Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Alternatives got here right down to the ultimate days, hours and minutes for some acquainted AHL names, however all the identical they’ve someplace to be as coaching camps have opened throughout the NHL this week.
A number of regulars from the 2024-25 AHL season have secured skilled tryouts with NHL groups. Whether or not or not these PTO’s will result in one thing extra stays to be seen, however at stake could possibly be a two-way NHL-AHL deal, an AHL contract, or a chance elsewhere.
FLORIDA PANTHERS (CHARLOTTE CHECKERS)
With the Panthers aiming for a 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup championship and the Checkers having gone to the Calder Cup Finals this previous June, depth continues to be paramount for Florida normal supervisor Invoice Zito and his group.
To that finish, Florida has introduced in a number of gamers with AHL expertise. Beginning at ahead, Corey Andonovski divided final season between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Springfield Thunderbirds, taking part in 49 video games. Hunter Johannes performed 51 video games with the Grand Rapids Griffins as a rookie final season and also will get an opportunity in camp with Florida. There may be additionally Phip Waugh, who performed three video games final season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton however most of his time got here with their ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers.
On the blue line, the Panthers are giving veteran Andy Welinski a glance. The previous AHL All-Star had an eight-game spin with Charlotte in 2023-24 earlier than splitting final season between the Utica Comets and German crew Löwen Frankfurt. Cole Krygier has components of three seasons with the Ontario Reign, however discovered himself restricted to 14 video games in 2024-25. He has Panthers ties because the group selected him within the 2018 NHL Draft earlier than sending him to the Los Angeles Kings in a March 2023 commerce.
Florida had already invited long-time Syracuse Crunch ahead Daniel Walcott to coaching camp together with ahead Josh Lopina (San Diego Gulls) and blueliner Ben Harpur (Hartford Wolf Pack).
NASHVILLE PREDATORS (MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS)
A well-recognized face and a brand new one are going to coaching camp with Nashville.
Brooks Bratten of Nashville’s official crew web site reported that ahead Isaac Ratcliffe and defenseman Scott Harrington will likely be in Predators camp. Ratcliffe performed 13 video games for his or her AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, final season in his second flip with the crew. Harrington has 255 video games of NHL expertise and dressed for 49 video games final season with Springfield.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS)
Going again to his days overseeing the Toronto Marlies, Kyle Dubas has by no means been hesitant to go heavy on roster depth. Now that Dubas runs the present in Pittsburgh because the crew’s president of hockey operations and normal supervisor, that philosophy continues.
With the Penguins lacking the Stanley Cup Playoffs final season and an all-new teaching employees taking up, change has swept by the Pittsburgh group. One incoming title is energy ahead Brett Murray, who spent six seasons with the Rochester People and posted a career-best 27 targets final season in addition to being chosen for the AHL All-Star Traditional. Murray has Pennsylvania ties having performed two seasons at Penn State.
Becoming a member of Murray in Pittsburgh on PTO’s are ahead Cal Burke, who performed final season with the Henderson Silver Knights, and defenseman Jake Livingstone (Milwaukee).
ELSEWHERE
The Seattle Kraken introduced that ahead Max McCormick is out indefinitely with a hip damage. McCormick, who has served as captain of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, discovered himself held to only 19 AHL video games final season. In his first two seasons with the Firebirds, he had a mixed 60 targets and twice helped lead the crew to the Calder Cup Finals…
A pair of 23-year-old forwards have PTO’s with the Minnesota Wild after spending final season within the AHL. Jean-Luc Foudy, who performed 219 AHL regular-season video games with Colorado throughout 5 seasons, had 19 factors (5 targets, 14 assists) in 48 video games in 2024-25. Elliot Desnoyers can be going to camp with Minnesota after signing an AHL contract with the Iowa Wild this previous July following three seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms…
Ahead Kevin Wall is in coaching camp with the Vegas Golden Knights after logging 97 video games throughout the previous two seasons for Milwaukee.
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at present 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.
