by Jason Karnosky | AHL On The Beat
The Milwaukee Admirals have a knack for creating Nationwide Hockey League defensemen.
Since turning into affiliated with Nashville shortly after the Predators’ enlargement, a gradual stream of All-Star degree defensemen – together with Roman Josi, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Kimmo Timonen – began their careers in Milwaukee. Numerous different defenders akin to Mattias Ekholm, Dan Hamhuis, Cody Franson, Spencer Stastney and, most just lately, Adam Wilsby loved strong NHL careers after sporting an Admirals sweater.
Ryan Ufko represents the following hyperlink within the Admirals’ growth chain. Now in his second full season with Milwaukee, the 22-year-old blueliner leads Milwaukee – in addition to all AHL defensemen – in scoring with 33 factors by way of 32 video games.
“Ryan’s getting plenty of alternatives and ice time, and he’s operating with it.” Admirals head coach Karl Taylor stated. “He’s been actually good for us.”
Ufko had a objective and an help in Milwaukee’s most necessary win of the season, a 3-0 victory over Rockford on Dec. 30 that ended his workforce’s nine-game shedding streak.
“We nonetheless imagine in ourselves, and we imagine in how we’ve been enjoying even once we are behind or shedding,” stated Ufko. “We’ve tried to not dwell on getting down, however as a substitute we’ve caught collectively as a result of we all know what we will pull off.”
Very like his workforce, Ufko bought off to a quick begin this season. The College of Massachusetts-Amherst product had objectives in every of the final 4 video games of October. Throughout that point Milwaukee trailed solely league chief Grand Rapids within the Central Division standings.
“It’s been a extremely good begin to the 12 months for me (personally),” Ufko stated. “I really feel like I’m much more comfy this 12 months, and I’ve a whole lot of confidence in myself and in how I’m enjoying.”
The proficient blueliner is rising as a weapon on the ability play. 4 of his 9 objectives have come on the person benefit.
“Our energy play has actually been clicking and capitalizing on these moments,” stated Ufko, who additionally scored his first profession shorthanded objective this season. “Particularly in the beginning of the 12 months it appeared like we have been scoring power-play objectives in each sport.”
Whereas Milwaukee limped by way of December, falling again to fifth place within the Central Division, the Admirals’ energy play remained elite. They’re scoring power-play objectives at a shocking 29.8 % clip, which is the very best success charge within the AHL.
“(I recognize) all the alternatives I’ve been getting this season,” stated Ufko, who additionally had a five-game level streak wrapped across the Thanksgiving vacation. “It reveals the belief that the coaches have in me, and I’ve tried to capitalize on that.”
Whereas Ufko is breaking out this season, his development began within the spring of 2024, because the Smithtown, N.Y., native joined the Admirals a few month earlier than his twenty first birthday. Ufko signed an entry-level contract with Nashville on March 29 after enjoying three years of school hockey at UMass.
“The [time] I’ve been right here since faculty has gone actually rapidly,” Ufko stated. “But I additionally really feel like I’ve been right here for some time, particularly after stepping into all of these playoff video games that first spring. That 2024 playoff run was actually good for my profession.”
Ufko performed in 9 regular-season video games with the Admirals in 2023-24, contributing six factors. The Predators’ 2021 fourth-round draft choose then helped Milwaukee advance to the Western Convention Finals for the second straight season.
“Ryan had 10 factors in these 15 playoff video games, however he’s come a great distance as a participant since then,” Taylor stated. “I’m actually pleased with his growth, and the way he’s enjoying now for us.”
Final season as a rookie, Ufko was the one Admirals participant to skate in all 72 regular-season video games. He struggled a bit popping out of the gates however ended as Milwaukee’s high scoring defenseman with 30 factors. He added three assists in 10 playoff video games final spring.
“Ryan battled by way of a little bit of a gradual begin final 12 months, coming again in any case of that momentum he had from the earlier postseason,” Taylor stated. “However by the tip of the 12 months he was one among our higher gamers.”
The height second of Ufko’s season got here on April 14, 2025, when he made his NHL debut with Nashville.
“Ryan is yelling at Nashville to provide him an opportunity,” Taylor stated. “He’s demanding it along with his play. He’s realized loads from his gradual begin final 12 months, and that’s been a teachable second for all of our gamers.”
This season the 5-foot-10 defenseman discovered one other degree, and that has meant loads to a Milwaukee squad attempting to regain the tailwind they’d behind them within the early going.
“Ryan’s been a bit of extra assured, and a bit of safer with the puck, so he’s been capable of maintain on to it a bit of longer to make these late performs,” Taylor stated. “He’s been excellent for us, and what a approach to begin the 12 months, particularly after the way it began for him final 12 months.”
