The NHL will officially open its season today with a triple-header of games. Prior to the puck dropping, NHL teams submitted their opening-night rosters Monday by 5 p.m. ET. The league announced those opening-night rosters Tuesday and, as expected, many recent AHL graduates are going to be getting the coveted opportunity they’ve been playing for.

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To help you keep track of some of the young players that are making the jump to the NHL, here’s a look at some recent AHL graduates that aren’t just on opening night rosters, but have a chance to stick with their NHL teams for a good chunk of the season, if not in its entirety.

While this is not a comprehensive list, it hits a lot of the high points on players who spent most of last season in the AHL, but will now get their chance to start the season in the NHL. 

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THE AHL EFFECT👊

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— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 8, 2024

Note: A number of players are on or not on opening night rosters for salary cap reasons. Those players have not been included in the list.

Buffalo Sabres – Rochester Americans

Jiri Kulich, RW

Sabres fans had been waiting with bated breath for Kulich’s arrival after he pumped in 51 goals over hist first two AHL seasons with Rochester. He made the team out of camp and appeared in one of the Sabres’ two games overseas to start the season. Kulich will still have some work to do to ensure his full-time status with the club, but he can absolutely score as he’s proven at pretty much every level.

Devon Levi, G

Levi’s NHL career had a bit of a false start, but the Sabres were wise to give him the time to get a feel for the pro game in the AHL. He split the season between Buffalo and Rochester, posting strong numbers in the AHL with a .927 save percentage in 26 appearances. He also had a .923 mark in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Levi will be battling Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen for time in the Sabres’ crease, but he’s better positioned this year than he was last given his extra development time.

Calgary Flames – Calgary Wranglers

Dustin Wolf, G

He’s been one of the best AHL goalies in recent memory as a two-time Baz Bastien Memorial Award winner as the league’s best goalie, and was the Les Cunningham Award winner as MVP in 2022-23. Wolf got 17 NHL games last season and 36 more with the Wranglers. With a career .926 save percentage in 141 AHL appearances, Wolf has more than paid his dues and bided his time. His chance to quiet doubters about his size and NHL capability is here.

Matt Coronato, RW

The Flames are in a bit of a transitional phase of their franchise and more young players will need to claw their way into being the solution in Calgary. Coronato, selected 13th overall in 2021, appears to be one of those players. He split time between the NHL and AHL last season, producing over a point per game with the Wranglers. Now we have to see if that offensive prowess can translate into the NHL.

Chicago Blackhawks – Rockford IceHogs

Nolan Allan, D

Allan is poised to make his NHL debut with the Blackhawks on opening night. After a strong junior career between the Prince Albert Raiders and Seattle Thunderbirds, Allan played 60 games for Rockford last season. He had 17 points and brought a physical, defensive-minded presence to the team as a rookie. Selected 32nd overall in 2021, Allan likely has a long-term spot as a depth defenseman for Chicago.

Colorado Avalanche – Colorado Eagles

Sam Malinski, D

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Cornell, Malinski spent 46 games with the Colorado Eagles last season. He also got into 23 NHL contests with the Avs and proved to be a productive player. He had 27 points in his AHL run and appeared in three postseason contests. Malinski looks good to find a regular role on Colorado’s blue line at the NHL level this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Cleveland Monsters

Mikael Pyythia, C/W

Spotlighted as a standout in training camp by our own Patrick Williams, Pyythia is on the NHL roster to start the season with Columbus. The 2020 fourth-round pick got 17 games with the Jackets last season, but was primarily with the Cleveland Monsters. He helped Cleveland reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season with five points in 13 games. He’ll likely play down the lineup in Columbus, but it’s another win for their development system as last year was his first in North America full-time.

Dallas Stars – Texas Stars

Logan Stankoven, C

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Stankoven is starting the year in Dallas and we’ve probably seen the last of him in the AHL. Stankoven appeared in 19 playoff games with Dallas, so the writing was on the wall. Before leaving, he had an explosive AHL rookie campaign with 57 points in 47 games, earning the Red Garrett Memorial Award as AHL rookie of the year. He may yet become a sensational top-six forward at the NHL level because he’s done it literally everywhere else.

Mavrik Bourque, LW

Starting the season as injured, non-roster, but the Les Cunningham Award winner as AHL MVP last season appears to have a chance to stick with the big club in Dallas. The 2020 first-round draft pick had 77 points in 71 games last season – a 30-point improvement from his rookie year in 2022-23. He also had 11 points in seven postseason contests with the Texas Stars. 

Detroit Red Wings – Grand Rapids Griffins

Simon Edvinsson, D

After spending most of last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Simon Edvinsson is expected to be a full-timer with the Red Wings this season. He had 30 points in 54 games last season, improving his output from his rookie year. Edvinsson also got 16 games with the Wings last season, posting a goal and an assist over that span. The No. 6 pick from the 2021 NHL Draft will need to take the big step this year to help the Red Wings as they try to get back into the playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings – Ontario Reign

Brandt Clarke, D

Clarke has seen NHL ice in each of the two previous seasons, but this time it looks like he’ll be with the Kings for good. Clarke had 46 points in 50 games last season as one of the most productive blueliners in the AHL. While he can still work on things, his game has really matured and gotten more well rounded as a professional. His offense is still the headline, but his defense is no longer a sore spot in his game.

Akil Thomas, C/W

Patience is being rewarded on opening night as Akil Thomas will get a chance to be part of the Kings for much of this season. He had a career-best 46 points last season with the Ontario Reign, his fourth AHL campaign. Thomas was also a strong performer in the postseason with five points in eight games for the Reign. Now he’ll be finding his role with the Kings as they turn more of their roster over to younger players.

Alex Turcotte, C/W

Maybe things haven’t gone quite as expected in Turcotte’s career after going fifth overall in 2019. But the Kings have never given up on the player and the player hasn’t given up on pushing his game forward. He made the opening-night roster after appearing in 20 games with Los Angeles last season. Turcotte also had one of his most productive runs in the AHL last season with 29 points in 35 games. He has found more ways to contribute than on the score sheet and will look to make good on the belief the Kings have maintained in him.

Minnesota Wild – Iowa Wild

Jesper Wallstedt, G

A new extension and a start on the NHL roster has made this a good week for the Wild’s goalie of the future. Minnesota is going to start the season with three NHL goalies on their roster, which usually doesn’t work so well. We’ll see how the plan goes and if Minnesota will need to send the 21-year-old to AHL if he’s not getting enough reps at the NHL level. But he’s in the NHL now after 83 games in the AHL over the last two seasons. His numbers aren’t gaudy, but the belief in Wallstedt’s ability has never wavered. He’ll one day succeed Marc-Andre Fleury and that day is getting ever closer.

Montreal Canadiens – Laval Rocket

Emil Heineman, LW

Heineman’s NHL rights have bounced around the last few years in trades, but he seems to have found a home with the Habs. After posting 29 points in 48 games with the Laval Rocket last year, Heineman appears poised to step into the NHL lineup. Whether he stays will remain to be seen, but this is a player that has trended upwards the last two years especially.

New York Islanders – Bridgeport Islanders

Kyle MacLean, C/W

After getting 32 games with the NHL Isles last season, it looks like Kyle MacLean is going to be a full-time NHLer. Signed as an undrafted free agent, he played the last four seasons in Bridgeport, steadily carving out a role for himself. Likely a depth forward, MacLean will bring energy to the NHL lineup for the Isles.

Ottawa Senators – Belleville Senators

Tyler Kleven, D

Kleven got a nine-game run in the NHL last year with Ottawa, but primarily spent the season in Belleville. The big, physical defenseman appeared in 53 games with the B-Sens, posting 21 points. He’s a bit of a throwback player with a grinding physical game and a booming slap shot. It is unclear if Kleven’s NHL spot is assured for the season, but he’s going to be there for opening night, it appears.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Joel Blomqvist, G

An injury to Alex Nedeljkovic opened the door for Blomqvist to fill in as Tristan Jarry’s backup to start the season and that’s what he’ll do. The Finnish netminder put together an especially impressive rookie season in the AHL. In 45 appearances, Blomqvist had a .921 save percentage and won 25 games with the WBS Penguins. He might be a placeholder for now, but last season showed that the Pens may have something here in their 202 second-round pick.

San Jose Sharks – San Jose Barracuda

Daniil Guschin, LW

The headlines belong to the star rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, but Guschin is a fun player to watch and should he get a chance, he can help the Sharks and their young core. The dynamic Russian forward had 54 points in 56 games with the San Jose Barracuda last season and also got into four games with the Sharks. If he impresses early, he may make a strong enough case to stick with the big club.

Seattle Kraken – Coachella Valley Firebirds

Shane Wright, C

Among the highest-profile young players to appear in the AHL in recent memory, the 2022 fourth overall pick and former OHL exceptional status player got a full dose of the AHL last year. And was it ever good for him. Wright has now been part of two runs to the Calder Cup Finals with Coachella Valley and was a prominent figure in their postseason success this year when he had 13 points in the 12 postseason games he played. Wright also had 22 goals and 47 points in 59 regular-season games. The assumption is that he’ll be with the Kraken full time with a chance to make a positive impact early.

Utah Hockey Club – Tucson Roadrunners

Josh Doan, C/W

In something that eerily mirrors his father’s pro experience with him playing as a rookie for one team only to have it be relocated, Josh Doan is set to be a contributor on the new Utah Hockey Club. He appeared in 11 very impressive games with the Arizona Coyotes, posting nine points over that span. Meanwhile, he cut his teeth in Tucson, which is still going to be the affiliate for Utah this season. Doan had 46 points in 62 games last year and proved he’s ready for the next step.

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D

After spending the last two seasons in Tucson with a few kicks at the NHL can, Kolyachonok looks like he will stick as a depth defenseman for Utah this season. He appeared in 36 AHL games last season and posted 11 points. Kolyachonok will be relied on more for his defensive prowess, though.

Vancouver Canucks – Abbotsford Canucks

Aatu Raty, C/W

A winding journey has finally led Raty to the NHL roster spot he coveted. It also was hard-earned as he had to beat out fellow Abbotsford forward Arshdeep Bains for the spot. Raty had 52 points for Abbotsford last season and made a strong case his game has rounded out enough to be relied on in a variety of situations for the NHL.

Arturs Silovs, G

With Thatcher Demko still dealing with some injury issues, Silovs will start the year in the NHL. The Latvian netminder was pressed into action last year, appearing in 10 Stanley Cup Playoffs games with the Canucks after spending each of the last two seasons with Abbotsford. Silovs has shown some NHL-caliber goaltending skills even if his numbers have been a little below average. He’s an entertaining goalie to watch and should get some early chances to prove he can stick at the NHL level.

Vegas Golden Knights

Raphael Lavoie, RW

The Golden Knights are affiliated with the Henderson Silver Knights, but that’s not where Lavoie spent his AHL time. Lavoie was claimed on waivers by Vegas, swiping him from the Edmonton Oilers. The 24-year-old second-round pick from 2019 had his best pro season last year with the Bakersfiled Condors, posting 28 goals and 50 points. He was never able to stick with the especially deep Oilers, but now gets a new opportunity in a team that needs help that fits under their cap.

Cole Schwindt, C/W

Another waiver wire pickup ahead of the season, Schwindt was waived by the Calgary Flames. The former Florida Panthers draft pick appeared in 66 games with the Calgary Wranglers last season and put up 36 points. He also had four goals in six postseason contests.

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