These nine NHL prospects played at least one game in The Show last season, but from Matthew Knies to Brandt Clarke, they could make the full-time jump next year.

On Wednesday, I looked at which of the newest drafted players beyond Connor Bedard could aim for an NHL lineup spot this fall.

If they make it, they'll have a chance to contend for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. And while Bedard may be in the pole position before the starter's pistol is fired, some other prospects have been around a little longer and might have something to say about that.

Here's a look at nine prospects who could leap to full-time NHL status this fall. Don't be surprised to hear some of these names in the Calder conversation as the season goes along.

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

So much ink has already been spilled over Knies' impressive debut with the Leafs at the end of last season that a promising rookie campaign seems like a foregone conclusion.

Drafted late in the second round in 2021, Knies is set to turn 21 in mid-October. He has man strength at a sturdy 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He wreaks havoc from the dirty areas in front of the net. And he's effective on the power play, which earned him a spot in Toronto's top six as soon as he signed his entry-level contract last April.

Knies suffered a concussion in the second game of Toronto's second-round playoff series against Florida but was back on the ice just over a week later. Expect him to play a big role for the Leafs this fall.

Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken

Wright doesn't turn 20 until Jan. 5, so he wouldn't typically qualify to play in the AHL this fall — even though he suited up for the Coachella Valley Firebirds for a total of 34 games last season, between a fall conditioning assignment and a run through to Game 7 of the Calder Cup final.

But another exception to the CHL-NHL transfer agreements states that CHL players can graduate to the AHL after four junior seasons. Wright's exceptional status allowed him to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old in the 2019-20 season — four years ago. But the only problem is that he didn't play at all in 2020-21, when the OHL was shut down due to the pandemic. And last season, he logged a total of 24 games with the Windsor Spitfires — one shy of the threshold to qualify for an official season played.

The transfer agreement is pretty cut-and-dry, even if Seattle GM Ron Francis has a decent case to argue that Wright deserves an exemption allowing him to play in the AHL if he isn't ready to claim a full-time spot with the Kraken. 

Exceptions were made for drafted OHL players to skate in the AHL as 18 and 19-year-olds during that lost COVID year. That could be enough of a precedent to re-open the door to the desert for Wright. Otherwise, Wright's experience with the AHL Firebirds gave him valuable experience against older players, which could help his chances to crack the NHL roster.

Dylan Guenther, RW, Arizona Coyotes

Like Wright, Dylan Guenther spent last fall with his NHL squad. He got into 33 games and put up 15 points with the Arizona Coyotes. Then, it was off to the World Junior Championship with Team Canada, where he scored the golden goal in overtime against the Czechs. Guenther was then assigned to the Seattle Thunderbirds, where he won a WHL championship and reached the title game of the Memorial Cup. 

Now 20, the ninth overall pick from 2021 will be back in the desert this fall, a tantalizing prospect with a great nose for the net who is a face of the future for Arizona. Those 33 NHL games mean he's no longer in the mix for the Calder, but expect to see Guenther continue to burnish his reputation as one of the top picks from his draft class.

Matt Coronato, RW, Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames began integrating some younger players into their lineup last season. That movement will continue with a vengeance this year.

Most intriguing is Matt Coronato, the sharp-shooting first-round pick from 2021 who signed his entry-level contract late last season after two years at Harvard. Coronato got into just one game with the Flames, but Tyler Toffoli's departure has opened up a perfect roster spot for him — offensive opportunity, power-play time and possibly even a bit of penalty-killing.

Jakob Pelletier should also see a bigger role — although he is still waiver exempt this season. Pelletier's 24 games under Darryl Sutter last season were just below the Calder Trophy threshold, so he still qualifies for rookie of the year consideration.

Tyson Foerster, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have room for some fresh blood in their forward group this fall after scoring the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL last season.

During an eight-game call-up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last fall, Tyson Foerster immediately proved he can generate offense, putting up four goals and three assists. And that was no fluke – he also led the Phantoms in scoring last season with 48 points in 66 games.

Drafted 23rd overall in 2020, Foerster is one of those OHL players whose development was upended by the pandemic. He got to the AHL early and has already played nearly 100 games with the Phantoms, even though he just turned 21 in January. 

Despite the challenges, Foerster has progressed well and has a real shot at becoming a full-time Flyer this season.

Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils

After everything his brothers have accomplished in the NHL over the last few years, Luke Hughes faced sky-high expectations when he arrived in New Jersey in April following his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. 

The fourth overall pick from 2021 impressed in his first two regular-season games and picked up his first goal, then sat on the sidelines until the Devils got into trouble in the second round of the playoffs. While New Jersey wasn't able to recover against the Carolina Hurricanes, Hughes immediately earned the trust of coach Lindy Ruff. 

In his three playoff games, his ice time went from 14:28 to 18:16 to 25:02. He turns 20 on Sept. 9, still young for a blueliner. But Hughes is a virtual lock to join brother Jack on the Devils' roster this fall.

Brandt Clarke, D, Los Angeles Kings

Despite a first-round playoff exit last spring, the Los Angeles Kings continue to take steps to build a roster that can make a real charge at a Stanley Cup. And since it costs a few bucks to add quality talent like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Vladislav Gavrikov, budget considerations end up fuelling other decisions.

Like Wright and Guenther, Brandt Clarke started last season in the NHL. The Kings liked what they saw, but limited him to nine games in order to preserve the full three years of his entry-level contract, then returned him to the OHL after the world juniors, where he also won gold with Canada.

By trading Sean Durzi to Arizona in June, the Kings opened up a spot on the right side of their blueline. That's where Clarke is expected to play next season — an inexpensive option on his entry-level contract who will be asked to handle a regular role on a team with big dreams for 2023-24.

Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild

Along with Clarke and Durzi, there was Brock Faber — another righty in the Kings organization, drafted in the second round in 2020.

Faber turned pro in April after three seasons at the University of Minnesota and got into eight NHL games before the end of last season. He landed with the Wild as part of the trade that sent Kevin Fiala to Los Angeles a year ago. As a native Minnesotan, he's already a bit of a fan favorite. 

With the Wild staring at nearly $15 million in dead cap space next season as a result of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, Faber's inexpensive contract hits at a price point that GM Bill Guerin can work with. The deal doesn't even carry any performance bonuses for 2023-24.

Devon Levi, G, Buffalo Sabres

Watching Devon Levi come straight out of Northeastern University and put up a 5-2-0 record in the last nine games of the Buffalo Sabres' season was enough to convince 41-year-old Craig Anderson to finally hang up his skates for good.

I joke, of course: cause and effect aren't exactly at play here. But Levi's NHL debut was certainly impressive enough to reassure Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams that his team's goaltending future is solid with Levi, Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the fold. 

Making the jump from college straight to a full-time NHL gig is a tough transition for a goaltender. But even though he checks in at a small-these-days six-feet, Levi has an impressive winning pedigree and has proved the doubters wrong time and time again.

The Sabres are looking for him to impress once again as they try to finally get over the hump and back into the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Can he make the jump to becoming Buffalo's next great starter?