The first month of the American Hockey League has brought some interesting starts with teams like the Grand Rapids Griffins, driven by their new prospects, they recorded only one loss in their first 10 games of the season. There is also the Laval Rocket putting together a seven-game winning streak, the Tucson Roadrunners that remains undefeated in regular time since now 11 games or Abbotsford Canucks that won eight games in a row after having lost the three first games.
Laval Rocket’s defensemen, Luke Mittelstadt, has been named AHL Rookie of the first month of activities recording five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 11 games ranking him the league’s leading scorer. Throughout the month, he recorded four three-point games and four power play goals.
Providence Bruins forward, Mikey Eyssimont has been selected AHL Player of the Month scoring a league-best 10 goals and registering 13 points in seven games in October. He recorded two hat tricks helping Providence earn its first win, on October 10th, to snap a three-game losing streak to start the season; he added another hat trick a week later. He also had a couple of multi-point games including a two-goal game as well.
The Grand Rapids Griffins winger, Carter Bear records 18 points in 14 games, ranking now co-second in scoring league’s leaders as of writting. Bear was selected in first-round in the 2025 NHL Draft, 13th overall by the Detroit Red Wings and was a part of the Griffin’s successes in their excellent season’s start as well as Jesse Kiiskinen, drafted 68th overall in 2023 by the Nashville Predators, recorded 15 points in 16 games as of now.
Danny Zhilkin from the Manitoba Moose, as of writing, recorded eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 16 games. The 2022 third-round selection (77th overall) has the opportunity to stand out as the Moose’s top-line center this month since another Winnipeg’s prospect, Bayden Yager, has been recalled by the Jets after having registered 12 points in 10 games. Both helped their team to stand second in the central division.
Now, let’s take a look at the second half of my watchlist.
***
Justin Carbonneau, RW– #8 Springfield Thunderbirds
19 years old, 2025 first-round pick (19th overall)
GP: 14 | G: 4 | A: 3 | P: 7 | +/-: -7
As Carbonneau scored a career-high 51 goals in 60 games and tied for the QMJHL lead last season, expectations are high for his offensive potential. The right-shot winger has shown encouraging improvements on his 200-foot game since being drafted. At 6-1, 201 lbs, he has plenty of tools to translate his junior successes to the AHL. He is also benefiting from playing on the second line alongside veterans T.J. Tynan, the team’s leading scorer with 10 points.
The adaptation to the speed of the professional game has brought some old bad habits back to the surface. At times, Carbonneau forces low-percentage passes when under pressure. However, this is a normal path of adjustment for most rookies coming out of junior hockey, considering the significant jump in competition between the CHL and the AHL. Still his shooting ability, particularly his accuracy, and his puck-decision making have been encouraging. He leads his team with 39 shots on goal, 13 more than the next player, something that should pay off as the season progresses.
*
Tij Iginla, LW – #77 Tucson Roadrunners
20 years old, 2025 first-round pick (sixth overall)
GP: 13 | G: 2 | A: 5 | P: 7 | +/-: 0
Iginla showed that his offensive production was sustainable last year, increasing his points-per-game average from 1.52 to 1.88 while recording 41 goals and 49 assists in 48 games with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. Throughout his junior career, he relied heavily on his offensive abilities, with his speed and shot, standing out as two of his biggest strengths.
Selected sixth overall by the Utah Mammoth in 2025, the 6-0, 192 lbs left-shot forward brings an impressive combination of goal-scoring ability, a dangerous shot, soft hands around the net, competitiveness and hockey sense. The Mammoth’s offseason additions of Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee made it more difficult for him to secure an NHL roster spot. However, this could ultimately benefit his development, as his time in Tucson with the farm team will give him the opportunity to adjust his game to the professional level.
Through 13 games this season, Iginla has recorded only two goals and four assists but he is leading his team with 35 shots on goal. He has played the second line alongside Caleb Desnoyers. His play under pressure appears to be one of his main challenges as he navigates the transition to professional hockey. Still, he has already shown promising offensive flashes. If he can carry the confidence he demonstrated in the WHL into the AHL, he could eventually earn an opportunity to wear a Utah Mammoth jersey sometime this season.
*
Riley Heidt, C – #27 Iowa Wild
21 years old, 2023 second-round pick (64th overall)
GP: 17 | G: 2 | A: 4 | P: 6 | +/-: 0
Heidt’s first professional season required a significant adjustment, as he recorded 25 points in 71 games following a junior career in which he registered 362 points in 259 games over four full seasons with Prince George Cougars in the WHL. He was a consistent offensive producer, averaging a 1,4 points per game and finishing among his team’s top two scorers every year.
The central scouting question entering his first AHL season is whether Heidt can translate his offensive instincts into a consistent impact at five-on-five. His development involves more than restoring his scoring totals. His positioning, decision-making within a team’s structure and ability to create offense against faster, stronger opposition are important areas in which he needs to take a step forward this season.
Recent observations show Heidt continuing to work on his game even when he does not show up on the scoresheet. He has demonstrated his ability to carry the puck throughout effective breakouts and puck retrievals. His faceoff skills are also an interesting aspect of his game, as he is winning more than 50% of his draws. Despite his 5-11, 179 lbs frame, he is not afraid to engage physically, allowing him to generate offense in tight spaces through his playmaking ability.
If he continues developing his 200-foot game, Heidt could develop into a middle-six playmaking forward with a realistic ceiling as a second-line contributor who can also be an asset in special teams.
*
Rutger McGroarty, C/W – #2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
22 years old, 2022 first-round pick (14th overall)
GP: 9 | G: 6 | A: 6 | P: 12 | +/-: 4
The 14th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft is a productive, competitive left-shot forward whose combination of physical play, offensive ability, and willingness to work in difficult areas offers potential beyond pure scoring .
McGroarty was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in an August 2024 trade with the Winnipeg Jets, the team that originally drafted him, in exchange for Brayden Yager. That trade came a couple of months after he won gold with Team USA at the World Junior Championship, serving as Captain. During the following off-season, McGroarty and his agent were unable to reach an agreement with the Jets on an entry-level contract. Following the trade, his AHL production increased from 0,65 to 1,13 point-per-game. However, he struggled to translate his productivity to the NHL, recording three points in eight games in 2024-25 and six points in 24 games in 2025-26.
This October, he continued to increase his AHL production, averaging 1,5 points per game which earned him another NHL opportunity. He played two games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but recorded no points. His upside remains that of a versatile 200-foot forward, but concerns about his skating have become a major factor determining whether he can translate that profile into a consistent NHL role. If he continues to improve his ability to use his natural skating power more efficiently, more opportunities could open up for him.
By the time of writing, he had already been recalled again on November 8 and played one game.
*
Tanner Molendyk, D – #50 Milwaukee Admirals
20 years old, 2023 first-round pick (24th overall)
GP: 14 | G: 0 | A: 6 | P: 6 | +/-: 7
Molendyk is a 6-0, 196 lbs mobile left-shot defenseman with high-end skating skills. His lateral mobility allows him to find open passing lanes, and when no passing option is available, he can carry the puck efficiently while maintaining possession for his team.
Offensively, he is efficient on breakouts, making clean first passes, His skating ability also allows him to advance the puck through the middle, even under pressure, rather than relying on the boards or simply dumping the puck deep.
Defensively, he is a strong rush defender who uses his active stick to disrupt plays and get physically involved along the boards. His ability to compensate for his modest size remains an area to develop, but positioning and timing are already consistent. If he can translate his puck-carrying ability and offensive instincts to the NHL without compromising his defensive reliability, he has high-end upside as a top-four blue liner who could quarterback a power play.
*
Radim Mrtka, D – #57 Rochester Americans
19 years old, 2025 first-round pick (9th overall)
GP: 14 | G: 0 | A: 0 | P: 0 | +/-: -6
Mrtka got a taste of AHL hockey at the end of last season, playing eight regular-season games and three playoff games. However, his true professional development phase began this October, at 19 years old, as the youngest member of the Amerks. The right-shot defenseman is making a gradual but steady adjustment to the professional level.
Despite recording no points through 13 games, the European-born second overall selection of the 2025 NHL Draft is a mobile blue liner whose speed is impressive for his size, allowing him to be effective in transition. That said, his defensive-zone positioning and net-front presence remains areas for improvement. At 6-6, 218 lbs, he also needs to bring more consistency and assertiveness to his physical game, especially considering his frame.
Mrtka has an interesting ceiling because of the combination of his size, mobility and puck-moving ability. His physical profile suggests the potential to become a shutdown defenseman, while his offensive instincts add another dimension to his game. If he improves in the areas mentioned above, he could develop into a top-four, two-way, right-shot NHL defenseman.
*
Anton Silayev, D – #52 Utica Comets
20 years old, 2024 first-round pick (10th overall)
GP: 12 | G: 0 | A: 4 | P: 4 | +/-: 8
Silayev is no stranger to professional hockey, having already played three full seasons in the KHL, recording six goals and 20 assists for 26 points in 187 games with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. However, this is his first season playing in North America after signing his entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils this summer.
The 6-7, 207 lbs left-shot defenseman offers a rare combination of size, mobility, defensive reach and strong physical presence. These attributes allow him to close gaps quickly and deny space to opposing players. His reach helps him to disrupt passing lanes, challenge puck carriers, and defend against rushes.
Silayev has the tools to become a high-minute, shutdown NHL defenceman, provided his decision-making and execution catch up with his physical attributes. If he continues to develop in those areas, he projects as a top-four shutdown defenseman with the potential to compete at the highest level.
*
Trey Augustine, G – #30 Grand Rapids Griffins
21 years old, 2023 second-round pick (41st overall)
GP: 9 | GAA: 2.26 | SVS: 220 | SV%: .921 | SO: 1
Trey Augustine’s 2025–26 season was a major step forward in his development as a professional goaltending prospect. He completed his junior year at Michigan State University with career-best regular-season numbers in save percentage and won the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I. He recorded 24 wins, including three shutouts, against nine losses, with a 2,11 goals-against average and a ,929 save percentage.
The 6-1, 194 lbs, left-catch goaltender has strong technique built around his quickness, athleticism and aggressiveness, allowing him to excel in scramble situations. He stays well squared to shooters and does an excellent job maintaining his depth and angles on lateral plays. This also helps him maintain visual contact with the puck through traffic.
This season, Augustine has split the starts almost evenly with Michal Postova. He has recorded seven wins in eight starts and recently earned his first professional shutout, stopping all 31 shots he faced against the Iowa Wild.
If he continues to refine the balance between his aggressiveness and patience, avoiding over-committing while improving his rebound control, Augustine could develop into a reliable NHL starting goaltender with a realistic ceiling.
*
Ilya Nabokov, G – #30 Colorado Eagles
23 years old, 2024 second-round pick (38th overall)
GP: 9 | GAA: 2.19 | SVS: 253 | SV%: .927 | SO: 1
Nabokov’s 2025-26 season was his third in the KHL, where he recorded a 2,74 goals-against average and a ,901 save percentage in 38 games. His three seasons with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk provided valuable professional experience. Across 131 regular-season games, he posted a 2,35 goals-against average and ,919 save percentage.
The Avalanche’ prospect brings high-end athletic tools, including explosive lateral movements, strong recovery ability, and quick reflexes. He also uses the reverse-VH effectively on sharp-angle plays. His competitiveness and anticipation allow him to challenge shooters confidently and effectively.
Despite his excellent technique, the 6-1, 181 lbs left-catch goaltender still needs to improve his glove-side execution, an area that could help compensate for his frame.
If he becomes more consistent on his glove-side and maintains efficient positioning rather than relying primarily on his athleticism, Nabokov has the potential to develop into an NHL starting goaltender with an interesting but realistic ceiling.
***
Watchlist NHL recalls
Roger McQueen was recalled by the Anaheim Ducks on October 13 to replace Ryan Poehling, who was placed on injured reserve and subsequently moved to long-term injured reserve this week. McQueen has recorded two goals and one assist in 14 games so far. With Poehling not expected to return before December 6, McQueen will have had plenty of time to show what he can bring to the team.
Bradly Nadeau has been recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes for a week, during which he played three games and recorded two assists.
David Reinbacher was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens for a week in mid-October. He played three games where recorded one assist.
Jani Nyman has been recalled from his loan by the Seattle Kraken. He has played four games so far but has yet to record a point.
Drew Commesso was recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks this week to serve as the backup goalie role while Arvid Soderblom was reassigned to Rockford.
***
Final thoughts
Beyond the numbers, the AHL remains one of the best environments to evaluate how prospects respond to the demands of professional hockey.
Production is important, but decision-making, consistency, positioning, and the ability to execute under pressure often reveal much more about a player’s long-term potential. Some of these prospects are already making a strong impression, while others are still learning how to translate their junior or international success into an effective professional game.
The coming months should provide a better picture of their individual progress and help identify which players are getting closer to becoming legitimate NHL options.
***
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on X/Twitter: @PBastien1980
Pat Bast