Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
The most recent wave of NHL first-round picks is starting to point out up at AHL coaching camps this week.
A number of gamers from the 2023 NHL Draft have already got gained a point of expertise on the AHL degree final season. Now they must construct on that work. After going to an NHL coaching camp, some have been assigned to the AHL. Others stay within the combine for a roster spot when the NHL common season begins subsequent Tuesday.
Let’s have a look at a few of these first-round picks.
CALGARY WRANGLERS
Ahead Sam Honzek is again with the Wranglers after the Calgary Flames assigned him to their AHL affiliate on Tuesday. The Flames chosen him sixteenth total within the 2023 NHL Draft.
Nonetheless a month shy of turning 20 when he started final season with the Wranglers, he stepped into the professional recreation and ended up taking part in 52 regular-season video games with 21 factors (eight objectives, 13 assists). The Flames noticed match to offer him 5 NHL video games as properly. He then bought an opportunity to characterize Slovakia on the IIHF World Championship, stepping into six video games and selecting up a objective and an help.
CHICAGO WOLVES
The Wolves bought a serious increase this week when the Carolina Hurricanes despatched ahead Bradly Nadeau to their AHL affiliate.
As a 19-year-old in 2024-25 with the Wolves with only one season of NCAA expertise, Nadeau had a standout rookie efficiency. His 58 factors in 64 regular-season video games positioned him second amongst AHL rookies, and his 32 objectives led all first-year gamers. That effort earned him spots on the AHL All-Rookie Group in addition to the AHL Prime Prospects Group. Carolina chosen him thirtieth within the 2023 NHL Draft.
MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
Ahead David Edstrom is with Milwaukee after the Nashville Predators assigned him Monday.
Chosen thirty second total in 2023 by the Vegas Golden Knights, Edstrom has had an eventful path to Milwaukee. The Golden Knights despatched him to the San Jose Sharks in an NHL commerce deadline deal for Tomas Hertl in March 2024. Simply 5 months later, he went to Nashville as a key a part of the return for high goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov.
The 20-year-old will play his first full season in North America popping out of the extremely regarded Frölunda program within the Swedish Hockey League. Final season in 39 video games with Frölunda, he collected 19 factors (seven objectives, 12 assists) in 39 regular-season video games. His season ended up taking him to Milwaukee for a four-game audition within the Calder Cup Playoffs as properly.
STILL IN THE NHL MIX
A number of 2023 first-round picks are nonetheless in NHL coaching camps and trying to lock down roster spots.
Ahead Dalibor Dvorsky had a standout season with the Springfield Thunderbirds. His 21 objectives tied him for fifth amongst AHL rookies, and he completed with 45 factors in 61 regular-season video games as a 19-year-old. The St. Louis Blues prospect, who went tenth total in 2023, had a busy marketing campaign. He went to the IIHF World Junior Championship and had 9 factors (5 objectives, 4 assists) in 5 video games for Slovakia, represented the Thunderbirds on the AHL All-Star Basic, after which went to the IIHF World Championship, the place he performed six video games. To cap his season, he took a spot on the AHL Prime Prospects Group and is having a robust coaching camp with the Blues thus far. One other Blues ahead prospect, Otto Stenberg, stays in NHL coaching camp as properly after a season with Springfield during which he had 17 factors (5 objectives, 12 assists) in 38 video games. St. Louis took him within the twenty fifth spot of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Detroit Purple Wings blueline prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s NHL bid additionally continues. Detroit took him seventeenth total two years in the past and stationed him within the SHL with Skellefteå final season; he completed with 29 factors (12 objectives, 17 assists) in 46 regular-season video games after which had a objective and 7 assists in 11 playoff contests. Nevertheless, he got here to the Grand Rapids Griffins when his SHL season completed for additional work. He performed a pair of regular-season video games after which picked up three video games within the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Defenseman David Reinbacher had been within the operating for a roster spot with the Montreal Canadiens following a robust end to the 2024-25 season with the Laval Rocket. Reinbacher, taken fifth total in 2023, had missed a lot of the common season after sustaining a knee harm in coaching camp final yr. He returned to motion late within the common season with the Rocket, taking part in 10 video games, earlier than logging 13 video games within the Calder Cup Playoffs because the Rocket superior to the Jap Convention Finals. Nevertheless, Reinbacher shall be out for 4 weeks with a damaged metacarpal bone sustained final week in a preseason recreation in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Additionally amongst this group is Utah Mammoth defenseman Dmitri Simashev, the sixth total decide of that 2023 draft class. The 20-year-old already possesses high-level expertise after taking part in 137 video games within the Kontinental Hockey League the previous three seasons. He had a objective and 5 assists in 56 regular-season video games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl after which performed 21 video games because the crew went to win the Gagarin Cup. Utah signed the 6-foot-5 Simashev to a three-year entry-level contract on Could 28. If Utah administration determines that AHL seasoning can be useful for Simashev’s long-term outlook, he can be eligible to hitch the Tucson Roadrunners.
On the American Hockey League beat for twenty years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally presently 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.
