AHL notebook: 5 prospects to watch in 2023 Calder Cup Finals

Twenty-three American Hockey League playoff teams have been cut down to the final two.

The Calder Cup Finals begin Thursday with Game 1 (7 p.m. ET; AHLTV) between Coachella Valley (Seattle Kraken) and Hershey (Washington Capitals).

Coachella Valley is an expansion team and Seattle's first full AHL affiliate, and is the first team to reach the Calder Cup final in its inaugural season since Texas (Dallas Stars) did so in 2009-10. The team defeated Tucson (Arizona Coyotes), Colorado (Colorado Avalanche), Calgary (Calgary Flames), and Milwaukee (Nashville Predators).

Series wins against Charlotte (Florida Panthers), Hartford (New York Rangers), and Rochester (Buffalo Sabres) sent Hershey to its AHL-record 24th Calder Cup final appearance.

Here are five NHL prospects to watch in this series.

Ryker Evans, Coachella Valley

With 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) over 19 games, the 21-year-old leads all defensemen and all rookies in playoff scoring.

Evans went to the Kraken as a second-round pick (No. 35) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He was part of a Coachella Valley contingent at the AHL All-Star Classic in February, and he was also named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after he had 44 points (six goals, 38 assists) in 71 games. His 38 assists led all rookies while his 44 points ranked first among rookie defensemen.

Vincent Iorio, Hershey

The rookie defensemen has had a strong season with Hershey and quickly earned the trust of coach Todd Nelson.

The Capitals selected him in the second round (No. 55) of the 2021 draft, and he had 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 63 games with Hershey. The 20-year-old also played his first three NHL games and had an assist in his debut March 4 at the San Jose Sharks.

An undisclosed injury sustained in Game 2 against Rochester has kept Iorio out of the Hershey lineup since then. After missing the final four games of that series, Iorio has resumed practice and Nelson said Monday that he is hopeful that Iorio will be an option in the final.

Tye Kartye, Coachella Valley

The rookie forward has continued an excellent postseason with Coachella Valley following a strong performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 22-year-old spent, who was undrafted, played 10 games with Seattle during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and had five points (three goals, two assists). One of those goals came in his NHL debut April 26 in a 3-2 win in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round against Colorado.

After the Kraken were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the second round, Kartye returned to Coachella Valley. He was named the 2023 Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award winner as the AHL's rookie of the year after he had 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 72 games. He led all AHL rookies in points and his 28 goals ranked second among rookies.

Kartye, who was undrafted, has been a stalwart since returning to Coachella Valley and has seven points (five goals, two assists) in 11 playoff games. Two of those goals came when Coachella Valley eliminated Milwaukee in the Western Conference Finals in six games on Monday.

Connor McMichael, Hershey

The 22-year-old forward had a difficult start to his season and played six games with the Capitals before being assigned to Hershey on Nov. 20.

McMichael, who was chosen by the Capitals in the first round (No. 25) of the 2019 NHL Draft, has had a productive season since that assignment. He had 39 points (16 goals 23 assists) in 57 games, fifth-most on the Hershey roster. His strong play as a top-six forward has continued with seven points (four goals, three assists) in 13 playoff games.

Shane Wright, Coachella Valley

The winding season for the top forward has led him to the Calder Cup Final.

Chosen fourth in the 2022 NHL Draft by Seattle, Wright's season began with eight games for the Kraken before they sent him to Coachella Valley on a two-week conditioning assignment in November. Wright played in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he served as captain and helped lead Canada to a gold medal.

Seattle then sent him to the Ontario Hockey League, and the 19-year-old forward had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 20 games with Windsor. After four OHL playoff games, he returned to Coachella Valley for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Wright was out of the Coachella Valley lineup for two games this postseason, but coach Dan Bylsma used him in all six games against Milwaukee. He has six points (two goals, four assists) in 17 playoff games.