AHL Pocket book: Midseason award winners

American Hockey League groups have reached the midpoint of the schedule.Here’s a take a look at midseason award winners within the prime developmental league of the NHL: Most Priceless PlayerF Reid Boucher — Utica (Vancouver Canucks)Boucher (5-foot-10, 195 kilos) has but to stay within the NHL full-time at 26 years previous, however he continues to dominate opposing AHL defenses.The New Jersey Devils took him within the fourth spherical (No. 99) of the 2011 NHL Draft, and he has performed 133 NHL regular-season video games.Within the AHL, armed with a strong shot and top-notch offensive instincts, Boucher is a menace in all conditions. Of his 24 objectives, seven had been scored on the facility play, and his two shorthanded objectives are tied for third within the league. These 24 objectives are second, and his 25 assists are tied for fourth to provide him a league-leading 49 factors in 38 video games. He has run away with the league lead in pictures on objective (165). Prime goalieIgor Shesterkin — Hartford (New York Rangers)Tied with Hershey (Washington Capitals) at 55 factors atop the Atlantic Division, Hartford is studying about life with out Shesterkin.The Rangers chosen Shesterkin (6-2, 182) within the fourth spherical (No. 118) of the 2014 NHL Draft, and he greater than exceeded the expectations that greeted his arrival from the Kontinental Hockey League.Shesterkin, 24, went 15-Four-Three earlier than he was recalled by the Rangers on Jan. 6 however stays tied for second within the AHL in wins. His 1.93 goals-against common is first and his .932 save share is second. Though Shesterkin has been away from Hartford for greater than two weeks, he’s seventh in video games (23) amongst goalies.Video: COL@NYR: Shesterkin denies Bellemare with the pad Prime defensemanJake Bean — Charlotte (Carolina Hurricanes)Charlotte appeared like something however the defending Calder Cup champions within the opening third of the season after quite a few offseason departures.Coach Ryan Warsofsky relied on returnees like Bean and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to maintain the Checkers afloat till they had been retooled. Charlotte has since received 15 of 18 video games.Bean (6-1, 186), chosen by the Hurricanes with the No. 13 choose within the 2016 NHL Draft, is in his second professional season. He was named to the AHL All-Rookie Staff final season with 44 factors (13 objectives, 31 assists) in 70 regular-season video games.The 21-year-old is surpassing that sturdy efficiency with 31 factors (seven objectives, 24 assists) in 29 video games, tied for second amongst AHL defensemen. He performs a easy, composed sport constructed on puck motion and is ideally suited to the trendy NHL sport. Twelfth amongst defensemen in pictures (83), he additionally is a vital piece of Charlotte’s fourth-ranked energy play (23.1 p.c). Prime coachTroy Mann — Belleville (Ottawa Senators)Mann had loads of success in 4 seasons teaching Hershey, which had 14 gamers on the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup championship roster.The primary half of Mann’s second season in Belleville is likely to be his best effort. The Senators are contending for first place within the Japanese Convention regardless of utilizing 15 defensemen and with greater than 100 roster transactions.Belleville is on an eight-game, 16-day street journey. Going into play Tuesday at league chief Milwaukee (Nashville Predators), it had a league-best 16 street wins and began the journey 5-Zero-1-Zero Prime rookieF Josh Norris — BellevilleMuch of Belleville’s success has been centered round a rising base of prime prospects.Norris (6-1, 190) was chosen by the San Jose Sharks with the No. 19 choose within the 2017 NHL Draft and got here to Ottawa within the Erik Karlsson commerce Sept. 13, 2018. The 20-year-old left the College of Michigan after two seasons and leads the AHL in rookie scoring with 40 factors (22 objectives, 18 assists) in 41 video games getting into Tuesday. His 22 objectives and 9 power-play objectives are every tied for third.He isn’t hesitant to shoot the puck. His 121 pictures are tied for seventh. Breakout playerF Joachim Blichfeld — San Jose (Sharks)With a long-standing NHL core based mostly round Brent Burns, Logan Couture, Joe Thornton and extra, the Sharks haven’t wanted to closely depend on their AHL affiliate to provide impression gamers. As a substitute, they’ve proven a knack for locating undrafted or missed expertise that could possibly be developed slowly on the AHL stage earlier than plugging a gap or taking part in a supporting function on the NHL roster.Blichfeld (6-2, 180) is the newest discover after the Sharks took him within the seventh spherical (No. 210) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old performed three seasons for Portland of the Western Hockey League, together with an overage season in 2018-19 when he had 114 factors (53 objectives, 61 assists) in 68 regular-season video games.The Barracuda have struggled and are in a tricky struggle within the Pacific Division playoff race, however Blichfeld has had a fast adaptation to the professional sport with 25 factors (13 objectives, 12 assists). He performed his first three NHL video games in his second professional season and can signify the group on the 2020 AHL All-Star Traditional. Prime teamMilwaukeeThe Nashville-Milwaukee pipeline has a protracted historical past of success going again to the Predators’ inaugural 1998-99 season, when their affiliate was within the former Worldwide Hockey League.May Milwaukee, the 2004 Calder Cup winner, add one other title this June?That is still to be seen, however the Admirals are well-positioned for a future. A team-record 13-game successful streak from Nov. 2-Jan. 18 helped them construct a nine-point lead for first place within the Central Division going into play Tuesday.