SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … As the National Hockey League opens its 2024-25 season, the American Hockey League is proud to have it. 594 graduates in all active 32-day NHL programs, which are constructive more than 83 percent of the NHL's first pool of players to begin its campaign.
Many of last year's AHL standouts made the jump to the NHL as the new season got underway, among them the 2023-24 AHL rookie of the year. Logan Stankoven (Dallas) and other members of the 2023-24 AHL Top Prospects Team Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles), Simon Edwinsson (Detroit), Jiri Kulich (Bison) and Shane Wright (Settle).
A total of 17 players participating in the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic appeared in NHL opening night programs, including the 2023-24 AHL scoring leader. Adam Gaudette (Ottawa); Second team AHL All-Stars Joel Blomqvist (Pittsburgh) and Jake Christiansen (Columbus); and prominent ones Jonathan Berggren (Detroit), Dylan Coghlan (Winnipeg), Matt Coronato (Calgary), Josh Doan (Utha), Ryker Evans (Settle), Riley Tufte (Boston), Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota), Dustin Wolf (Calgary) and Olen Zellweger (Anaheim).
Twenty-two of the NHL's 32 coaches were AHL bench managers early in their careers including Dan Bylsma of the Seattle Kraken, who was promoted and asst Jessica Campbell after guiding Coachella Valley to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals appearances. Ryan Warsofskyhead coach of the 2022 Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves, is taking over the bench for the San Jose Sharks this season.
Among the NHL stars who honed their skills in the American Hockey League is a Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets winner and the Art Ross Trophy Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who scored 54 goals Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers, and 100 point scorers David Pastrnak, Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen again JT Miller. Last season, a total of 890 AHL alumni played in the National Hockey League – 87.0 percent of all NHL players – incl 349 who skated in both leagues last year alone.
Operating since 1936, the AHL serves as the premier league for the development of players, coaches, managers, administrators, broadcasters and officials for the National Hockey League and its 32 teams. The 89th season of the AHL begins this Friday, October 11, with all games broadcast live AHLTV on FloHockey.
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