As we prepare for the 2026-27 AHL season on Friday night, the star power is especially impressive. That’s especially true in the Atlantic Division, where plenty of first-round talent as well as hockey’s latest junior superstars are poised to make their mark.
Several players will be getting their first taste of the professional ranks, while others have already gained some valuable experience last year, which should set them in good stead for the year ahead. While the division includes some of the oldest markets in the league, this season will have plenty to do with some of the newest names.
Here are the top NHL prospects I’ll be keeping a close eye on this season.
Bill Zonnon, C, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)
The 11 games Zonnon has played since the WBS playoffs have given many people more confidence in his projection. Breaking right into the lineup as a junior, Zonnon was a quick impact player in the Pens’ top six, scoring four goals and three assists in his AHL contribution.
He will now start the season with the WBS Penguins and build from there. A talented scorer who’s on fire quickly, Zonon should get plenty of top-six looks once again while fine-tuning the details of his pro game before being called up to Pittsburgh.
GRAB THAT PUCK BILL ZONNO!!🔥
Bill Zonnon scores his first professional goal in his first professional game.
Presented @FortuneTiresUSA @TheAHL: |: @WBSPenguins |: @QMJHL: |: @penguins #AHL: #CalderCup #FortuneTiresUSA #LetsGoPenns pic.twitter.com/UuxWYt0FyN
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) May 13, 2026
Harrison Brunick, D, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)
Brunicke played nine NHL games with Pittsburgh last season before being sent down to junior. Then he came back and joined the WBS Pens and did really well in a short period of time.
Brunicke had 8 points in 11 AHL regular season games and another 7 points in 15 postseason contests.
As a big, right-handed defenseman with good two-way attributes, one wonders how long it will be before the NHL Penguins call him up.
Terik Parascak, C/W, Hershey Bears (WSH)
The 17th overall pick in 2023, Parascak is preparing for his first pro season. He had 79 points in the WHL with Prince George last season and is now expected to help the Hershey Bears get back on track after a down season.
Paraszczak is an offensive dynamo when he’s at his best. He doesn’t have the size, but he’s tenacious enough to cause some problems. He needs to prove that his game translates to the pros.
Linden Lakovich, LW, Hershey Bears (WSH)
Selected 27th overall in 2025, Lakovic missed a large portion of last season due to injury. However, he scored 18 goals in 22 games while with the Moose Zhou Warriors in the WHL.
Lakovich is a big man, and Hershey needs that after losing Ilya Protas to the NHL. Acquiring a big winger with scoring pop will go a long way, assuming Lakovich can bring the offensive game he played in the WHL with him to the AHL.
Andrew Crystal, RW, Hershey Bears (WSH)
After a very successful rookie season in Hershey where he scored 60 points in 72 games, Andrew Crystal is poised for another big year with the Bears. Crystal showed he has the hockey sense and skill to produce. Now he just needs to try to become a more dominant, consistent threat to prove to the Capitals that there is a place for him in their team in the near future.
Justin Carbonneau, RV, Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)
Carbonneau is an exciting prospect for the Blues after they took him 19th overall in 2025.
Also, Carboneau has some weight to his game at the top of the offense. He’s a tough guy to knock down and will now be tested by bigger, stronger competition in the AHL.
Justin Carbonneau wins it for the Armada win .5 left in third… pic.twitter.com/lOjTMWdEXP
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) May 3, 2026
Liam Greentree, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
Acquired in the Artemi Panarin trade, Greentree is a big-bodied scorer with a superior offensive feel. He wore the C for the Windsor Spitfires in each of the last two seasons and finished his OHL career with an astounding 328 points over four seasons. Will his goal translate? Hartford could really use some extra pop.
Cole Beaudoin, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
Beaudoin is a tough, two-way forward with scoring pop. He was great for Bari all the way until he got injured late in the playoffs. Before missing time, he had 29 points in 15 playoff games, just an absolute rip off. He also scored a point per game for Canada at the World Juniors and made the team in back-to-back years.
Beaudoin isn’t the flashiest player, but he has so many traits that scream long-term NHLer. He will get a chance to show more in the AHL to see how much that translates.
Jett Luchanko, C, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)
Luchanko has started each of the past two seasons with the Flyers out of camp, appearing in a total of eight NHL games. The team is starting him in the AHL this year, and that’s probably for the best right now.
A lightning fast skater with good two-way feel, Luchanko really needs to improve his offensive game before taking the next big step. He had over a point per game in the OHL last season, but may still need to develop his offensive game more consistently to make an impact as a pro. He had a real chance to make the Flyers, but I think this was the right call to bring him high-end players with the Phantoms.
🚨 Alex Bump from Jet Luchanko…yeah, we can get used to it 👀@TheAHL: |: @LVPhantoms |: @NHLFlyers@WMUHockey |: @Storm_City #AHL: #CalderCup #HanranthainHovit #LVPhantoms #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/YH219w7h44
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 24, 2025
Cole Knable, C/W, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)
Knuble nearly carried the Flyers out of camp, and that’s a great sign for a guy who played college hockey last season. Knuble finished last season with three points in seven games for Lehigh Valley.
Now, he will be given plenty of opportunities to take his game to the next level after three seasons of great success at Notre Dame. Lehigh Valley is going to allow Knuble ice time to blossom in his rookie campaign and give the Flyers a little more evidence that he’s closer to NHL-ready than previously thought.
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