Youth will be a major storyline in the American Hockey League this season.
The NHL’s top developmental league will feature five 18-year-old first-round picks from the 2022 NHL Draft when its 87th season begins Friday. The Seattle Kraken will also have their own AHL affiliate for the first time, Coachella Valley, the league-record 32nd team.
Here is a look at the 18-year-old first-rounders coming to the AHL and an update on the debut of the Firebirds.
David Jiricek, Cleveland (Columbus Blue Jackets)
The defenseman, selected by the Blue Jackets at No. 6, was with them deep into training camp before they elected to give him experience in the minors.
He had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 29 games with HC Plzen of the Czech Extraliga last season. He helped Czechia win a bronze medal at the 2022 World Hockey Championship, where he had a goal and an assist in five games, and he had four assists in seven games at the 2022 World Junior Championship in August.
Jiri Kulich, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
Kulich was selected at No. 28 by the Sabres, who have shown an inclination to take a slow approach with prospects.
Last season the forward was in the Czech Extraliga with HC Energie Karlovy Vary and had 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 49 games. Like Jiricek, he played internationally for Czechia and had eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven games at the World Junior Championship. At the 2022 Under-18 World Championship, he was named the most valuable player after he had 11 points (nine goals, two assists) in six games.
Brad Lambert, Manitoba (Winnipeg Jets)
Lambert came to the Jets from Finland as the No. 30 picks.
The forward faced high-level Liiga competition last season with JYP Jyväskylä and Lahti. In a combined 49 games, he had 10 points (four goals, six assists). Lambert then represented Finland at the World Junior Championship and scored one goal in five games to help his country win a silver medal.
Filip Mesar, Laval (Montreal Canadiens)
Selected at No. 26 by the Canadiens, Mesar joins No. 1 pick and fellow forward Juraj Slafkovsky to give Montreal two high-profile Slovakian players in its system. But Slafkovsky will start the season in the NHL.
Mesar played in Slovakia last season with HK Poprad and finished with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 37 games.
Simon Nemec, Utica (New Jersey Devils)
The defenseman and no. 2 pick by the Devils was sent down Wednesday to get additional experience with Utica. Nemec already has three seasons of top pro experience in the Slovak Extraliga, where he played 88 games with HK Nitra and had 48 points (three goals, 45 assists). He also won a bronze medal with Slovakia at the 2022 Beijing Olympics before participating in the World Hockey Championship in May.
Coachella Valley
Last season the Kraken placed their top prospects with Charlotte, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers.
They will have their own affiliate closer to home with the Coachella Valley and bring pro hockey to the Palm Springs, California, market for the first time. The team’s new arena in Thousand Palms will open in December. In the meantime, the team will play 16 of its first 20 games on the road. Four home games will be played in the Seattle area, including one at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken’s home, against Abbotsford (Vancouver Canucks) on Oct. 23.
Longtime NHL coach Dan Bylsma, who guided the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2009, will have the same role with Coachella Valley and be joined by Jessica Campbell, the first female assistant coach in AHL history.
Joining Coachella Valley in the Pacific Division will be a new Calgary Flames affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, who will share the Scotiabank Saddledome with the Flames.
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