The offseason goes a long way for NHL hopefuls TheAHL.com

Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer

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Many familiar names from across the AHL have found new organizations and new opportunities this offseason as National Hockey League teams restructure their pipelines for the 2024-25 season.

Here’s a look at some of last year’s key AHL players from the Eastern Conference, and where they’ll be trying to make that final step up to the NHL roster:

BELLEVILLE (OTTAWA)
The regular forward from Belleville remains with the Ottawa organization and several other established AHL names have signed with Ottawa.

Two different ways forward Garrett Pilon2023 Calder Cup champion with Hershey, is back after signing a new two-year deal with Ottawa. Pilon led the B-Sens with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 62 games. Ottawa also secured a forward sniper Adam GaudetteHis 44 goals with Springfield this past season led the AHL. Gaudette had a previous run with Ottawa, playing 50 games for the NHL club in 2021-22. Ontario ahead Hayden Hodgson also signed with Ottawa. On the blue line, Jeremy Davies (Rochester) and Philip Roos (Rockford) rejoined the organization on two-way NHL deals during the season Wyatt Wylie (Ontario) will have Belleville on an AHL contract.

Ottawa also looked ahead Egor Sokolov to Utah and forward Jan Jenikwho had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 55 games this past season for Tucson.

BRIDGEPORT (NEW YORK ISLANDERS)
Marc Gatcomb (Abbotsford) and Fredrik Karlström (Texas) is a new face in the Islanders organization.

The protector Wyatt Newpower (Grand Rapids) is going to Bridgeport on an AHL deal as it stands Justin Gillhad back-to-back seasons with 40 or more goals in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and was a fifth-round pick of the Islanders in 2023. Top veteran Brian Pinho and is staying with Bridgeport on a new AHL contract.

CHARLOTTE (FLORIDA)
Goalkeeper Chris Driedgerwho returned Coachella Valley to the Calder Cup Finals, returned to Florida to compete Spencer Knight time to play with the Panthers. New signee Ken Appleby and he returns Evan Cormier giving more depth to the net.

Forward Rasmus Asplund has a new one-year, two-way contract after posting a career-best 44 points (nine goals, team-best 35 assists) in 67 games for the Checkers; he also played 183 NHL games. Veteran forward Kyle Criscuolo left Utica on a new one-year AHL contract with the Checkers. He had 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) in 63 games with the Comets. For more help beforehand, Aidan McDonoughwho had 11 goals as a rookie for Abbotsford this past season, signed an AHL contract with the Checkers as he did. John Leonard (Tucson).

Finally, a fan favorite Trevor Carrick he is back for a second time with the Checkers helping the club to the 2019 Calder Cup. Joining the Checkers on a two-year AHL contract, his 347 games are second in team history, and his 181 points rank first among all Charlotte blueliners.

CLEVELAND (COLUMBUS)
Change surrounds the entire organization of Columbus in the background Don Waddell he took the position of general manager.

Coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland re-signed Stefan Matteo and add forward Curtis Hallwho split this past season between Providence and Grand Rapids. The Blue Jackets also signed a forward Dylan Gambrellwho had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 66 games for the Toronto Marlies.

HARTFORD (NEW YORK RANGERS)
The Rangers added a veteran Casey Fitzgeraldwho had 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in 69 games for Charlotte. Fitzgerald joins the organization on a two-year deal.

Hartford also brought scoring help to the incoming head coach Grant Potulny by signing forward Nate Success on an AHL contract. Sucese, 28, entered his fourth pro season with Chicago with career highs in goals (23) and points (37) while playing in all 72 games for the Wolves.

HERSHEY (WASHINGTON)
Coming off of back-to-back Calder Cup titles, the Capitals and Bears are restless in getting the organization back on track for a 3-peat in Hershey.

The Bears went out and signed a First Team AHL All-Star defenseman Brad Hunt on an AHL contract. At 35 years old, Hunt is seeking his first Calder Cup championship and is coming off a season with the Colorado Eagles in which he registered 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 70 games. He also brings 288 games of NHL experience and a gold medal with Canada to the 2023 IIHF World Championship.

Up front, many familiar faces remain in the Washington program. The Capitals are taking back the lead Ethan Frank, Alex Limogesagain Riley Sutter. They also brought forward Luke Phil (Rockford) and Spencer Smallman (Colorado) on one-year, two-way deals. Philp was limited to 15 regular-season games with Rockford due to injury, but had a 29-goal campaign for the IceHogs in 2022-23. Garrett Roehis overtime goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals kept the Bears’ season alive, he’s back on a new AHL contract, as it stands. Matt Stromewho had the goal to win the Calder Cup last June.

On the blue line, Chase Priskie again Hardy Häman Aktell they have new one-year deals with the Caps. The Bears also kept the defenders Day Logan, Nicky Leivermann again Dmitri Osipov to new AHL contracts.

LAVAL (MONTREAL)
Depth has been the theme of this offseason for the Rockets. A new coach Pascal Vincent he will be leading a dramatically redesigned team as Rocket added Vincent Arseneau, Alex Beaucage, Laurent Dauphin, Zack Hayes, Josh Jacobs, Vincent Sevignyagain Tyler Wotherspoon in AHL contracts.

LEHIGH VALLEY (PHILADELPHIA)
The Flyers stay ahead Anthony Richardwho had 25 goals in 59 games for Providence last season. The 27-year-old joins the Philadelphia organization on a two-year, two-way contract.

Lehigh Valley also moved on Cooper Marody on a two-year AHL contract after leading the team with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 68 games.

PROVIDENCE (BOSTON)
Boston always works in free agency to build a competitive depth chart, and this summer is no different.

Joining the Boston organization are defenders Jordan Oesterle (Calgary) and Billy Sweezey (Cleveland) and forwards Cole Koepke (Syracuse), Riley Tufte (Colorado), and Jeffrey Viel (Manitoba). Oesterle is the puck-mover in the backfield and Sweezy will provide the rest of the grit. Tufte had 23 goals last season for the Eagles and Koepke scored 20 points for Syracuse. Viel is a striker who scored 17 goals with Manitoba.

ROCHESTER (BUFALO)
Forward Josh Dunne turned a strong offseason run with Cleveland into a new opportunity with the Buffalo organization. One ahead, Mason Jobstearned an NHL contract with the Sabers following a strong effort with the Americans, who will be led by a new coach. Michael Leone.

The protectors Colton Poolman (Calgary) and Jack Rathbone (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) and goalkeeper Felix Sandstrom (Lehigh Valley) are new to the Buffalo movement. The Sabers also moved forward Tyler Tulio (Bakersfield) of Edmonton. The protector Ethan Prow it will come back as it will go ahead Graham Slaggert again Brendan Warren. After a one-season stint, the defender Peter Tischke he is back with the Americans.

SPRINGFIELD (ST. LOUIS)
The Blues signed a defenseman from Colorado Corey Schueneman. The 28-year-old had 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 64 games for the Eagles.

Springfield also confirmed a new coach Steve Konowalchuk‘s blueline in addition Scott Harrington on an AHL contract. A veteran of 255 NHL games, Harrington spent this past season in Switzerland with Zurich SC, where he had four assists in 14 games.

SYRACUSE (TAMPA BAY)
Lightning began to work in the depth of the organization’s defense, and brought in Tobie Bisson (Laval), Derrick Pouliot (Texas), and Steven Santini (Ontario).

TORONTO (TORONTO)
The Marlies signed a forward Alex Nylanderwho scored 11 goals in 23 games during a late-season NHL trial with Columbus. Before joining the Blue Jackets in a trade with Pittsburgh, Nylander had produced 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 43 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Marlies also continued to dominate Kyle Cliffordwith 753 NHL games to his name.

Another new addition to the Leafs organization is the defensemen Philippe Myers (Syracuse) and forward Cédric Paré (Colorado).

UTICA (NEW JERSEY)
The protector Colton White returned to the New Jersey organization after two years spent in the Anaheim program. White, who played five seasons as the Devils prospect, appeared in 53 games this past season with San Diego.

Forward Mike Hardman He’s another new face in the organization and is coming off a 22-point and 37-point season with Rockford.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (PITTSBURGH)
And new coach Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Kirk MacDonaldPittsburgh will have an over-engineered depth chart.

Forward Jimmy Huntington it was strong for Hershey during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Boko Mama (Belleville) brings leadership and a heavy presence to the organization. From Providence, an experienced blueliner Dan Renouf he adds leadership and physicality. New signing Sebastian Aho (Bridgeport), Nate Clurman (Colorado), and Mac Hollowell (Hartford) all provide organizational depth on the blue line.