The NHL season kicks off Tuesday night with much fanfare. Some last-minute trades and player moves have added to the excitement of a hockey offseason that was a little shorter than usual, but still long enough.
Hockey is back in a big way, and for a number of players, it’s an important step in their careers. Some players will be making their NHL debuts, while others are taking another step toward what they hope is a more permanent spot on NHL rosters.
Everyone on the list below, however, spent a good portion of last season in the AHL and are set to at least start the season on NHL rosters and prove they are ready for the big leagues.
It’s just as good a reminder that the road to the NHL goes through FloHockey, and getting a subscription lets you catch all these players before they become NHL stars. Being on the ground level of their journey, in some cases dating back to their junior hockey days, has been a lot of fun to watch.
Here are the 10 players I will be watching the most when the NHL season begins:
Ilya Protas, C, Washington Capitals
Ilya Protas’ rapid rise from third-round pick to top prospect has been remarkable to watch. Protas, who was a standout with the Des Moines Buccaneers in his draft season, moved up to the OHL and dominated for the Windsor Spitfires before turning pro at age 19 and showing points that translated well to the AHL with the Hershey Bears.
LET’S LISTEN FOR ILYA PROTAS!!
Ilya takes home the 2025-26 Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Rookie in the AHL. @TheAHL: |: @TheHersheyBears |: @Capitals: |: @OHLHockey |: @USHL: #AHL: #NHL: pic.twitter.com/jnY95XkBCM
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 23, 2026
At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Protas packs an impressive frame. But his 66 points in 69 games as an AHL rookie showed there’s a lot more to him than that size. He may now get a chance to play alongside his brother Aliaksei for the Caps and should be an absolute thrill to watch if he continues this rapid upward trajectory.
Devon Levi, G, Edmonton Oilers
Levy is one of those rare goaltenders who played his first few NHL games before stepping up to the AHL. It was a bit of a false start, though he eventually bounced between Buffalo and Rochester. Now he’s in Edmonton with a chance to take over the gridiron.
Levy has played 94 games in the AHL over the past two regular seasons and has often been among the league’s best at his position. The Oilers need consistency in net, and Levy is one of the players they look to to provide it. Will this be his moment to capture the coveted No. 1 job in the NHL?
Devon Levy heads to Edmonton after playing 159 games with Buffalo/Rochester.@EdmontonOilers |: @TheAHL: |: @NHL: #AHL: #NHL: #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/eX9rLaQv7Y
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) July 1, 2026
Konsta Helenius, C/W, Buffalo Sabres
It’s rare for a rookie to complete two full AHL seasons before turning 20, but Helenius goes further with two professional seasons in Finland before that. Always a phenom in his home country, he now looks to take on a full role with the Sabres. There is plenty of evidence that he is ready.
Helenius averaged a point per game for Rochester last season before making an extended appearance with the Sabers late in the year. He also scored two goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He’s a rookie to watch closely as long as Buffalo runs him enough in the right situations.
Carter Yakemchuk, D, Ottawa Senators
Drafted seventh overall in 2024, Yakemchuk got his first big taste of pro hockey last season. He scored 40 points in 54 games for Belleville, showing that his skill and rebounding ability from his junior year will translate.
Now he’s going to spend at least some time with Ottawa to see what he can do. He played in four games and one playoff game last NHL regular season. Yakemchuk is still a little rough around the edges, but the potential remains extremely high.
Trevor Connelly, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
Connelly appears to have all the tools to become a top-six forward in the NHL one day. One area that hasn’t been as consistent is his health, as he’s had to deal with injuries over several seasons.
However, when healthy, Connelly was a difference maker for the Henderson Silver Knights last season. He scored 49 points in 46 games and scored one point per game during the playoffs.
Vegas is often limited by their cap, so having an affordable, productive player in their everyday lineup can go a long way. Connelly should get a long streak to see how well he hangs with the big club.
Sebastian Cosa, G, Utah Mammoth
For years in Detroit’s system, Kosa seemed to do almost everything the team asked of him. However, he lost his starting job in the playoffs to Michal Postava last season in Grand Rapids, and the Red Wings traded him over the summer.
Kosa has been among the top goaltenders in the AHL over the past three seasons and was the ECHL’s top netminder before that. Detroit slowed his development, which was probably true where he was. Now, though, he gets the No. 2 job in Utah and could eventually push Carl Wejemelka for more reps.
Ryan Ufko, D, Nashville Predators
Nashville has traditionally developed defenses at a high level, and Ufko looks like he could be the next prize-winning apprentice. He had 44 points in 52 games last season for Milwaukee, a talented and skilled defender.
He also had a pretty good run with the Preds late in the year, scoring 11 points in 18 games. According to training camp reports, he spent some time on the top pairing with Roman Josi.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW, Detroit Red Wings
You knew it wouldn’t take MBN long to adapt to North America. While his early NHL stint was not productive, his performance in the AHL was exemplary. He had 44 points in 60 games, including 20 goals, and displayed a strong, physical two-way game that landed him in the first round.
He looks set to stick with the Red Wings long-term, filling a need in the middle six where he can play an energetic style with some good secondary units.
Isaac Howard, LW, Edmonton Oilers
Howard showed some flashes with the Oilers early last year, but he really hit it off with the Condors. After struggling to produce in Edmonton, he had no trouble in the AHL, scoring 50 points in 47 games as a rookie.
He showed up at Oilers camp ready to go and impressed during his time there. Now he gets a chance to help contribute to one of the league’s highest-octane offensive attacks.
Tyrell Bauer, D, Winnipeg Jets
Some guys have to earn a job the hard way, and Tyrell Bauer spent four years with the Manitoba Moose grinding it out. He’s a physical defensive back who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves often.
Honestly, Bauer has been one of the toughest players in the AHL during his time there. He’s had some absolutely classic fights, but he also does a lot of little things defensively that can resonate. Winnipeg rewarding him with a spot on opening night, and him earning it the way he did, shows that patience and toughness really can pay off.
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