The playoff experience also is often the toughest test that young talent will face on the way to the NHL. Here are five AHL prospects who have impressed through the first two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs:
Joey Daccord, Charlotte (Seattle Kraken)
Seattle is splitting the Charlotte affiliation with the Florida Panthers, and the arrangement has worked well for each of the three parties.
Daccord, has emerged as the No. 1 goalie with Charlotte. Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round (No. 199) of the 2015 NHL Draft, the 25-year-old played three seasons with Arizona State (NCAA) and two AHL seasons with Belleville while in the Ottawa organization.
The Kraken claimed Daccord in the NHL Expansion Draft on July 21, and he has blossomed with Charlotte, which won the Atlantic Division regular-season title. After an opening-round bye, Charlotte advanced past Bridgeport (New York Islanders) to set up a best-of-5 series with Springfield (St. Louis Blues) that begins Sunday.
In the regular season, Daccord played 34 games and was 19-11-2 with a 2.28 goals-against average (fourth in the AHL) and .925 save percentage (tied for second). In four playoff games, he is 3-1 with a 2.30 GAA and .907 save percentage, including a 23-save shutout Monday to eliminate Bridgeport.
Peyton Krebs, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
The forward played 48 games with the Sabres and had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) this season and has been a force since returning to the AHL.
In 20 regular-season games between Henderson (Vegas Golden Knights) and Rochester, Krebs had 20 points (four goals, 16 assists). Rochester plays Game 5 of a second-round best-of-5 series Thursday against Utica (New Jersey Devils), and Krebs has eight assists through six games.
Buffalo acquired the 21-year-old from the Golden Knights as part of the trade for Jack Eichel on Nov. 4.
JJ Peterka, Rochester (Sabres)
The Sabres have taken a patient approach with the 20-year-old forward, who was selected in the second round (No. 34) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Peterka played two games with the Sabres this season but he has spent most of the season in Rochester. His 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) in 70 games led the AHL in rookie scoring and goals and earned him a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team.
In the Calder Cup Playoffs, he has adjusted to the higher pace of play and is second in scoring with nine points (four goals, five assists) in six games. He had a hat trick in Game 2 against Utica, a 4-3 overtime win Saturday.
Arttu Ruotsalainen, Rochester (Sabres)
Ruotsalainen continues an impressive group of performances by Rochester forwards early in the AHL postseason.
Buffalo signed the undrafted Ruotsalainen to a three-year, entry-level contract May 8, 2019. After six seasons in Finland, he made his North American debut last season with Buffalo and Rochester. This season, he played 18 games with the Sabres and had four points (two goals, two assists). With Rochester, he had 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) in 57 games.
Through six games, the 24-year-old is tied for the AHL playoff scoring lead with 10 points (seven goals, three assists). He also scored the winning goal in Game 3, another 4-3 overtime win.
Arvid Soderblom, Rockford (Chicago Blackhawks)
The Swedish goalie has emerged as a contender for future work with the Blackhawks.
The 22-year-old excelled despite Rockford losing in a second-round sweep to Chicago (Carolina Hurricanes) in a best-of-3 series.
Undrafted, Soderblom signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on May 12, 2021. In 38 games with Rockford, he was 21-15-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .919 save percentage, which tied for sixth in the AHL.
In the postseason, he was 2-3 with a 2.99 GAA and .925 save percentage in five games. He had a 36-save shutout against Texas (Dallas Stars) in Game 2 of a best-of-3 opening-round series that Rockford swept, and made 45 saves in Game 2 against Chicago, a 4-1 loss.
