“Protas he just gets it; he’s got it right off the start” - Derek King
The All-Rookie Team for the American Hockey League was announced Wednesday afternoon. In many ways, this award list is the one fans pay the most attention to because of the prospects on it. Most of these players are in their early 20s and could be star players at the NHL level someday.
Let’s dive right in and look at the big names. This season, there were plenty of stars in the AHL, so it left out a few big names as well. Likewise, each player on this list is worth of the nod and it’s fascinating to see them put together the seasons that did.
The All-Rookie Team
Ilya Protas
The top-line center of the Hershey Bears developed into an elite two-way player, much like his brother Aleksei is for the Washington Capitals. Speaking of the Capitals, they called him up late in the season knowing what he could do for a playoff push. “Protas he just gets it; he’s got it right off the start” Bears head coach Derek King noted in a conversation with The Hockey News. Protas has all the skill on the offensive end and drives play on his line. “Guys like that, you don’t go at them hard” and the plan paid off as he carried the team’s offense.
Quinn Hutson
Quinn Hutson took time to develop, joining the Bakersfield Condors at 23 years old. However, he kicked off the ground running with 61 points in 65 games. He’s led the Condors offense all season and proved he can be a reinforcement for the Edmonton Oilers when needed. In the long run, he could be part of their youth movement, which they’ll need soon enough.
Isaac Howard
Like Hutson, Isaac Howard is an older AHL rookie but one who immediately fit in. Howard entered the league known for his scoring and that’s what he’s done best, with 22 goals in 45 games and it’s made him the go-to call up for the Oilers whenever they’ve endured injuries.
You May Also Like: AHL Notebook: Playoff Pushes, David Carle & More
Tyson Jugnauth
The Coachella Valley Firebirds went through a retool of sorts and it started with their focus on developing defensemen. Tyson Jugnauth has looked like one of the best defensemen in the league, with great play on the defensive end while adding nine goals and 35 assists on the offensive end. He’s the prospect who could be a key part of the Seattle Kraken blue line down the line.
Dmitri Simashev
At one point, it didn’t look like Dmitri Simashev would be on the All Rookie Team because of how much time he was spending with the Utah Mammoth. It speaks to how impactful he was with the Tucson Roadrunners and was a bright spot in an otherwise rough season for the Mammoth AHL team.
Sergei Murashov
Sergei Murashov at 22 years old already put himself in the goaltender of the year discussion with the way he played. He was dominant in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton net and one of the primary reasons they ended up with the second-best record in the Atlantic Division. Murashov is not only an impressive goaltender but mature beyond his years. "He’s always eager to learn more to learn about himself, about hockey, it’s not specific to hockey all the time. How he processes it all is a strength to him; he’s quick to process things,” Wilkes-Barre’s goaltending coach Kain Tisi stated, and it’s made him the goaltender of the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins, someone who might be on the NHL team by next season.
The Snubs
Andrew Cristall - While Protas stole the spotlight, Andrew Cristall is second on the Bears in points with 58. He’s a skilled winger who isn’t as good defensively but has made a strong first impression with the Bears.
Michael Brangsegg-Nygard - The Grand Rapids Griffins are the best team in the Western Conference with a mix of veterans and prospects hitting their stride. One of the prospects who has adapted to the AHL is Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, a dynamic winger out of Norway with game-changing skill. So, maybe he’s part of the Detroit Red Wings by next season (or a prospect Steve Yzerman loves too much to trade)
Jacob Fowler - There’s a chance Jacob Fowler would have made the team if he stayed with the Laval Rocket. Instead, he was called up to the Montreal Canadiens and for good reason as he might be in the starting net for Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Other Thoughts on the All Rookie Team
The top six names were all worthy. That said, there were multiple players who could have made the list as well. It speaks to how good this rookie class is and how many elite prospects are in the AHL.
Many hockey fans overlook AHL prospects, largely because the high-impact players usually jump straight to the NHL. However, this list, like previous ones, shows that there are plenty of players who are still developing into stars. The rookies are ahead of schedule but there are plenty of players who will be great in the NHL after a few years of development in the AHL.