AHL notebook: Spence, Lind among players to watch in Western Conference

The American Hockey League has a standout crop of young talent this season.
Two weeks ago, we looked at 10 top Eastern Conference prospects. Today, a breakdown of some of the top in the Western Conference (in alphabetical order):

Yaroslav Askarov, Milwaukee (Nashville Predators)
Nashville has relied on Milwaukee for top goalies with Pekka Rinne, Juuse Saros, Connor Ingram and others honing their games in the AHL before going on to NHL work.
Hopes are high for Askarov, selected by Nashville in the first round (No. 11) in the 2020 NHL Draft. Milwaukee (7-3-0-0) is first in the Central Division, and coach Karl Taylor has already given the 20-year-old a heavy workload. Playing in seven of the first 10 games, Askarov is 4-3-0 with a 3.16 GAA and .885 save percentage.
Helge Grans, Ontario (Los Angeles Kings)
The 21-year-old is one of Los Angeles' brightest defenseman prospects.
He was selected by the Kings in the second round (No. 35) of the 2020 draft. Last season, he made the move from Malmo of the Swedish Hockey League to the AHL, getting 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 56 games. He has one goal and two assists through eight games this season.
Linus Karlsson, Abbotsford (Vancouver Canucks)
The forward was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the third round (No. 87) of the 2018 NHL Draft before he was traded to Vancouver for forward Jonathan Dahlen on Feb. 25. 2019.
Last season with Skellefteå AIK, the forward was named the Swedish Hockey League Rookie of the Year after he had 46 points (26 goals, 20 assists) in 52 games. The Canucks signed the 22-year-old to an entry-level contract May 26, and he has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) through eight AHL games.
Kole Lind, Coachella Valley (Seattle Kraken)
The 24-year-old forward is in a crucial season of his development as he attempts to secure a full-time NHL role.
Seattle claimed him from Vancouver in the NHL Expansion Draft on July 21, 2021; the Canucks had chosen him in the second round (No. 33) of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Lind had eight points (two goals, six assists) in 23 games last season with the Kraken along with 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 46 games for Charlotte, the team's former AHL affiliate. With Coachella Valley, he has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in eight games in eight AHL games this season.
Eetu Makiniemi, San Jose (San Jose Sharks)
The 23-year-old goalie was a key piece of the return in the trade that sent defenseman Brent Burns to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 13. Forward Steven Lorentz and a conditional pick in the 2023 NHL Draft also went to the Sharks while forward Lane Pederson went to Carolina.
An injury limited to Makiniemi, a fourth-round pick (No. 104) by the Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL Draft, to 14 AHL games last season with Chicago, but he was 11-2-1 with a 2.06 GAA and .922 save percentage. In five AHL games with San Jose, he is 2-1-1 with a 2.85 GAA and .903 save percentage.
Daniil Miromanov, Henderson (Vegas Golden Knights)
After a winding path, Miromanov found his fit last season with the Golden Knights, who signed him as a free agent from HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League on March 16, 2021.
Undrafted, the 25-year-old played 53 games last season with Henderson and finished with 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists), 10th among AHL defensemen. He also played his first 11 NHL games last season and had one assist. He signed a two-year contract with the Golden Knights on June 21.
He has a goal and five assists in eight games for Henderson.
Juuso Parssinen, Milwaukee
The 21-year-old forward has had a sharp rise after Nashville selected him in the seventh round (No. 210) of the 2019 draft.
Parssinen's first North American season is underway following four seasons in Finland with TPS Turku of Liiga. Last season he had 23 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 41 games. In nine games with Milwaukee this season, he has two goal and seven assists.
Victor Soderstrom, Tucson (Arizona Coyotes)
The Coyotes are counting on the 21-year-old defenseman, selected No. 11 in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Soderstrom has divided the past two seasons between Arizona and Tucson. Last season, he played 16 games (no points) with the Coyotes and had 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 32 games with Tucson. He has two assists through eight games for Tucson this season.
Jordan Spence, Ontario
The 21-year-old defenseman played 24 games last season with the Kings and had eight points (two goals, six assists). However, the Kings are taking a patient approach with Spence, a fourth-round pick (No. 95) in the 2019 draft.
Last season with Ontario, he had 42 points (four goals, 38 assists) in 46 games and was named to the AHL First All-Star Team as well as the AHL All-Rookie Team. This season, he has 10 assists in nine games with Ontario to tie for third in scoring among AHL defensemen.
Connor Zary, Calgary (Calgary Flames)
The 21-year-old forward was selected No. 24 by the Flames in the 2020 draft.
A fractured ankle sustained in training camp last season reduced his season to 53 games with Stockton, the Flames' former AHL affiliate. He finished with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) and was a part of the team's run to the Western Conference Final.
Through 10 games, he has 10 points (six goals, four assists) with Calgary (AHL).