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American Hockey League (AHL)

NHL Prospects To Watch In 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs On Defense

NHL Prospects To Watch In 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs On Defense

The 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs are a vital training ground for many top prospects. Chris Peters looks at notable U22 defensemen to track.

Apr 22, 2025 by Chris Peters
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The Calder Cup Playoffs are here and for many top NHL prospects, this will be their first taste of the grind of the postseason in North America. Plenty have experienced playoffs in other levels and leagues, but there’s nothing quite like the Calder Cup Playoffs in the sport.

With 23 teams making the postseason, nine of which have a bye into the second round, there’s a lot of variables that make this postseason among the most grueling in the sport. For the next two months, there’s going to be an awful lot of tense games.

One reason the AHL’s playoff pool is so large is to provide the opportunities for more prospects to get this postseason feel. The stakes are high and the Calder Cup may be the second-most coveted trophy in the pro ranks, behind only the Stanley Cup. Getting prospects a chance to experience the intensity of that chase is only going to be good for them.

For many NHL teams, this is a critical testing ground for the future of their team. Many players that went on to stardom in the NHL and the Stanley Cup Playoffs first cut their teeth here. 

So let’s take a look at some of the highest profile defensemen under 22 that will be competing in the AHL’s “second season” which begins Tuesday night.

ALSO READ: NHL Forward Prospects To Watch In The Calder Cup Playoffs | Top Goalie Prospects In Calder Cup Playoffs

Top Defense Prospects To Watch In AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

Artyom Levshunov, Rockford IceHogs (CHI)

The No. 2 pick from the most recent NHL Draft, Levshunov is the highest-drafted prospect playing In the Calder Cup Playoffs. He’s also coming off of 18 games in the NHL with the Blackhawks. In 52 games with Rockford, Levshunov has 22 points. He showed flashes of the offensive skill that made him a No. 2 pick and defended more than adequately. At times, Levshunov looked even better in the NHL than he did in the AHL, but now he can show that level of consistency at the most important time of the year.

David Reinbacher, Laval Rocket (MTL)

Selected fifth overall in 2023, Reinbacher has only appeared in 10 games this season due to injury. He is expected to be fully available for the playoffs. Montreal fans are excited to see how he progresses as the young core of the NHL club has really brought excitement this season. Reinbacher’s injury woes have kept him out of that mix a bit, but he can reestablish himself with a strong postseason with the AHL’s regular-season champs.

Kevin Korchinski, Rockford IceHogs (CHI)

The No. 7 overall pick in 2022, Korchinski already has 92 games of NHL experience, but spent the bulk of this season in the AHL. He was the MVP of the AHL All-Star Classic and has 27 points in 56 games with Rockford. Expect Korchinski to play big minutes in the postseason.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)

Arriving from Sweden just last week, the highly-anticipated North American debut of Sandin Pellikka did not disappoint. He had an assist in his first game and showcased all of the puck-moving skills that made him a star in his native Sweden. He had 12 goals and 29 points in 46 games with Skellefteå in the Swedish Hockey League and was a three-time member of Sweden’s World Junior team. He was the 17th overall selection in 2023.

Denton Mateychuk, Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)

The 12th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Mateychuk appeared in 45 games with the Blue Jackets this year. When with Cleveland, he was among the best players in the AHL with 25 points in 27 games. He was part of the team that went to the conference finals last year and should be a major factor for the Monsters once again.

Luca Cagnoni, San Jose Barracuda (SJS)

An All-Rookie selection this year, Cagnoni was among the most productive blueliners in the AHL this season. He had 52 points in 64 game with San Jose and even saw action in six NHL games with the big club, posting two assists. Cagnoni is a dynamic puckmover who is showing that his incredible production from junior has translated to pro.

Maveric Lamoureux, Tucson Roadrunners (UTA)

Lamoureux figures to be a big part of the Utah Hockey Club’s future and we’re not just talking about his size, which is immense. The 6-foot-7 blueliner is in his first pro season after a successful junior career. He got into 15 games with Utah, but spent most of the season in Tucson, which made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. Lamoureux had 13 points in 42 games with the Roadrunners during the regular season.

Owen Pickering, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)

A 25-game run with Pittsburgh built a lot of confidence for and in Pickering, who is a 6-foot-5 rearguard. He had only 13 points with WBS, but showed a growin all-around game that will make him a reliable presence for his team in the postseason.

Hunter Brzustewicz, Calgary Wranglers (CGY)

With 32 points in his rookie season, Brzustewicz showed flashes of the top-end puck mover the Flames hope he will become. Acquired in a trade with the Canucks, there is more for him to add to his game over time, but he's going to get the opportunity to get some good run here. The Wranglers have a tough first-round matchup with Coachella Valley, which will provide a good test for the 20-year-old who had 92 points from the blue line in the OHL last season.

Other Notable U22 Defense Prospects In The Calder Cup Playoffs

  • Kirill Kurdyavtsev, Abbotsford Canucks (VAN)
  • Dominik Badinka, Chicago Wolves (CAR)
  • Ty Nelson, Coachella Valley (SEA)
  • Lukas Dragicevic, Coachella Valley (SEA)
  • Charlie Elick, Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)
  • Anton Johansson, Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
  • Ryan Chesley, Hershey Bears (WSH)
  • Jakub Dvořák, Ontario Reign (LAK)
  • Vsevolod Komarov, Rochester Americans (BUF)
  • Michael Buchinger, Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)
  • Christian Kyrou, Texas Stars (DAL)
  • Artyom Duda, Tucson Roadrunners (UTA)
  • Harrison Brunicke, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)

How To Watch The 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

Every AHL playoff game will be streamed live on FloHockey.

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