Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
NHL groups need their prospects enjoying significant video games come March, April and past.
A key a part of that course of entails the preparation and roster remodeling that occurs main into the NHL commerce deadline. Entrance places of work have each short- and long-term choices to make that may impression operations at each the NHL and AHL ranges.
Notably, a participant will need to have been on an AHL roster when the NHL commerce deadline arrived Friday as a way to be eligible to be despatched to the AHL for the remainder of the common season or the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The Coachella Valley Firebirds, who’ve undergone dramatic modifications since back-to-back journeys to the Calder Cup Finals in 2023 and 2024, know that actuality. Because the mum or dad Seattle Kraken have cycled a number of draft courses into the professional ranks, the Firebirds have taken on that youth.
Gamers like second-year ahead Jagger Firkus have taken management of the Firebirds as they try and make the Calder Cup Playoffs as soon as once more. The AHL All-Star bought a pattern of the postseason final yr, however even for a dynamic junior scorer the step as much as the AHL proved to be a big leap. Whereas the Firebirds fell within the division semifinals, Firkus had three assists in six playoff video games.
Firkus had a 126-point common season in 2023-24 with Moose Jaw within the Western Hockey League earlier than tacking on 32 extra factors in 20 playoff video games.
However for him, rookie defenseman Tyson Jugnauth and the remainder of a rising group of Seattle prospects, it very a lot issues that the Firebirds, a group in a stretch-drive combat, prolong their playoff streak to 4 seasons.
“Each single day it looks like you’re in a unique spot within the standings,” Firkus mentioned.
Amid Coachella Valley’s day-to-day push for a playoff spot is what is occurring in Seattle. All types of exercise – each actual and within the type of infinite rumors – swirled across the Kraken group this week. As Seattle bids to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, something the entrance workplace does – or doesn’t do – might have substantial impacts for Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal and his gamers.
As it’s, Seattle’s organizational depth chart has been by some swings these days on the AHL degree. Firebirds defenseman Gustav Olofsson, who was on an AHL contract, signed an NHL deal for the remainder of the season. Promising goaltending prospect Nikke Kokko has returned from harm. First-year Firebird ahead Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is again from representing Denmark on the Olympics. And Tye Kartye, waived final week by the Kraken, was claimed by the New York Rangers earlier than he might be assigned to Coachella Valley.
Led by Firkus and Logan Morrison with 49 factors every, the Firebirds enter the weekend fifth within the Pacific Division; the highest seven groups will qualify for the postseason. However the group has misplaced 5 of its final seven video games, together with a 5-1 determination at Henderson on Wednesday night time, and is simply 5 factors forward of eighth-place Tucson.
So it’s tight. Actually tight.
The Firebirds are again in motion this weekend, internet hosting Calgary on Saturday and Sunday. Then it’s a home-and-home with first-place Ontario subsequent week.
A number of close-checking hockey, one-goal video games, defending leads, and enjoying from behind lie forward. The work accomplished to this point this season has arrange the Firebirds for the dash to the top of the common season that now faces them. Above all, a participant have to be defensively accountable sufficient to get these key minutes.
“You wish to take a giant step the place your coach has belief in you,” Firkus mentioned. “It’s been a giant leap for me this yr.”
Firkus first got here to the group as a second-round draft choose in 2022. It was simply the second draft class for the Kraken after becoming a member of the NHL as an growth group. It has been a prolonged path for Firkus, however he and his younger teammates have proven appreciable development. The approaching weeks are an opportunity for extra of that. An prolonged postseason run wouldn’t damage, both.
“It’s a younger group that we wish to develop collectively,” Firkus mentioned. “We wish to be taught collectively, and I feel that’s the most effective half about our group, that we’re all prepared to be taught.”
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at the moment covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a daily contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
