AHL notebook: NHL veterans to watch in Calder Cup Final

The Calder Cup Playoffs have a well-earned reputation for being the final stop for top prospects on their way to the NHL.

But the American Hockey League postseason can also be an opportunity for veteran players with NHL experience to prove they deserve another chance.
Chicago (Carolina Hurricanes) will play Springfield (St. Louis Blues) in the Calder Cup Final. Springfield defeated Laval (Montreal Canadiens) in Game 7 on Wednesday.
Game 1 of the final is in Chicago on Sunday. Carolina prospects are attempting to win a second Calder Cup championship; they won in 2019 when the Hurricanes were affiliated with Charlotte.
Chicago defeated Stockton (Calgary Flames) in a six-game Western Conference Final.
Here is a look at five players with NHL experience whose work in the Calder Cup Playoffs have positioned them for opportunities next season.

Josh Leivo, Chicago

Leivo, a 29-year-old forward, found himself in the AHL for the first time since 2016-17 with Toronto (Toronto Maple Leafs).
He played last season for the Flames, where he had nine points (six goals, three assists) in 38 games. A third-round pick (No. 86) by the Maple Leafs in the 2011 NHL Draft, he signed a one-year contract with the Hurricanes and could be an unrestricted free agent July 13.
Leivo leads the Calder Cup Playoffs in scoring and goals with 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 13 games after he had 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 54 regular-season games. He played seven NHL games this season and had three points (one goal, two assists).

Alex Lyon, Chicago

For the first two rounds, against Rockford (Chicago Blackhawks) and Milwaukee (Nashville Predators), Lyon was the starting goalie. The 29-year-old has divided the work since the Hurricanes reassigned Pyotr Kochetkov to Chicago following their 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. Lyon played Games 1, 3, and 5 against Stockton, and Kochetkov played Games 2, 4, and 6.
Lyon is 8-2 in 10 playoff games with a 1.96 goals-against average (fourth among AHL playoff goalies) and .924 save percentage. In 30 regular-season games, he was 18-7-3 with a 2.16 GAA (second-best in the AHL) and .912 save percentage. He also won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award as the goalie who played at least 25 games for the AHL team with the best GAA (2.55). He went 1-0-1 with a 2.93 GAA and .908 save percentage in two games for the Hurricanes.
Lyon, who turned pro after going undrafted while at Yale University, signed a one-year contract with the Hurricanes on July 31, 2021, following five seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers organization. He is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Mackenzie MacEachern, Springfield

An extra for the Blues during their 2019 Stanley Cup run, MacEachern is a key forward for Springfield.
The 28-year-old was a third-round pick (No. 67) by St. Louis in the 2012 NHL Draft, played the past four seasons for the Blues and had two assists in 14 games this season. In 47 regular-season games with Springfield, MacEachern had 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists).
Part of a dangerous line with Will Bitten and Dakota Joshua, MacEachern is tied for sixth in AHL playoff scoring with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 12 games. His two-year contract with St. Louis expires after this season and he could become an unrestricted free agent.

Stefan Noesen, Chicago

Noesen has long been a dangerous scorer at the AHL level, but he found a new level in his first season with the Carolina organization.
The 29-year-old led the AHL in the regular season with 48 goals and had 37 assists to finish third in AHL scoring with 85 points in 70 games. He is tied for third in playoff scoring with 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 13 games. He was a member of the AHL First All-Star Team and played two games for Carolina.
Noesen was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (No. 21) in the 2011 draft. He signed a one-year contract with the Hurricanes and could be an unrestricted free agent.

Cedric Paquette, Laval

Paquette, a 28-year-old forward, brought Stanley Cup Playoff experience to the Laval lineup.
He played 25 games and had three assists for the Tampa Bay Lightning on their run to the Stanley Cup in 2020. After playing 24 regular-season games for Montreal (two assists), he has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 14 playoff games with Laval in a gritty, two-way role. He also played 14 regular-season games and had 10 points (nine goals, one assist) for Laval.
Paquette signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens on July 28, 2021 and can become an unrestricted free agent. He was chosen by Tampa Bay in the fourth round (No. 101) of the 2012 draft.