he bought again into the lineup.@CheckersHockey | @FlaPanthers | @LO_FLAPanthers#AHL #CalderCup #CheckersHockey #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/8jxbhf7Crw

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) June 23, 2025

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