10 AHL Players Proving They're Ready to Make an Impact in the NHL in 2015-16
NHL teams require more than their 23-man roster to get through a season, and the AHL farm teams provide replacements in case of injury or trade. Those rosters house all kinds of players, from veteran minor leaguers who serve as mentors to up-and-coming phenoms who won't be riding buses for long.
This is an exciting time for NHL fans, because dozens of prospects are NHL-ready and waiting for the call. A few special talents are more than replacement-level and could make an impact when they are recalled.
Here are the 10 NHL prospects who are most likely to have a substantial impact when they are recalled during the 2015-16 season.
Note: Rankings are based on long-term potential, not in-season impact.
10. Ryan Pulock, D, New York Islanders
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Where Is He Playing? Ryan Pulock is in his second full season as a defender for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. The Tigers are the top farm team of the New York Islanders.
What Is He Doing This Season? Pulock continues his development as a player, but he's also emerging as a splendid power-play talent. Last season, 13 of his 17 goals came with the man advantage, and this year two of his first three goals have come on the power play.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? Estimating development time for defensemen is a moving target—Pulock has some significant advantages including that point shot on the power play. The Islanders have a strong defensive group and may not require Pulock this season, but his talent may force a recall or trade at some point.
9. Laurent Brossoit, G, Edmonton Oilers
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Where Is He Playing? Laurent Brossoit is a trending prospect for the Edmonton Oilers. He's the No. 1 goalie for the Bakersfield Condors, one of the new AHL entries this year.
What Is He Doing This Season? Brossoit is one of the emerging young goalies in the minors this season, building on a solid year in 2014-15. His .927 save percentage ranks 10th in the AHL so far this year.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? The Oilers brought in two goalies as NHL options, along with last year's starter Ben Scrivens. The new arrivals—Cam Talbot and Anders Nilsson—are fighting for playing time, with neither goalie grabbing the top spot. The longer Brossoit performs well and the others struggle, the more likely we'll see him in the NHL this season.
8. Hunter Shinkaruk, LW, Vancouver Canucks
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Where Is He Playing? Hunter Shinkaruk is playing in the AHL for the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks affiliate.
What Is He Doing This Season? Shinkaruk is off to a fast start this season and ranks among the league's top scorers so far. It's a far cry from what was a mediocre pro debut one year ago. He is the current active leader in AHL goals with Frank Vatrano's recall to the Boston Bruins.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? The Canucks will no doubt want Shinkaruk to prove himself for a large portion of the season. He only scored 16 goals in first AHL year, so there's no hurry to take him away from a successful campaign. It's also true that the NHL team could use more scoring, so a recall at some point is possible.
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7. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
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Where Is He Playing? Connor Hellebuyck is a substantial goaltending prospect in the Winnipeg Jets system. He is famous for a tremendous performance for Team USA at the 2015 World Hockey Championships and is the starter for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
What Is He Doing This Season? Hellebuyck is among the league's best in save percentage, sitting at .926 in the discipline. The Moose have struggled this season, but Hellebuyck keeps them in games with his strong performances. He has faced 35 or more shots in four of his outings.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? The Jets are enjoying fine performances from their two NHL goalies, Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson. In the case of slump or injury, the Jets won't hesitate to recall Hellebuyck—he has played well enough and will no doubt receive his first NHL opportunity in the near future.
6. Alexander Khokhlachev, C, Boston Bruins
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Where Is He Playing? Alexander Khokhlachev is a top-flight AHL player for the Providence Bruins. He has been shuttling back and forth between the Boston Bruins and the minors since turning pro in 2013.
What Is He Doing This Season? Khokhlachev is among the AHL's top scorers and has played two NHL games this year. He has performed well in the minors and has averaged almost 15 minutes in each of the two games for Boston.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? With each passing recall and demotion, Boston probably views him as being too shy offensively to contribute on a scoring line in the NHL. His audition with the team isn't over, but the emergence of Frank Vatrano complicates things for the Russian.
5. Brandon Montour, D, Anaheim Ducks
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Where Is He Playing? Brandon Montour is playing for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. He is one of the leading scorers among defensemen in the league at this time.
What Is He Doing This Season? Montour is making the transition from the USHL to college hockey to the AHL look like child's play—since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, he is impacting all levels in a big way.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? Montour has so little pro experience that there's a chance he spends most or all of this year in San Diego. However, the numbers suggest he is going to force his way onto the NHL roster soon, and the Ducks may have to swing a trade in order to make room for him.
4. William Nylander, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Where Is He Playing? William Nylander is a brilliant and talented forward in the Toronto Maple Leafs system. He's pushing for big league employment while making life miserable for AHL goalies and helping the Toronto Marlies win games.
What Is He Doing This Season? Nylander is too good for the AHL now, at age 19. He is tallying more than one point per game and among the top five scorers.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? The Leafs have kept him in the minors for more than 50 games, including playoffs. He's NHL-ready, and it all comes down to when the team wants to make the call. The NHL team is starving for goals, and Nylander is an offensive dynamo, so it looks like a match made in heaven. Toronto may feel bringing him up now would put too much pressure on him, but there's no real hockey reason for him to remain in the AHL.
3. Nick Ritchie, LW, Anaheim Ducks
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Where Is He Playing? Nick Ritchie is playing his first pro games for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL.
What Is He Doing This Season? Ritchie—the No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Anaheim Ducks—is having a strong debut and covering the bet suggested by his draft pedigree. His eight goals in 11 games have him in a tie for No. 4 in league goal-scoring.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? Ritchie will need time to establish himself, and with so little pro experience there's no hurry. The Ducks have plenty of depth at the NHL level, but Ritchie's talent may force the issue as the season wears on.
2. Derrick Pouliot, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Where Is He Playing? Derrick Pouliot patrols defense for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL.
What Is He Doing This Season? After spending almost half of last season in the NHL—34 games—Pouliot finds himself in the minors and making the most of his opportunity. His point total has him inside the AHL's top 10 defensemen, and the more prominent role is no doubt helping his development.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? Pouliot's NHL stats from last season suggest he is a substantial young player with solid possession numbers and offensive ability. HockeyAnalysis.com informs us he wasn't being mentored by an established NHL defender, and overall the numbers were excellent last season. Pouliot appears to be NHL-ready, which means the organization is likely slow-playing development or uncomfortable with inexperienced defenders.
1. John Gibson, G, Anaheim Ducks
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Where Is He Playing? John Gibson is playing for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, waiting for his opportunity to resume his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks. He was with Anaheim for 23 games during the 2014-15 campaign and played a few regular-season games—and playoff games—in 2013-14 for the big club.
What Is He Doing This Season? Gibson has a stellar .923 save percentage with the Gulls and is clearly ready to step in at the NHL level. Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times reported in September that the Ducks signed Gibson to a three-year deal. He's clearly a big part of the future.
Why Isn't He in the NHL Already? The Ducks have an unusual problem, as young Frederik Andersen arrived as a bona fide No. 1 candidate just a little before the arrival of Gibson. Anaheim will have to decide between them eventually—and trade one of these goalies—but for now Gibson and his substantial contract bide their time in the AHL.
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