The Hockey News looks at past and current AHL players who made the leap to the NHL this season, assessing their performance through the first month of the season.
The bright lights of the NHL can be blinding.
The American Hockey League produces hundreds of NHL call-ups annually, some of which stick like Gorilla glue, while others buckle under the pressure.
With American Thanksgiving in the rear view, The Hockey News assesses the NHL debuts from AHL rostered players past and present this year, ranking which players made noticeable impacts on their club through sheer staying power or on the score sheets.
(Note: This list is for AHL alumni only and does not include the likes of Connor Bedard, Logan Cooley, or Adam Fantilli).
Dmitri Voronkov - NHL: Columbus - AHL: Cleveland - 14 GP, 3G, 6A, 9PTS in NHL
23-year-old fourth-round selection from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019 Dmitri Voronkov has produced on a team largely struggling to find offense (recent onslaught of Chicago notwithstanding).
Voronkov, who's suited up for four games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL this season, was a fixture of the KHL's Kazan Ak-Bars, scoring 31 points in 54 games in 2022-23.
In 14 games in Columbus, the Angarsk, Russia native has put up a healthy nine points, leading all AHL call-ups playing their first season in the NHL to date.
While the Blue Jackets have seen various lineup shuffles, Voronkov has recently seen time on a line opposite maligned forward Patrik Laine and super-star rookie Adam Fantilli.
Connor Zary - NHL: Calgary - AHL: Calgary - 9GP, 3G, 5A, 8PTS in NHL
Our first of two selections out of Calgary, Connor Zary has looked every bit the part of a confident NHLer during his nine games with the big club.
With a wide array of potential roster players seemingly on the move out of Calgary, the Flames look to embrace the youth movement, and the 22-year-old 24th overall selection from 2020 is a cornerstone of that mentality.
Putting up 10 points through six games with the AHL's Wranglers before his NHL debut, Zary has been a versatile role player who can play on all ends of the ice, earning power play time and putting up a near PPG pace of eight points in nine games.
Expect to hear the name Connor Zary frequently out of the stampede city.
Hunter Shepard - NHL: Washington - AHL: Hershey - 2GP, 2.50 GA, .915 SP, 2W in NHL
You're coming off your finest season as a pro, leading your club to playoff victory and earning MVP status at the end of a grueling tournament where you are the cornerstone of success.
Your reward? A call-up to the NHL opposite the hottest team in the league with radioactive offense.
That was the case for 28-year-old Hunter Shepard who, off the back of a Calder Cup win with the Hershey Bears, earned his long-awaited NHL debut on October 25th with the Washington Capitals against the - at the time - white-hot New Jersey Devils.
Shepard fought adversity in the form of a four-goal against outing, earning a hard-fought 6-4 win in his NHL debut.
He'd follow up the effort nearly two weeks later against the New York Islanders, stopping 36 of 37 shots with a sparkling .973 SP en route to a 4-1 Capitals win.
Shepard is currently back-stopping the league-leading 13-4 Hershey Bears in the AHL in between opportune looks in the NHL, where he currently sits with a 2.58 GAA and .901 SP with seven wins through eight starts
Tye Kartye - NHL: Seattle - AHL: Coachella Valley - 20GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS in NHL
Technically, Kingston, Ontario's Tye Kartye made his NHL debut in the playoffs with the Seattle Kraken last season, putting up a respectable five points and three goals in 10 games during the Kraken's improbable run past the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche.
Since the 22-year-old's regular season debut didn't occur until 2023-24, we're inclined to let this one slide on a technicality.
Kartye, who was rock solid with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022-23, putting up 28 goals and 57 points in 72 games and another eight points in 18 playoff games in the AHL, has suited up for 20 games for the Kraken so far in '23-24.
The versatile winger has posted five points across his debut regular season with the newest franchise in the NHL, occupying the fourth line opposite Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto.
Martin Pospisil - NHL: Calgary - AHL: Calgary - 9GP, 3G, 2A, 5 PTS in NHL
The second Wranglers call-up thriving in the NHL, Martin Pospisil has been a gritty, well-rounded presence unafraid to dish out a hit or produce offensively when called upon.
The fourth-round pick in 2018 for the Flames was a point-per-game player with the Wranglers, now earning three goals and five points with a plus-six plus-minus differential through nine games in the NHL since his call-up.
Pospisil has found time on the top power-play unit for the Flames, currently sharing the ice with veteran linemates Nazem Kadri and Dillon Dube.
Marc Del Gaizo - NHL: Nashville - AHL: Milwaukee - 5GP, 3A, 3PTS in NHL
The fourth-round pick for the Nashville Predators in 2019 took the long way 'round for his NHL debut, but defenseman Marc Del Gaizo has been productive when called upon.
Through five games with the Predators this season Del Gaizo has put up three assists with a plus-two rating.
Splitting time with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, Del Gaizo currently boasts four goals through nine games in the A, proving himself a surefooted and dependable blueliner who can produce under the bright lights when needed.
Honourable Mentions: Alex Laferriere (Los Angeles), John Beecher (Boston), Mason Lohrei (Boston), Matt Tomkins (Tampa Bay), Tristan Luneau (Anaheim).