Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer
The impression made now can quickly pay off for the NHL's prospects. Or this impression may mean being the first recall option for the NHL front desk.
The summer job, training and preparations have been completed, and the NHL preseason schedule is familiar with the AHL name as the Battle of Jobs. After weeks of skating, the open camp was followed by training camp, and the prospect listed the NHL lineup in the first two days of the NHL preseason. They are fighting for full-time NHL jobs in October and the organizational positioning that began in the AHL this season. After all, NHL recalls always only receive one call.
Other players are training camp with a new organization after offseason trading or signing. There are still some who will still camp on a professional trial in order to get additional work.
Let's break down some of the best performances to start the preseason.
Columbus Blue Jacket (Cleveland Monster)
Luca del Belluz A good path is being taken that has brought many AHL prospects to the NHL.
Moving forward as a rookie, entering the AHL and establishing a two-way match in a pro-level game. Then use the second season at the AHL level to show more offensive games. Del Bel Belluz is Columbus' second-round striker in the 2022 NHL Draft, and he has done that in his two seasons at Cleveland. He played Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024, and then scored 27 goals for the Monsters last season.
The full-time roster remains to be seen when Del Bel Belluz may crack the Columbus roster. If the Blue Jacket decides to be the best time for him in Cleveland, he will be counted on as an offense. But it wouldn't hurt his career by combining goals and assists in a two-way game that beats the St. Louis Blues 4-1 to beat the NHL level on Sunday.
New York Rangers (Hartford Wolf Pack)
The Rangers have prospects in the roster that beat the New Jersey Devils on a 5-3 road Sunday afternoon.
Top goalkeeper Dylan Garland Play 31:44 to ease the starter Jonathan Quick. Last season, Garand represented Wolf Pack of the AHL All-Star Classic.
Defensive players Casey FitzgeraldHartford's captain dressed up for the Rangers last season. The same is true Connor McKeeLast season, he played 66 games in the Wolf Pack. Scott Morrowearned a major offseason deal from the Carolina Hurricanes, scored 39 points last season for the Chicago Wolves while winning a spot on the AHL’s top prospects team. veteran Derrick PouliotIt was a Rangers signed free agent who brought 46 assists to Syracuse Crunch last season and was selected as the No. 1 All-Star team in the AHL.
Forest rangers also have forward-looking prospects Brennan Othmann Their roster was after breaking up between the NHL and the AHL last season.
Seattle Cleken (Coachella Valley Firebirds)
Jani Nyman Last season, 12 games against Seattle recorded 12 games to help him with more NHL jobs in October. Posting 28 goals in his first AHL sports is another support for this ambition, especially with the opportunity to play a highly respected head coach like this Derek Laxdal Use a flamingo.
The second round of 2022 player is only 21 years old and has added more weight to the Seattle preseason opener Sunday. He grabbed a pair of goals and helped Seattle pass the Vancouver Canucks by 5-3.
Toronto Maple Leaf (Toronto Maris)
Goalkeepers after 26 games in Maris' season Artur Akhtyamov Leaf started in the preseason opener in Ottawa, a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Akhtyamov, 23, scored three closures with 11-8-4, saving % with 2.81 GAA and .901 Maris. Matching the Senator, he stopped 16 of 17 shots and received the first-star honor. He played separately from his companions Vyacheslav PeksaHe spent most of his time at the ECHL level last season, playing two games with Marlies last season.
Winnipeg Jets (Manitoba Moose)
Everyone in AHL knows Samuel Fagemo Can score. The forward has played five seasons in the prospect of Ontario-ruling Los Angeles Kings and has eliminated 132 goals in 268 AHL regular season. In this game, there were 43 goals in just 50 games during the reign of 2023-24.
By Winnipeg Kevin and Danny Zhilkin On Sunday afternoon, overtime loss to Minnesota's wilderness was 4-3. Minnesota excluded Fagemo from the goal column, but he still contributed two assists.
Jets dress up as a storm team featuring newcomers Phil Di GiuseppeHe won the Calder Cup with Abbotsford Canucks in June this year Walker Duehr and moose pillars Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov.
During the fifty years in the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers the NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding league coverage in 2016.
