AHL notebook: Top NHL prospects in Calder Cup Playoffs
Kartye of Kraken, Kemell of Predators among standouts
ByPatrick Williams
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Rosters are ever-changing in the American Hockey League, and the Calder Cup Playoffs are no different.
NHL organizations are eager to place their top prospects in the high-pressure environment of the AHL postseason. Once their European, college or junior seasons are finished, players usually are free to come to the AHL to be part of that playoff pressure. Some also return to the AHL after lengthy NHL recalls.
Here is a look at five players who are entering the AHL mix that could have a huge impact in the Calder Cup Playoffs, which have reached the conference final stage:
The forward is one of a slew of players who returned to Milwaukee from Nashville for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Predators management has prioritized AHL postseason success for their prospects, and both Milwaukee and Evangelista have delivered. After eliminating Manitoba (Winnipeg Jets) and Texas (Dallas Stars), Milwaukee lost 6-4 to Coachella Valley (Seattle Kraken) in Game 1 of the best-of-7 Western Conference final Thursday.
Evangelista had 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) in 49 AHL games. The 21-year-old also had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 24 games with the Predators after making his NHL debut Feb. 28.
A second-round pick (No. 42) in the 2020 NHL Draft, Evangelista is tied for fourth during the AHL playoffs with 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 11 games. That includes two assists in a 5-2 win at Texas on Sunday that earned Milwaukee a trip to the conference final.
The forward made a name for himself during the Stanley Cup Playoffs when he was recalled from Coachella Valley to play against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round and scored a goal in Seattle's 3-2 win.
The 22-year-old stayed in the lineup for the rest of the Kraken's playoff run and finished with five points (three goals, two assists) in 10 games.
Kartye signed with the Kraken on March 1, 2022, after going undrafted. He turned pro this season and was named the AHL rookie of the year after he led the league's first-year players with 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 72 games.
After Seattle was eliminated by Dallas in the second round, Kartye returned to Coachella Valley. He played the final two games of a best-of-5 series against Calgary (Calgary Flames) and had an assist in a 6-5 overtime win in Game 5. He has five points (three goals, two assists) in six AHL playoff games.
The forward made his AHL debut March 18 after he had 15 points (12 goals, three assists) in 43 games with JYP in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.
The 19-year-old had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 14 regular-season AHL games, and has seven points (six goals, one assist) in nine playoff games. He scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the 5-2 series-clinching win against Texas.
The forward was held without a point in his professional debut, a 2-0 loss to Hershey (Washington Capitals) in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday.
Savoie, selected by Buffalo with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft, came to Rochester following the completion of his Western Hockey League season with Winnipeg. The 19-year-old tied for sixth in the WHL with 95 points (38 goals, 57 assists) in 62 regular-season games. He then was tied for second during the WHL playoffs with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 19 games to help lead Winnipeg to the Western Conference Final against Seattle.
Wright was selected by the Kraken with the No. 4 pick of the 2022 draft and the 19-year-old played in three leagues this season.
He began the season in the NHL and had one assist in seven games. After a five-game conditioning stint with Coachella Valley in November, he was recalled by the Kraken and scored his first NHL goal Dec. 6.
He was released to play for Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he had seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven games to help Canada win the gold medal. He then went to Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League and had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 20 games. When his OHL season was over, he returned to Coachella Valley.
During the AHL playoffs the 19-year-old has four points (one goal, three assists) in 12 games. But with Kartye and forward Jesper Froden back from Seattle, along with the return of injured forward Andrew Poturalski, playing time could be tough to find for Wright moving forward.
