The American Hockey League is the NHL’s primary development league, with nearly 90% of NHL players passing through it at some point before establishing themselves in the big league. That number may be even higher by the time you read this, given the number of injuries already affecting NHL rosters.
Some prospects made a strong impression during training camp but fell just short of earning an NHL spot. They know their opportunity could come at any moment, and they will be looking to make the most of a call-up and potentially secure a spot for the rest of the season. Others started the season in the NHL but have since been sent back to the AHL, where they will look to dominate and force their NHL team to take another look.
For this series, however, I will focus on players who are still working their way toward that next step. I will be tracking them throughout the season, highlighting a mix of prospects from every division and across different positions, ranging from 19 to 24 years old. Most were first-round picks, with two exceptions, and all have the upside to make an impact at the AHL level while offering intriguing potential for fantasy managers.
Let’s take a look at the first half of my list.
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Liam Greentree, RW – #24 Hartford Wolf Pack
20 years old, 2024 first-round pick
GP: 5 | G: 2 | A: 2 | P: 4 | +/-: -3
Drafted 26th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2024, Greentree was acquired by the New York Rangers last winter as part of the Artemi Panarin trade.
The 6-3, 216 lbs left-shot winger made his professional debut this season with Hartford Wolf Pack after completing his junior career with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. He recorded 328 points (148 goals and 180 assists) in 241 regular-season games, along with three playoff appearances over four seasons where the same pace has been observed. In his second OHL season, he led Windsor with 90 points. In 2024-25, he set his career highs with 119 points including 49 goals, finishing third in OHL scoring and second on his team behind Ilya Protas. In his last junior season, he again led Windsor in scoring with 74 points and helped the Spitfires to win their division championship for the second consecutive year.
Greentree is a playmaker with an excellent hockey IQ who can create opportunities in transition. His size allows him to compete effectively against defenders, using his body to protect the puck and create space for himself and his teammates. While his skating remains an area for improvement, his stick-handling and relentless shot help compensate for some of his weaknesses. If he continues to develop his skating, Greentree could become a valuable top-nine forward for the Rangers, with the potential to fill a second-line role alongside complementary line mates.
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Cole Eiserman, RW – #34 Hamilton Hammers
20 years old, 2024 first-round pick
GP:4 | G: 1 | A: 2 | P: 3 | +/-: -3
Eiserman is an elite scorer. In 2024, he became the United States National Team Development Program’s all-time leading goal scorer with 127 goals in 119 games, surpassing Cole Caufield’s previous record of 126 goals, set in 2019.
After two seasons in the NCAA, where he recorded 43 goals and 21 assists for 64 points in 71 games for Boston University, Eiserman made his professional debut with Bridgeport last season. He showed encouraging signs in 14 games, including two playoff appearances.
The 6-0, 201 lbs left-shot winger was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2024 Draft, 20th overall, largely because of his scoring ability. His shot accuracy and quick release allow him to generate scoring chances in every situation, making him a dangerous offensive threat.
If Eiserman continues to improve his play away from the puck, he will become an even more dangerous presence in the offensive zone, particularly on the power play, where his shooting ability could make him a valuable weapon.
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Owen Pickering, LD – #38 Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins
20 years old, 2024 first-round pick
GP: 4 | G: 1 | A: 0 | P: 1 | +/-: +4
Pickering is a defense-first blue liner with an intriguing upside. He shows the potential to become a reliable defender, using his size and defensive awareness to disrupt plays and limit opponents’ scoring opportunities. Now stepping into his second professional season with the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins, he has a prime opportunity to continue building on his development and earn a permanent spot on the blue line.
At 6-5, 201 lbs, Pickering leverages his massive frame and sharp instinct to shut down plays and keep opponents off the scoresheets. While his size gives him a distinct edge, taking his game to the next level will require a bit more quickness, sharper decision-making on transitions, and greater composure under heavy pressure. That said, the foundation is already there. His mobility, deception and retrieval abilities – all point to a player with the tools to develop into a solid, two-way defenseman.
Selected 21st overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Pickering projects as a potential third-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. If he continues to refine his skating and stay poised under pressure, his combination of size and defensive tools could turn him develop into a dependable heavy-minute player trusted in crucial game situations.
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Roger McQueen, C – #26 San Diego Gulls
20 years old, 2025 first-round pick
GP: 4 | G: 3 | A: 0 | P: 3 | +/-: +2
At 6-6, 203 lbs, McQueen is a towering center with good skating ability, has an excellent vision and is an effective puck carrier. He also showed promise at faceoff dot in NCAA with Providence College, winning 55% of his draws. At 18 however, his development was disrupted by a significant lower-back fracture during his final WHL season, which kept him out of action for nearly five months. He returned shortly before the 2025 WHL playoffs. At the time, McQueen stated that he had fully recovered. The following season, he was named Hockey East Rookie of the Year after recording 27 points in 36 games.
The 10th overall selection of the 2025 NHL Draft shows good puck-handling skills with effective puck protection and excellent passing ability in tight spaces. These tools allow him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates and make plays in traffic.
Now he just turned 20 years old, McQueen still has plenty of room to develop. Right called-up by Anaheim Ducks on October 13th, if he can add strength without sacrificing his agility and carry his faceoff success over the professional level, he could project as a top-six NHL center with high-end potential.
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Bradly Nadeau, C – #82 Chicago Wolves
21 years old, 2023 first-round pick
GP: 4 | G: 1 | A: 0 | P: 1 | +/-: -6
It has been a brutal start to the season for the Chicago Wolves, who dropped their first four games in convincing fashion. While those blowouts haven’t done anyone’s stat sheet any favors, Bradly Nadeau is still managing to create something out of nothing. The 21-year-old right-shot winger leads the team with 12 shots on goal, making it clear he isn’t hesitating to pull the trigger despite the team’s early slumps. Now entering his third AHL campaign, Nadeau is looking to build on a solid track record after posting nearly a point per game over his first two years.
At 5-11 and 181 lbs, his shot is still his calling card. He features a lightning-quick release and surgical accuracy, often beating goaltenders clean before they even have time to set their feet. For Nadeau, the main hurdle now is converting all that volume into actual goals while sharpening the rest of his game.
Drafted 30th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023, he still has some work to do without the puck. If he can raise his defensive awareness and become a more complete player, he will give himself a much better shot at cracking an NHL top-nine down the road.
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David Reinbacher, RD – #64 Laval Rocket
21 years old, 2023 first-round pick
GP: 4 | G: 0 | A: 2 | P: 2 | +/-: +3
Reinbacher is entering another important season in his development with the Laval Rocket after making his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens last spring. Selected fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, the 6-3, 207 lbs right-shot defenseman has had to overcome some setbacks, including a torn meniscus that sidelined him for most of the 2024-25 season and a metacarpal fracture in October 2025.
He bounced back with 24 points (5G, 19A) in 57 AHL games in 2025-26 before appearing in two games with Montreal, recording an assist. Reinbacher’s mobility and ability to move the puck remain important assets, but he still needs to improve his decision-making under pressure and maintain his defensive consistency when handling heavier minutes.
The next step is turning his progress in Laval into a regular NHL role.
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Jani Nyman, LW – #33 Coachella Valley Firebirds
22 years old, 2022 second-round pick
GP: 4 | G: 6 | A: 1 | P: 7 | +/-: +4
Nyman has gotten off to a red-hot start with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring six goals and seven points in his first four games. The 6-4, 220 lbs left-shot winger is looking to build on a productive 2025-26 campaign, during which he recorded 33 points (21G, 12A) in 39 AHL games while adding seven points in 28 NHL appearances.
Nyman’s biggest asset is his high-end shot, featuring a powerful release that makes him a dangerous scoring threat. He also brings a physical presence and knows how to find open space to finish plays. However, he still needs to become more effective away from the puck and improve his defensive consistency.
If the Seattle Kraken’s second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2022 Draft can round out his game without sacrificing his scoring touch, he has the potential to establish himself as a regular NHL third-line scorer, with added fantasy upside thanks to his high-end shot and goal-scoring ability.
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Drew Commesso, G – #33 Rockford IceHogs
24 years old, 2020 second-round pick
GP: 2 | GA: 6 | SVS: 46 | SV%: .885
Commesso is looking to build on his first NHL appearances while establishing more consistency with the Rockford IceHogs. Selected 46th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 6-2, 181 lbs left-catch goaltender went 13-20-3 with a 3.08 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 37 AHL games last season. On another hand, He impressed in three NHL appearances, posting a .918 save percentage and a 2.31 GAA. His first NHL win was particularly memorable, as he stopped all 36 shots in a shutout against Nashville in January.
However, Commesso has gotten off to a difficult start in Rockford this season, and he will need to deliver more consistent performances while improving his rebound control and limiting second-chance opportunities. His composure, puck tracking and ability to read plays are encouraging assets, and he has already shown that he can handle NHL level competition.
With a two-year contract in place through 2027-28, Commesso has a realistic opportunity to push for a more regular NHL role in the near future if he can stabilize his AHL game.
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Michael Hrabal, G – #35 Tucson Roadrunners
21 years old, 2020 second-round pick
GP: 2 | GA: 6 | SVS: 50 | SV%: .893
Hrabal is beginning his first full professional season with the Tucson Roadrunners after a monster final NCAA year at University of Massachusetts, where he recorded incredible numbers over 29 games. He finished the season third in the league with a .937 save percentage and a 1.95 GAA. Selected 38th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the massive 6-7, 216 lbs left-catch goaltender is continuing to adjust his professional game after going 3-1-1 in five AHL appearances late last season. His start in Tucson has been mixed, with a 1-1 record, a 3.10 GAA and a .893 save percentage after two games. That being said, it is far too early to draw conclusions.
Hrabal’s size, smart positioning and ability to track pucks through screen traffic remain his major assets, while his rebound control and consistency will be areas to track closely. On the top of his own performances, Utah’s acquisition of Sebastian Cossa from Detroit adds more depth to the goaltender organization’s pipeline and could make a short-term call-up, a tougher path for him right now.
For now, Harbral’s main focus has to be locking down the starting job in Tucson. If he keeps refining his technique and delivering consistent performances, he will force people in Utah to put him back in the conversation for an NHL opportunity down the road.
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Final Thoughts
The AHL is where players learn what it takes to compete at the professional level, prove they are ready for the next step and work toward a permanent role in the NHL. As this first group of players shows, development rarely follows a straight line. Some are knocking at the door while others struggle to make their way down the hallway and must work harder to improve their game. That is what makes following these players so interesting. A strong stretch, a change in role or an opportunity created by an injury can make the difference in a prospect’s development path.
We are only halfway through our watch list. In mid-November, we will continue the series by highlighting more prospects whose performance in the AHL could shape their path to the NHL and their fantasy value.
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My 2026-27 Watch List:
Goalies:
- Trey Augustine, DET
- Drew Commesso, CHI
- Michael Hrabal, UTA
- Ilya Nabokov, COL
Forwards:
- Justin Carbonneau, STL
- Cole Eiserman, NYI
- Liam Greentree, NYR
- Riley Heidt, MIN
- Tij Iginla, UTA
- Rutger McGroarty, PIT
- Roger McQueen, ANA
- Bradly Nadeau, CAR
- Jani Nyman, SEA
Defensemen:
- Tanner Molendyk, NSH
- Radim Mrtka, BUF
- Owen Pickering, PIT
- David Reinbacher, MTL
- Anton Silayev, NJ
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Thanks for reading! Follow me on X/Twitter @PBastien1980
Pat Bast