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American Hockey League (AHL)

Top NHL Goalie Prospects Playing In The 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

Top NHL Goalie Prospects Playing In The 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

The 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs are here and to help get you ready, Chris Peters identifies goalie prospects to watch this postseason.

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 goalie prospects under the age of 24 that will be competing in the AHL’s “second season” which begins Tuesday night.

ALSO READ: Top NHL Forward Prospects To Watch | Top NHL Defense Prospects To Watch

Top Goalie Prospects To Watch In The AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose Barracuda (SJS)

The Sharks’ goalie of the future looked every bit of it throughout this season. San Jose was wise to allow him to flourish behind a much improved AHL roster. The Russian goalie split time between the AHL and NHL, but in 33 AHL games had a .923 save percentage. He’s a showman by nature and we can’t wait to see what he has cooked up for the postseason.

Devon Levi, Rochester Americans (BUF)

Going back to the AHL was easily one of the best things the Sabres could do for Levi's development. A top young goaltender for the last few years, Levi is hitting his stride and finding greater game-to-game consistency. In 42 appearances this season, the 23-year-old put up a .919 save percentage and posted a league-best seven shutouts. The Americans have to have some aspirations of a deeper run because of the guy they have between the pipes. This should be a big postseason for Levi.

Jet Greaves, Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)

Columbus narrowly missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs was disappointing, but it does allow Greaves a chance to continue building off of his best season as a pro. He looked great in the NHL when he was there and that was only a continuation of how he played in the AHL this season. With Cleveland, Greaves appeared in 40 games, posted a .920 save percentage and three shutouts. After building confidence in the NHL, one can only imagine the huge benefit Greaves can provide to the Monsters now.

Sebastian Cossa, Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)

The gradual process of Cossa’s development might leave Red Wings fans a little impatient, but it really does seem to be going according to plan. Cossa’s numbers this year were comparable to last year, which is still an overall positive. He has the tremendous size and athleticism to be a starting goalie in the NHL. A little more patience is still required, but he should get considerable run in the net for the postseason.

Joel Blomqvist, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)

Blomqvist split time between Pittsburgh and WBS this season. In the AHL, he looked like a goalie knocking on the NHL door, so it's no surprise he got some looks with the big club. In 18 games with the Baby Pens this season, Blomqvist had a .914 save percentage. That was after putting up a .921 mark in 45 games last season in the AHL. He's back on the playoff roster and could help this team take a bit of a deeper run here.

Trent Miner, Colorado Eagles (COL)

Miner is finally getting a long look at the AHL level after a few years playing primarily in the ECHL. He is playing some of his best hockey right now, though. He had a .918 save percentage in 38 appearances in the regular season and put together a few highlight-reel saves as well. Miner doesn't have prototypical NHL size, but he's quick and will make shooters work to beat him.

Drew Commesso, Rockford IceHogs (CHI)

Commesso quietly showed progression this year, putting together better numbers and showing a few more NHL traits as he continues to search for a little more consistency. There's less pressure on Commesso to race to the NHL as Chicago landed Spencer Knight at the trade deadline, but they should keep Commesso in their plans. He had a .911 save percentage in 39 appearances and four shutouts. He should get a lot of run in the postseason.

Jacob Fowler, Laval Rocket (MTL)

It is unclear how much Fowler will play in the postseason as Cayden Primeau has been Laval’s No. 1 for much of the year and Fowler just joined the team after two years of college. I hope we’ll get a chance to see him, though, because the future is so bright for this player. He went 2-1 in three starts for Laval at the end of the regular season and had a .914 save percentage. He is up for the challenge if called upon.

Nikke Kokko, Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA)

The AHL’s All-Rookie goalie, Kokko made 33 appearances, wininng 20 games and posting a .914 save percentage. Kokko, a second-rounder in 2022, has made a seamless transition from European pro hockey to North America and looks like he’s got a real chance to be an NHL goalie in the near future.

Carter George, Ontario Reign (LAK)

George has appeared in only two games in the AHL since his junior season ended, but he was lights out. George allowed just one goal over two games, while facing 61 shots on net over those games. He doesn’t have prototypical NHL size, but he’s a highly intelligent, confident goaltender and is only 18 years old.

How To Watch The 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs

Every AHL playoff game will be streamed live on FloHockey.

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