AHL Players who I think should be in the NHL

There are lots of really good hockey players, some that are too good for the AHL but not enough for the NHL who ended up paving great careers in Europe. Sometimes in the AHL you have a guy like Corey Locke only managing to play seven NHL games who had one of the best careers in the AHL winning two Calder Cups and winning awards. Or sometimes you have a Martin St. Louis or Jonathan Marchessault who I would mostly be focusing on in this piece. But this will be based on the players present day going into the 2025-26 season. And players who I'd sign or trade for to make the teams in both the NHL and AHL better. This only applies to players who played in the AHL last season and aren't on an entry-level deal. 

1. Alex Steeves - Toronto Marlies - If he was given the opportunity to play in the NHL I think he could be placed anywhere and would be shown to many hockey fans how valuable he can be. Big forward and can produce as that's his strong set, but if a bad team noticed him I think he'd really show his true potential there. But I think he should make the Leafs this year. 

2. Zachary Sawchenko - Cleveland Monsters - He's the kind of player who will benefit from the right kind of goalie coach and would be a solid back-up on a team like the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lightning. I feel Columbus needs to give him a shot at being their back-up as I think he could take over as their starter if used properly. 

3. Kyle Capobianco - Texas Stars - Seventy-four NHL games, and this season wasn't called up once. But it's not common for a defenseman to have fifty points in sixty-four games. If I'm an NHL team that needs defense I'm bringing this guy in, and I think he should be on the Stars full-time next season. 

4. Justin Hryckowian - Texas Stars - Undrafted after having an incredible college career, only getting five career NHL games all with the Dallas Stars only getting one assist. He is one player I would be kicking tires for if I was an NHL GM given his incredible offensive ability, and a complete team player. Had sixty points in sixty-seven games for Texas, and this post-season got eighteen points in fourteen games. 

5. Matej Blumel - Texas Stars - Three Texas Stars in a row, and Blumel has been nothing but solid for the Texas Stars who I believe should be getting a shot with the Dallas Stars, and this has shown how much Dallas has improved their scouting given their depth has been incredible. 

6. John Leonard - Milwaukee Admirals - This is a player who deserves a better chance given he's got an elite and natural shot. If he was given more offensive responsibilities he'd likely put up more points and improve as the seasons go by at the NHL level. 

7. Cameron Hughes - Texas Stars - A highly competitive player who will step up for your team and can be a key factor to winning games. Not a selfish player as he is a total team player who just wants to keep the puck in the attacking zone which is a key factor for winning hockey games, all he cares about are the two points to get them up in the standings. This is a player lots of people are sleeping on.

8. Andrew Poturalski - San Jose Barracuda - Lower ranking as he is older than most of the players here, but I think he should've made the NHL a long time ago given he has incredible offensive abilities and hockey IQ while also playing the biggest team game out there. But I think a team should give him a better chance than he already had, like how do you get sent down after getting two points in two games? Like, that should get you eight more games. He also has one of the biggest hearts and passion for hockey out there. He also appeared in four Calder Cup Finals which not a lot of players these days can say, and won two of them. This is a player teams slept on forever...

9. Matthew Phillips - Colorado Eagles - Bounced around the league quite a bit, but his size has been a set back, but has offensive instincts through the roof, super competitive, and his ability to play in high pressure situations is valuable. But if is to get his start somewhere it has to either be a young team or a team with a cap crunch. 

10. Jeremy Davies - Belleville Senators - He has been overlooked due to his size, but he can play a really big game and step up in key situations. This is one player if given the right opportunity he'll use it right and can make himself a staple on the third-pairing or higher. 

HM: Oliver Okuliar, Zach Metsa, Rasmus Asplund, Glenn Gawdin, Matthew Kiersted, Pierrick Dube, Graham Slaggert, Brett Murray, Jeff Malott

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