The injury bug has hit. Goalies are getting lit up. Cap space is tight. The best way to improve? Call up the farm team and ask for help. Here are the players to watch who might get the call soon and give you the edge for your fantasy team.
It wasn't exactly a shocker, but it was shocking to see nonetheless: The Oilers demoted Jack Campbell to the AHL, who's in the second year of a five-year, $25-million contract with a modified no-trade clause.
On the heels of a 6-2 loss to the Canucks despite dominating the first period with a 21-8 margin in shots, the Oilers needed to do something drastic. Campbell's not the only one at fault — Stuart Skinner was the starter, anyway — but it's a move designed to send a message.
The AHL is sometimes derided as a developmental league or a feeder system to the NHL, which it certainly can be, but it's also one of the world's best leagues in its own right. Many players who played in the AHL have gone on to dominate the NHL, including numerous members of the vaunted 2003 draft class.
Keeping an eye on the best players in the AHL can give you the fantasy edge because you know who's on the cusp of getting called up and breaking out.
Cal Pickard, who had a .939 SP and 2.03 GAA with AHL Bakersfield might be worth rostering because, honestly, how much worse can the Oilers' goaltending get?
And how about Nick Robertson, who scored 11 points in nine games prior to his call-up and scored an assist in his Leafs debut this season? Connor Zary, who scored on his first shot in his first game with the Flames and continues to make huge contributions?
And Alex Barré-Boulet, the longtime tweener who could never crack the Lightning roster? He's playing on the top line and scored four goals this season.
Here are the names you need to know, with some help from The Hockey News' esteemed AHL and ECHL Site Editor, Dillon Collins:
(Positions listed courtesy Yahoo Fantasy)
Dustin Wolf, G, Calgary Wranglers (Calgary)
The Flames have been the wrong kind of fire to kickstart the 2023-24 NHL season. Goaltending, in particular, has been an issue, with Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar holding unsightly stat-lines: 3.03 GAA and .897 SP for Markstrom, and a loathsome 4.00 and .844 SP for Vladar.
The heir apparent to the Flames net, meanwhile, has been thriving in the AHL. Wolf has kicked off the young season with a sparkling 5-1 record with a 2.34 GAA and strong .924 SP.
With the Flames in freefall, there's zero reason, other than continued maturation in the 'A,' to not cry Wolf. In his only NHL start in 2022-23, the seventh-round draft pick put up 23 saves with one goal against for a rock-solid 1.00 GAA and .958 SP. -DC
David Rittich, G, Ontario Reign (Los Angeles)
Rittich is knocking on the door for a return to the NHL.
The native of the Czechia and veteran of 172 games with the Flames, Leafs, Predators, and Jets has been lights out with the Reign, posting a 2.73 GAA and .912 SP with three wins and one shutout through six games.
Meanwhile in L.A., Pheonix Copley has compiled a miserable 4.98 GAA and .788 SP. If Rittich keeps up his stellar campaign, losing Copley to waivers — even if unlikely — might be a risk the Kings are willing to take to shore up their goaltending. -DC
Brandt Clarke, D, Ontario Reign (Los Angeles)
You know his name. After being pegged as the player most likely to usurp Drew Doughty for the PP1 QB job, Clarke was instead re-assigned to the minors and finds himself leapfrogged on the depth chart by Jordan Spence.
It's a minor setback for the talented rearguard, and it won't be long before he finds himself back with the big club. Clarke has immense fantasy potential due to offensive talents, and we'll just have to be patient until his name gets called. Be ready to pounce when that happens. -JC
Arshdeep BainsChristian Wolanin, D and Arshdeep Bains, LW, Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver)
The Vancouver Canucks are on a roll, winning eight of their last 10 games and recently embarrassing the Sharks, 10-1, on their home ice and defeated the rival Oilers, 6-2, providing the impetus for them to demote Campbell. If it isn't broken, don't fix it, but there's also credence in the idea that good play must be rewarded.
Wolanin, with 86 games punched in the NHL with four clubs, sits second in the AHL with 13 points in 11 games and could make for an attractive addition to Vancouver's bottom six 'D' core.
The league leader in points just so happens to be his teammate Arshdeep Bains, with 16 points in 11 games. Bains would be a natural fit to inject some secondary scoring on Vancouver's third or fourth line, which has featured a rotating cast of players so far. -DC
Jiri Kulich, C, Rochester Americans (Buffalo)
Kulich was drafted out of his native Czechia, which allowed him to play in the AHL against men as an 18-year-old. He did not look out of place, scoring 46 points in 62 games, using his amazing skating ability to create room for himself and generate chances.
The Sabres do not need any help scoring, but Kulich was one of the last cuts from camp, almost bumping veteran Tyson Jost from the lineup. If the injury bug hits, Kulich is one of the top candidates to get called up. Listed as a center, Kulich is versatile enough to play on the wing as well. He's currently the Amerks' top scorer with 13 points in 10 games and tied with Riley Tufte and Adam Gaudette for the league lead with nine goals. -JC
Joshua Roy, RW, Laval Rocket (Montréal)
The Rocket, simply put, have not been very good this season, compiling a flaccid 2-7-1 record, sitting above only the Chicago Wolves in the league standings.
One of the bright spots of the roster has been 20-year-old winger Joshua Roy, who's put together five goals and 12 points through 10 games on a Rocket squad seriously lacking in firepower.
The Canadiens, with admittedly low expectations for the season, could take a low-risk gamble on adding some big-league seasoning to a young man with a mile-high upside. -DC
Matt Coronato, RW, Calgary Wranglers (Calgary)
We'll see Coronato again. After making the big club out of camp, Coronato struggled to find his footing, though he wasn't the only one on the Flames. Coronato was demoted to the AHL but scored the Wranglers' lone goal in a 1-0 win against the San Jose Barracuda. Once Coronato gets his confidence back and a spot opens up, the Flames will certainly give him a call. -JC
Logan Stankoven, C, and Mavrik Bourque, C, Texas Stars (Dallas)
The Dallas Stars' offense has been struggling, ranking 22nd in GF/GP entering Tuesday's games. If they need a jolt, they should look at Stankoven, who currently leads the team with 13 points in 11 games, continuing his steep upward trajectory after winning gold at the World Juniors and being named both the WHL and CHL Player of the Year two seasons ago.
The only wrinkle that prevents Stankoven and Bourque getting called up is cap space. Even with Radek Faksa and Matt Duchene injured, the Stars don't have enough space for Stankoven unless a player is moved to LTIR or someone is demoted to Cedar Park. However, as cap space is accrued over the course of the season, perhaps they'll create enough to accommodate Stankoven or Bourque, and hopefully sooner than later. -JC
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