More Than a Mentor: The Value of Veterans in the AHL

Since the inception of the American Hockey League in 1936, the league has long served as a feeder system that develops young prospects and helps them reach their potential in hopes of making it to the National Hockey League.

While the spotlight often shines on younger prospects, there is another group of players who are equally important in their development. These players not only help younger teammates improve their game but also offer guidance away from the rink, whether it's adjusting to a new living situation or offering general life advice.

These responsibilities often fall on the shoulders of veteran players, and being a veteran on a team loaded with young talent is no easy feat. This is the case for Springfield Thunderbirds captain Chris Wagner, who has played more than 400 games in the AHL.

"You got to be a lot more gentle and kind of build relationships first with the guys to get them to trust you," Wagner said.

For Springfield Thunderbirds head coach Steve Ott, veteran players like Wagner serve as a bridge between the coaching staff and younger players, reinforcing expectations while helping establish the trust and accountability necessary for their development.

"Their leadership shows on a daily basis and the young guys follow the same lead," Ott said.

Wagner, who is in his fifteenth professional season, has realized that one of the most rewarding aspects of being a veteran is watching younger players develop their game and elevate their skills. One of those players is Dylan Peterson.

"I've really invested and built a good relationship with Dylan Peterson," Wagner said.

While Wagner has taken an interest in Peterson's development and success, both he and Ott understand the trials and tribulations that young prospects go through while trying to reach the NHL.

For Ott, one of the most rewarding parts of coaching is getting to tell a young player that he has earned an NHL call-up.

"I got to tell Dylan Peterson the first time he got called up to the NHL," Ott recalled, describing the experience as "the next best thing to playing."

Years ago, Wagner's primary focus was making it to the NHL. With that goal already accomplished, his mindset as a veteran has changed. Now, he wants to help mentor the next group of talent coming through the St. Louis Blues organization.

"My NHL days are probably over, so I just want as many of these guys to succeed as possible," Wagner said.

Much like Wagner, current Toledo Walleye forward and longtime AHL player Chris Terry knows what it's like to graduate from prospect to veteran. Nearly two decades into his professional career, Terry has experienced both sides of that transition.

When Terry entered the American League in 2009, he found himself taking advice and learning from veteran teammates like Brian Rodney and Nick Blanchard, who helped him understand the expectations and responsibilities that come with playing professional hockey.

Nearly two decades later, Terry is paying it forward, passing down the knowledge he gained during his early years in the Carolina Hurricanes organization to the next generation of players.

"I think I just try to walk a line of allowing guys to know that if there's something they have a question about or want to chat, I'm always available," Terry said.

Being a veteran player doesn't mean commanding respect or being the loudest voice in the dressing room. It means being approachable and making younger teammates feel welcome.

That is the way Wagner approaches his younger players, and his philosophy mirrors Terry's sentiment.

"You don't want anyone to be afraid to approach you," Wagner said.

While veterans play a pivotal role in the American League and are invaluable to a younger player's development, the league has changed significantly since Wagner and Terry broke into professional hockey as prospects.

"I think it was a lot scarier back then. And a lot more fighting on a game-to-game basis. But now it's like, like the NHL too. It's a lot more skilled and faster," Wagner said.

Terry, like Wagner, has seen the league evolve, especially when it comes to the speed and skill that younger prospects bring into the league.

"The speed of the game has never been higher," Terry said. "The plays that are made at top speed now happen a lot more frequently now."

However, the challenges of being a veteran extend beyond keeping up with younger players on the ice. As their careers progress, the demands of professional hockey begin to take on a different meaning, especially when balancing the responsibilities of being a husband and father.

Both Wagner and Terry can relate to these challenges, as both are husbands and fathers.

Terry signed with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, allowing him to remain closer to his family in Michigan and making things easier for his wife and five-year-old son.

With Toledo being approximately an hour from his home, Terry has the opportunity to spend more time with his family while continuing his professional career. Although he has managed to be home for his son's birthdays, Halloween has often been a different story, with the veteran forward spending the holiday on the road in previous seasons.

For Terry, being able to continue playing the game he loves while remaining close to his family has made Toledo an ideal situation at this stage of his career.

Wagner also understands the sacrifices that come with balancing professional hockey and family life. While he gets to spend time with his wife and children, he recognizes the sacrifices his wife makes to allow him to continue playing.

"So I get to see my wife and my kids a lot," Wagner said.

"She makes the most sacrifices out of anyone," Wagner added.

For Ott, the value of having veteran players goes beyond their contributions on the ice. Their experience and leadership help establish the standards that younger players are expected to follow as they develop their careers.

"I'm a big believer that your veterans are an extension of your coaching staff," Ott said.

Ott understands the importance of veteran leadership firsthand. During his playing career, he benefited from the guidance of established players such as Billy Guerin and Brendan Morrow.

Now behind the bench, Ott sees those same relationships developing between veterans like Wagner and the younger players in Springfield.

While the American Hockey League continues to evolve into a younger, faster and more skilled league, the importance of veteran leadership remains unchanged.

For players like Wagner and Terry, success is no longer measured solely by their own accomplishments, but also by the impact they have on the next generation of professional hockey players.

In a league built around developing tomorrow's NHL stars, the veterans who help guide them along the way remain just as important.

After all, even in a young man's league, there is still room for the old guard.