Springfield, Massachusetts …National Hockey League announced 2025-26 AHL Top Prospect TeamThree forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender are projected as future NHL players, as determined by the league’s hockey operations department in conjunction with AHL general managers.
To qualify for the AHL’s top prospect team, a skater must be 22 or younger on the first day of the regular season and must play at least 36 regular season games in the AHL and no more than 30 regular season games in the National Hockey League in 2025-26. Goaltenders must be 23 years old on opening night and have played in at least 25 AHL games and no more than 20 NHL games during the regular season.
2025-26 AHL Top Prospect Team
Sergei Murashov, goaltender (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins/Pittsburgh Penguins):
Pittsburgh’s fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Sergei Murashov Performed well in his first full AHL season and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team for the 2025-26 season. In 38 regular season games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the 22-year-old Murashov ranked third in the league in goals against average (2.20) and save percentage (.919) while compiling a 24-9-4 record. Murashov also helped the Penguins reach the conference finals for the first time in 12 years, posting a .931 save percentage in 15 playoff starts. Murashov made his NHL debut in Pittsburgh on November 9, 2025, and earned his first NHL victory on November 16 in Stockholm, Sweden, against Nashville.
Adam Engström, guard (Laval Rocket/Montreal Canadiens):
22 years old, from Jelna, Sweden, Adam Engstrom In the 2025-26 season, he played 45 regular season games for Laval, contributing 10 goals, 24 assists and a +14 rating, helping the Rockets win the North Division championship. The 2026 AHL All-Star also scored five game-winning goals this season, leading all AHL defensemen. Enstrom was selected by Montreal in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut on November 26, 2025. He then appeared in 15 games with the Canadiens, recording one assist and a +2 rating while averaging over 13 minutes per game.
Carter Yakemchuk, DT (Belleville Senators/Ottawa Senators):
defensive player Kat Yakomchuk In the 2025-26 season, he played 54 AHL games for the Belleville Senators, contributing 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points. This was his rookie professional season after four seasons with Calgary in the Western Hockey League. The 20-year-old from Fort McMurray, Alta., the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has appeared in four regular-season games with Ottawa this season and had a goal and an assist in his debut, a 3-2 win over Detroit on March 24. Jakomchuk also appeared in one Stanley Cup playoff game, recording two assists against Carolina on April 25.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygaard, forward (Grand Rapids Griffins/Detroit Red Wings):
Michael Brandsegg-Nygaard As a 20-year-old rookie, he had a standout season with Grand Rapids in 2025-26, scoring 20 goals and adding 24 assists for a +17 rating in 60 games with the Griffins. Brandsegg-Nygaard was selected by Detroit with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, made the Red Wings’ opener roster and has appeared in 14 NHL games this season. He led the Griffins in the Calder Cup Playoffs with eight points in eight games and then six points in five games to help Norway earn a historic bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Costa Helenius, forward (Rochester Americans/Buffalo Sabers):
For the second consecutive year, he became a member of the AHL’s top prospect team. Consta Helenius In 63 games, Rochester led the team with 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists), tied for ninth in the entire AHL and setting a franchise junior scoring record. Helenius just turned 20 in May and made her NHL debut on January 19 in Buffalo. Played for Team USA in the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic; scored two goals in four games for the Sabers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs; and scored the gold-medal-clinching goal in overtime for Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Helenius was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Elijah Protas, forward (Hershey Bears/Washington Capitals):
2025-26 Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Outstanding Rookie, age 19 Ilya Protas Hershey finished tied for sixth in the league with 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 69 regular-season games and led the team in goals, points, power-play goals (11) and plus-minus (+17). His 66 points are the fourth-highest total by a junior in AHL history, including a seven-game scoring streak in November and a six-game scoring streak in April. Protas, Washington’s third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, made his debut with the Capitals on April 8 and has one goal and three assists in four NHL games. He participated in the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team.
