Playoff hockey is a huge test of playing under pressure and gaining experience. These six prospects passed with flying colors so far in the AHL post-season.
If you ever talk to an AHL coach about goals and objectives for prospects during the regular season, chances are they’ll bring up wanting to get said prospect into playoff action.
For many talent evaluators, there is no greater measuring stick for prospects in the AHL than seeing how they fare under pressure. And the Calder Cup playoffs is perfect for that — the play-in round is a best-of-three series, followed by two rounds of best-of-five action before it finally becomes a best-of-seven affair.
When prospects really get on a roll come playoff time, front-office personnel take notice. A lot of the time, the momentum gained from a strong post-season can carry into the following training camp.
So let’s take a look at six prospects who have performed quite well in the Calder Cup playoffs thus far.
Jiri Kulich, RW, Rochester Americans (Buffalo)
You rarely see players in their draft year plus one (DY+1) make a significant impact in the AHL playoffs, but Jiri Kuich is one of those rare exceptions.
Kulich, 19, has recorded nine points (six goals, three assists) and averaged 3.33 shots per game in six playoff matches. He’s tied for third in playoff goals, which is all the more impressive considering that the two players with seven goals — Kole Lind and Max McCormick — have played double the amount of games Kulich has. With 1.50 points per game, the 28th overall selection in the 2022 draft is currently averaging the most points per game of any DY+1 player from the last 10 playoffs (minimum five games played), according to ahltracker.com.
The young Czech forward's impressive playoff outing comes on the heels of a very strong second half of the season, where Kulich recorded 27 points in his final 31 games of the season.
The Hockey News ranked Kulich 21st in this year's Future Watch ranking.
Luke Evangelista, RW, Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville)
If Luke Evangelista wasn’t already a lock to be on the Nashville Predators’ next fall, his playoff performance with Milwaukee should all but seal the deal.
After registering 15 points in 24 games with the Predators during their surprising playoff push, Evangelista has been a driving force for Milwaukee in these playoffs — recording 11 points in nine games. Seven of his playoff points have come at even strength, where he’s also posted a 54-percent Corsi-for percentage and a 52-percent expected goals-for percentage, according to InStat.
“His hockey IQ is off the charts,” Predators assistant GM Scott Nichol told The Hockey News a few weeks ago. “He’ll slow things down and then make plays with the second and third wave of players coming into the offensive zone. And then he’s got that confidence and swagger.”
The Hockey News ranked Evangelista 61st in this year's Future Watch ranking.
Pontus Holmberg, C, Toronto Marlies (Toronto)
In a game where the Toronto Marlies had their backs against the wall as they attempted to fend off a sweep from the Rochester Americans, Pontus Holmberg came out swinging and scored three goals and an assist en route to the Marlies losing 8-4 in Game 3 against Rochester.
In total, the Swedish forward recorded eight points in seven games — along with a 57-percent Corsi-for percentage and a 55-percent expected goals-for percentage at even strength, according to InStat.
Holmberg, a pending RFA, needed a playoffs like this after following up a productive stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs — 13 points in 37 games — with a rather pedestrian AHL output in the 2023 calendar year.
Topi Niemela, D, Toronto Marlies (Toronto)
With the exception of Matthew Knies, I’m not sure any Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has elevated their stock over the last few months the way Topi Niemela has.
After wrapping up his season in Liiga, the 21-year-old right-shot defenseman joined the Marlies at the end of March and seamlessly transitioned into a core part of the team’s defense core. While playing on the team’s second pair alongside Jordie Benn for seven playoff games, Niemela recorded five points, a 62-percent Corsi-for percentage and a 61-percent expected goals-for percentage at even strength while totalling 20:28 of ice time in all situations, according to InStat.
Niemela, who The Hockey News ranked Niemela 100th in this year's Future Watch ranking, appears poised to take on a top pairing with the Marlies next season.
Ryker Evans, D, Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle)
You can count Ryker Evans’ development among the many things the Seattle Kraken have been able to celebrate recently.
Coming off a regular season where he was named to the AHL all-rookie team after recording 44 points in 71 games, Evans leads all defensemen with 13 points in the playoffs so far. He's also being leaned on heavily in all situations, averaging 24:05 of ice time according to InStat — and he scored the triple-overtime winner against Calgary in Game 3 of the second round.
Don’t be surprised if the 21-year-old defenseman makes his NHL debut at some point next season.
Dylan Garrand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)
After recording an .894 save percentage in 32 regular-season games, Dylan Garrand flipped a switch this post-season.
Garrand, 20, led the Hartford Wolf Pack to a first-round upset over the Providence Bruins — the top seed in the AHL’s Eastern Conference. On top of recording a .935 save percentage, Garrand posted the second-best goals saved above average (6.52) among goalies that played a minimum of five AHL playoff games this year.
Ultimately, the Wolf Pack were swept by the Hershey Bears in the next round, and Garrand was yanked ahead of Game 3 in favor of Louis Domingue. But if you’re looking for an early-odds favorite for a breakout-of-the-year candidate, look no further than the 2021-22 world juniors gold medalist and CHL goaltender of the year.