SPRINGFIELD, Mass. As the National Hockey League opens its 2026-27 season, the American Hockey League is proud to have 602 graduates On 32 active NHL opening day rosters, representing more than 83 percent of the NHL’s original player pool, to begin its campaign.
Many of last year’s standout AHL players make the jump to the NHL as the new season begins, including the reigning AHL MVP and outstanding goaltender. Michael DiPietro (Boston); 2025-26 AHL Rookie of the Year Ilya Protas (Washington); and 2026 AHL All-Stars Frederic Brunet (Boston), Sebastian Cosa (Utah), Luca Del Belluz (Columbus), Adam Engstrom (Montreal), Conor Geeky (Tampa Bay), Matvey Grid (Calgary), Consta Helenius (Buffalo), Kevin Korczynski (Chicago), Nick Lardis (Chicago), Andrew Lee (Los Angeles), Sergey Murashov (Pittsburgh), Isak Rosen (Winnipeg), Dmitry Simashev (Utah), Ryan Ufko (Nashville) and Team Wash (Anaheim).
Twenty-two of the NHL’s 32 head coaches were AHL bench bosses early in their careers. Manny Malhotra takes over the Vancouver Canucks bench after two seasons at the helm of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, where he won the 2025 Calder Cup Championship. Ryan Craig Is the new head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights after spending the last three years at the helm of the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. In addition, Trent Vogelhuber (Columbus), Mark Letestu (Vegas), Rocky Thompson (New York Islands), Greg Croney (St. Louis), Pascal Vincent (Seattle), Ryan Mugenel (Vancouver), Matt McIlvaine (Boston) and Jon Gruden (Toronto) are all new assistant coaches in the NHL after serving as bench bosses in the AHL in 2025-26.
Among the NHL stars who honed their skills in the American Hockey League in 2025-26. is the Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov and Vezina Trophy winner Andrey Vasilevsky Tampa Bay Lightning; Norris Award Winner Zach Werensky Columbus Blue Jackets; Stanley Cup champion Logan Stankoven About the Carolina Hurricanes; and 100 point scorers David Pastrnak Boston Bruins and Martin Nekas From the Colorado Avalanche. Last season, in general 901 AHL graduates played in the National Hockey League – 87.0 percent of all NHL players – inclusive 334 who skated in both leagues last year alone.
In existence since 1936, the AHL serves as the home for the players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and officials of the National Hockey League and its 32 teams. The 91st season of the AHL begins this Friday Opening Weekend presented by FloHockey.
