Predators, Kings prospects among those in spotlight down stretch in AHL

NHL general managers crave love to have prospects experience the pressure of a stretch drive and playing in the postseason.

The American Hockey League provides those two ingredients. While teams battle for spots in the Calder Cup Playoffs, tightening races will ensure prospects receive opportunities to experience late-season tension.
Here is a look at five AHL teams that are in a stretch-drive battle in the Central and Pacific Divisions and whose prospects will get that experience GMs crave.

Milwaukee (Nashville Predators)

With the Predators looking to the future, a lot of their talent can be found in Milwaukee.
Start with rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov, who could have a chance to take Milwaukee on an extended playoff run. Chosen No. 11 by Nashville in the 2020 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old is 20-10-4 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .914 save percentage In 35 games in a productive tandem with fellow prospect Devin Cooley. His 20 wins lead AHL rookie goalies, and his save percentage is third-best among rookies.
Rookie forward Luke Evangelista made his NHL debut with the Predators on Tuesday. The 21-year-old forward is tied for second in rookie scoring with 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) in 49 games; his 32 assists lead all rookies. Nashville selected him in the second round (No. 42) in 2020.
Thanks to a run of nine wins in 10 games during February, Milwaukee is battling Texas (Dallas Stars) for the Central Division lead.
Other top under-23 prospects:defenseman Marc Del Gaizo; forwards Egor Afanasyev and Jachym Kondelik

Iowa (Minnesota Wild)

Iowa is trying to fend off Chicago (Carolina Hurricanes) and Grand Rapids (Detroit Red Wings) for Central Division playoff positioning.
Minnesota has a pair of first-round picks with Iowa; forward Marco Rossi, 21, was selected No. 9 by Minnesota in 2020. After starting the season with the Wild, he went to Iowa and has 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 36 games.
Goalie Jesper Wallstedt was selected No. 20 by Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Draft and has gotten hot after an up-and-down start to his AHL career. Along with going to the AHL All-Star Classic, the 20-year-old is 13-12-4 with a 2.78 GAA and .910 save percentage.
Other top under-23 prospects:defensemen Daemon Hunt and Ryan O'Rourke; forwards Adam Beckman, Damien Giroux, and Michael Milne

Ontario (Los Angeles Kings)

The Kings have had a deep base of prospects in recent seasons that they have brought along slowly.
Now it is time to give that youth an extended playoff run. Last season, Ontario finished second in the Pacific Division but had a quick playoff exit, a second-round sweep by Colorado (Colorado Eagles) in the Pacific Division semifinal.
With NHL veteran forward Marco Sturm as coach, Ontario is locked in a playoff race with Abbotsford (Vancouver Canucks) and Colorado for divisional positioning.
Forward Alex Turcotte has endured injury issues through much of his pro career since the Kings selected him No. 5 in the 2019 NHL Draft. He returned midseason with Ontario and has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) through 24 games.
Other top under-23 prospects: defensemen Helge Grans, Kim Nousiainen, Jordan Spence; forwards Martin Chromiak, Samuel Fagemo, Samuel Helenius, Tyler Madden

Rockford (Chicago Blackhawks)

The Blackhawks continue to amass draft picks before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on Friday. But they already have talent that may well compete for an NHL job.
Forward Lukas Reichel, the No. 17 pick in 2020, continues to refine his two-way game. Certainly, he can already produce offensively; the 20-year-old has 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) through 51 games and represented Rockford at the AHL All-Star Classic.
Other top under-23 prospects: defensemen Jakub Galvas, Alec Regula; forward Michal Teply

San Jose (San Jose Sharks)

A full rebuilding project continues in San Jose,
William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau are at the forefront of the Sharks' efforts to build a long-term core. As with the Kings, the Sharks are taking a slow approach with their prospects.
Eklund, a 20-year-old forward, went No. 7 to San Jose in the 2021 draft. He has excelled in his first AHL season with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 52 games to tie with Evangelista for second in rookie scoring. Eklund's 17 goals rank eighth among rookies while his 24 assists are fourth.
Bordeleau is 12th in rookie scoring with 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) through 52 games; his 20 goals are third among rookies. San Jose made him a second-round pick (No. 38) in 2020. The 21-year-old, who starred for two seasons at the University of Michigan, represented San Jose at the AHL All-Star Classic.
Other top under-23 prospects: defensemen Nick Cicek, Artemi Kniazev, Nikita Okhotiuk; forwards Danil Gushchin, Tristen Robins, Ozzy Wiesblatt