Well over the halfway point in the season, rookies in the AHL are truly starting to find their footing. For a defenseman, this transition can be more difficult than for forwards, as they now have to defend against players that are more than likely bigger, stronger, and faster than anybody they have played against before. But for these five guys, they have figured out the game quicker than some of their counterparts.

Luca Cagnoni, San Jose Barracuda – The current leader in points for a rookie defenseman with 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points in 52 games, Cagnoni is downright electric. A fourth-round pick in 2023, he uses his smaller stature as an advantage. His skating allows him to gain separation at the blue line and, occasionally, blow by the entire team and score.

His playmaking is also a plus attribute, being able to run a power play unit at a high level, with the Barracuda operating at a 22.4% success rate, the third highest in the AHL. His shot is also lethal, with nine of his 13 goals coming on the man advantage. The offensive game comes easy to him, which is what got him drafted.

He is still learning the defensive game after struggling to start the season. He’s battled back to a somewhat more respectable -4 on the season, but he still has a lot of room to grow. For a Sharks team that desperately needs quality defenseman in their system outside of Sam Dickinson, Cagnoni should be a nice piece of the blue line a few years from now, if not sooner.

Tristan Luneau, San Diego Gulls – Not many defensemen in the AHL have been as hot as Luneau recently, with 18 points in his last 13 games. The runner up in rookie scoring for defenseman, he has 40 points in 41 games.

A second-round pick back in 2022, Luneau has the prototypical size you would want in a defenseman, standing 6 foot 2. A freak knee infection kept him away from hockey for the majority of the 2023/24 season, but now he can’t be stopped. His offense is evident, being able to make passes not many players can make.

His defending is also very solid, being trusted to play on the penalty kill and being used in high leverage situations. He uses his size to his advantage and while not being the most physical, he can still play his body to separate the player and the puck.

Luneau seems to be poised to make the jump to the Ducks within the calendar year, whether that be this season or out of training camp next year. But his maturity and play at the AHL level is inspiring confidence in his NHL ability for Ducks fans.

Scott Morrow, Chicago Wolves – Coming off three-year career with UMass where he was one of the best defensemen in college hockey, Morrow has continued his success on his way to becoming a top pairing defenseman for an incredibly young Chicago Wolves team. In 50 games played, the former 2nd round pick back in 2021 has 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points, 3rd most amongst AHL rookie defenseman.

With Morrow, you wanted to see him continue to get better in his own zone, which was his biggest weakness during his college years. The good news is that he has continued to get better, leading him to become a serviceable penalty killer while also being able to defend the other team’s tougher lines.

Offensively, Morrow has a clear talent for moving the puck. It is not deceptive in any way, but it’s smart and lethal. His hands are also a big positive, being able to deke around defenders to create highlight reel level plays.

He also has the ability to control the pace of play with the puck on his stick, wanting to slow it down to his level rather than speed it up most of the time. This season has been exactly what Hurricanes fans have wanted to see from Morrow and it would not shock anyone if he is on the NHL roster on opening night next season.

Ty Nelson, Coachella Valley Firebirds – After a slightly disappointing final season due to injury in the OHL with the North Bay Battalion, Nelson has put together a solid rookie season in the AHL. A third-round pick from 2023, he has 6 goals and 20 assists for 26 points in 56 games.

With Nelson, offense is his calling card. He is not afraid to use his shot, logging over 100 shots on goal this season already. His passing is also outstanding, being able to make difficult passes look easier than most other players. His plus/minus of +15, while not being a good measure to determine defensive ability, instills confidence that he is making strides in his defensive game.

He needs to keep growing his defensive game to be an effective NHL defenseman, especially with his height not being “ideal” according to NHL standards. Discipline is also a slight concern, with 42 penalty minutes this season, but that also comes with being a rookie defenseman, or just a rookie overall.

Artyom Levshunov, Rockford Ice Hogs – Another player making his transition from the college ranks to professional, Levshunov did not have the luxury of playing 3 years in college before heading off to the AHL. This explains the rough start that he had to start the year but since January, he’s been a much different player. In 48 games this season, Levshunov has 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points. In his past 12 games, he has 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points.

A big, physical defenseman that sometimes uses his size for evil, he is still learning how to play effectively at the pro level. His skating level helps him stay active in the defensive zone, while also allowing him to activate more in rush chances. One of his best attributes is the ability to get controlled zone exits while under pressure.

The other aspects of his game hold up, with his playmaking looking like the real deal. Passing is crisp at times, with the ability to thread cross seams at a decent level. With Levshunov, he thrives when he is getting involved offensively, whether that be with the puck on his stick or using his hockey sense to be in the right place.

There is still some growing to do, fixing consistency on ice while also scaling back on some of the penalties are two of the bigger areas of concern right now. At only 19-years-old, he still has a ton of time to work out the kinks in his game.