Patrick WilliamsFeatures Writer for TheAHL.com
AHL facilities that have been quiet all summer are now alive.
Training camp has arrived across the American Hockey League. While most assignments from NHL training camps have already been made, there is still more to come before opening night rosters are expected in the NHL on Oct. 7. Free agents and other tryouts also have a chance to win a spot on the AHL roster. – or at least make a strong impression later in the season.
Here's a look at some of the more common names in AHL training camps this week:
BAKERSFIELD
Forward Bryce Kindopphis first three seasons were split between San Diego and Rockford, he is in training camp with Bakersfield. The Condors were also ahead Jasper Weatherby camp after spending last season with Milwaukee, where he had 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 66 games.
CHARLOTTE
The Checkers have many forwards Matt Luff following his training camp run with the Florida Panthers. Luff battled injuries last season, but still had 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 26 games with Grand Rapids while appearing in five NHL games with Detroit.
MILWAUKEE
Experienced defender Lucas Johansen is in Milwaukee trying to earn a job with the Admirals this fall. Johansen is coming off back-to-back Calder Cup titles at Hershey and was a key part of the Bears' blue line this past spring until an injury in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals ended his season. In all, he contributed 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 22 regular season games for the Bears and five assists in nine postseason contests. He also appeared in six games with the Washington Capitals, the team that took him in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
PROVIDENCE
The Bruins have a long tradition of fielding a strong group of veteran forwards, too Tyler Pitlic a recent addition. Pitlic, who split last season between the New York Rangers and Hartford, is in Providence for training camp. Last season in his first return to the AHL since 2015-16, he had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 22 games for the Wolf Pack while playing 34 games in New York. In total, he has 420 NHL games to his name and another 218 in the AHL.
SAN DIEGO
The San Diego Gulls have bolstered their lineup with an interesting signing by bringing in an undrafted forward. Ruslan Gazizov on a one-year AHL deal. The 20-year-old Gazizov attended rookie camp with the Anaheim Ducks and showed enough to earn that contract after a strong performance last season with London of the Ontario Hockey League. There, he had 81 points (36 goals, 45 assists) in 63 games and helped London eventually advance to the Memorial Cup with 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 19 postseason contests.
SAN JOSE
The protector Joey Keane returned to North America to win the job following two seasons in the Continental Hockey League. Keane was named to the AHL All-Rookie team in 2019-20 after putting together a 37-point effort (nine goals, 28 assists) in 58 games between Hartford and Charlotte. He then won the Calder Cup in 2022 with Chicago, leading all AHL defensemen with 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists) in 18 games played.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league's top scorer in 2016.
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