Struble, Ceulemans among top NCAA players joining AHL teams
Defenseman prospects for Canadiens, Blue Jackets will help playoff push
By
Patrick Williams
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
The American Hockey League had its own trade/loan deadline of March 10, allowing NHL front offices to tweak the rosters of their AHL affiliate in preparation for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Even past the deadlines, AHL rosters will continue to see change as the annual influx of top talent from the college game, as well as the Canadian Hockey League, has begun.
Players are eligible to come to the AHL as soon as their college or CHL season has finished.
Past and present stars like Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jeff Carter of the Pittsburgh Penguins and
Carey Price
of the Montreal Canadiens were contributors on Calder Cup championship teams prior to making an impact in the NHL.
Here is a look at some of the top incoming talent for AHL teams:
Corson Ceulemans, D, Cleveland (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Selected in the first round (No. 25) in the 2021 NHL Draft, Ceulemans signed a three-year, entry-level contract March 7, after two seasons at the University of Wisconsin. His deal begins next season, and he was assigned to Cleveland to play on an amateur tryout agreement.
The 19-year-old had 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 33 games as a sophomore this season. Last season he had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 34 games and won Wisconsin's Mark Johnson Rookie of the Year award.
Cleveland entered play Wednesday two points out of the fifth and final playoff spot in the North Division, but coach Trent Vogelhuber said he expects Ceulemans to make his pro debut against Grand Rapids (Detroit Red Wings) on Thursday.
Cleveland could have as many as four recent Blue Jackets first-round picks at some point this season. Along with Ceulemans, forward
Yegor Chinakhov
and defenseman
David Jiricek
are with Cleveland. Columbus also made forward Cole Sillinger eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs should Cleveland qualify.
Ryder Rolston, F, Rockford (Chicago Blackhawks)
Rolston, a fifth-round pick (No. 139) in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, was traded to the Blackhawks for forward Carl Soderberg on April 12, 2021, and the 21-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract Monday.
A junior at Notre Dame this season, he had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in
27 games. Last season he had 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 38 games.
His father,
Brian Rolston
, played 1,256 NHL games with five teams from 1994-2012.
Rolston is joining a team that bulked up considerably for the stretch drive. Among the additions for Rockford was forward
Rocco Grimaldi
, whose 27 goals tie him for second in the AHL.
Jayden Struble, D, Laval (Montreal Canadiens)
The 21-year-old signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens on Wednesday that begins next season. In the meantime, he will report to Laval on an amateur tryout agreement.
Montreal selected Struble in the second round (No. 46) of the 2019 NHL Draft. As a senior at Northeastern this season, he had 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 31 games. He was a part of Northeastern's Hockey East championship team last season.
Ryan Tverberg, F, Toronto (Toronto Maple Leafs)
The Maple Leafs never have been shy about signing free-agent talent and building a three-level prospect pipeline that extends to their ECHL affiliate, Newfoundland.
They signed Tverberg to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday and assigned him to the Marlies. The 21-year-old, who was born in the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, Ontario, had 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 35 games as a junior at the University of Connecticut this season. The Maple Leafs chose him in the seventh round (No. 213) of the 2020 draft.
Last season Tverberg had 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 36 games and was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's NCAA ice hockey player. He also was named to the Hockey East First All-Star Team as well as the NCAA (East) Second All-American Team.
Will Zmolek, D, Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia Flyers)
The Flyers secured one of the top NCAA free agents when they signed the 23-year-old to a one-year, entry-level contract March 7 that begins next season. He was assigned to Lehigh Valley for the remainder of this season.
As a senior at Bemidji State University this season, the undrafted Zmolek had 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in 36 games and was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award. His father,
Doug Zmolek
, was a defenseman for eight NHL seasons with four teams from 1992-2000.
