With the American Hockey League in the stretch drive of its 90th anniversary season, NHL.com has a biweekly notebook breaking down all the happenings around the league as teams make a push to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Three recent first-round picks have made their AHL debuts, top goaltending prospects for the Detroit Red Wings and the Utah Mammoth are getting a look, and the New York Islanders will have a new home for their AHL affiliate.
Reinforcements have arrived
Three NHL first-round picks are getting stretch-drive experience in the AHL.
Forward James Hagens signed an amateur tryout agreement with Providence, the Boston Bruins' affiliate, on March 23. Boston selected the 19-year-old in the first round (No. 7) of the 2025 NHL Draft. He led Boston College and all players in Hockey East this season with 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games as a sophomore at Boston College, and he's a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's hockey player. He has two points (one goal, one assist) and 12 shots on goal in three AHL games.
The New York Islanders have added 19-year-old first-round picks Cole Eiserman and Victor Eklund to their AHL affiliate, Bridgeport. They selected Eiserman in the first round (No. 20) of the 2024 NHL Draft. Eklund went to the Islanders in the first round (No. 16) in the 2025 draft.
Eiserman had 28 points (18 goals, 10 assists) in 32 games for Boston University as a sophomore. Eklund had 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 43 games for Djurgarden of the Swedish Hockey League and won a gold medal with Sweden at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Eklund had the deciding shootout goal in his Bridgeport debut, a 3-2 win against Laval (Montreal Canadiens) on March 27, and has three assists in three games. Eiserman has two points (one goal, one assist) in six games.
Goalie depth grows in Hockeytown
The Detroit Red Wings are going to get a longer look at goaltending prospect Trey Augustine.
The 21-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings on March 31 that starts next season. He was sent Grand Rapids, where he will play the remainder of this season on an amateur tryout agreement. Detroit selected him in the second round (No. 41) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Augustine was 24-9-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games as a junior at Michigan State this season. He was named the Big Ten goaltender of the year for the second straight season, and is a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and one of three finalists for the Mike Richter Award as the top NCAA men's goalie. Augustine also has an extensive international resume that includes two gold medals (2024, 2025) and a bronze (2023) for the United States at the World Juniors, as well as a gold (2023) and a silver (2022) medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
He joins a Grand Rapids goaltending group that includes prospects Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava.
Quite the Mammoth impression
Utah Mammoth goaltending prospect Michael Hrabal already has made a quick impression with Tucson, the team's AHL affiliate.
The 21-year-old signed a three-year entry-level contract March 25 that begins next season, and he joined Tucson on an amateur tryout. As a junior at the University of Massachusetts this season, he was 19-9 with one tie, a 1.95 GAA, .937 save percentage and four shutouts in 29 games and is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award.
Hrabal was chosen by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round (No. 38) of the 2023 draft.
In his pro debut, Hrabal was named the game's first star after he made 22 saves in a 4-2 win against Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) on March 28.
Hammer time
The Islanders will have a new home for their AHL prospects starting next season.
The AHL Board of Governors approved a request by the Islanders on March 31 to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario starting next season. That move ended the 25-season Islanders-Bridgeport affiliation. It also brought the AHL back to Hamilton for the first time since 2015.
Hamilton previously hosted full AHL affiliations with the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Montreal Canadiens. As a Canadiens affiliate, Hamilton won the 2007 Calder Cup featuring then-rookie goalie Carey Price.
The new Islanders affiliate will be in the North Division and play at recently renovated TD Coliseum. A name, logo and colors have not been announced.
