AHL Pocket book: Prime NHL prospects from East named to All-Star Traditional

The American Hockey League goes west for the 2020 AHL All-Star Traditional, and so are some NHL prime prospects.For the primary time within the league’s 84 seasons, the AHL all-star showcase might be performed on the West Coast. Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) will host the two-day occasion, which contains a expertise competitors Jan. 26 and the sport Jan. 27.The AHL makes use of a round-robin Three-on-Three match with a group representing every of the league’s 4 divisions, much like the NHL format.Among the many 48 gamers named, 12 per division, 12 are first- or second-round NHL draft picks, and 23 gamers have performed within the NHL this season.Hartford’s Kris Knoblauch (Atlantic Division), Rochester’s Chris Taylor (North Division), Milwaukee’s Karl Taylor (Central Division), and Tucson’s Jay Varady (Pacific Division) are the 4 all-star coaches.Here’s a take a look at 5 of the highest Japanese Convention prospects within the sport. A breakdown of a few of the prime Western Convention expertise will run subsequent week: Alex Barre-Boulet, F, Syracuse (Tampa Bay Lightning)The Lightning have proven a knack for locating neglected offensive expertise. Forwards Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde are two prime examples.Barre-Boulet isn’t at that stage but, however he’s displaying promise. The 22-year-old ahead (5-foot-9, 172 kilos) signed with the Lightning as a free agent March 1, 2018, shortly earlier than he was named participant of the yr within the Quebec Main Junior Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League for the 2017-18 season after he had 116 factors (53 objectives, 63 assists) in 65 video games with Blainville-Boisbriand.Final season, as an AHL rookie, he tied with teammate Carter Verhaeghe with a league-leading 34 objectives. He additionally had 34 assists to complete first amongst rookies with 68 factors, gained the Dudley “Pink” Garrett Memorial Award because the AHL prime rookie and was voted a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Group.This season he leads Syracuse with 31 factors (14 objectives, 17 assists) in 33 video games. Jonas Johansson, G, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)Rochester leads with North Division with a 21-9-2-2 file and is three factors behind Hartford for the Japanese Convention lead. A lot of Rochester’s success has been constructed on goaltending and Johansson (6-5, 219) has been a big issue, partnering with NHL veteran Andrew Hammond. Rochester has allowed a league-low 82 objectives in 34 video games.The 24-year-old was taken within the third spherical (No. 61) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He spent many of the previous two seasons with Cincinnati, the Sabres’ ECHL affiliate, earlier than sticking with Rochester this season.He’s 11-2-2 with a 2.07 goals-against common, a .930 save proportion and two shutouts in 16 video games. He is third within the AHL in GAA and fourth in save proportion. Joey Keane, D, Hartford (New York Rangers)Hartford leads the Japanese Convention and is third within the league, 5 factors behind first-place Milwaukee (Nashville Predators). It’s a turnaround fueled by new gamers and Keane has been on the forefront.The 20-year-old defenseman was taken by the Rangers within the third spherical (No. 88) of the 2018 NHL Draft, after going unselected within the 2017 NHL Draft.Keane (6-Zero, 187) is dealing with effectively what generally is a rocky transition to the professional sport. He leads Hartford’s defensemen with 21 factors (six objectives, 15 assists) in 35 video games. His six objectives tie him for fourth amongst AHL defensemen, first amongst rookie defensemen. Igor Shesterkin, G, Hartford (New York Rangers)Shesterkin has been so good in his first AHL season that the Rangers recalled the 24-year-old for the primary time Monday. And so they did so with two wholesome goalies already on the roster in New York.Taken by the Rangers within the fourth spherical (No. 118) of the 2014 draft, Shesterkin (6-2, 182) has excelled in his adjustment to North America after a standout profession within the Kontinental Hockey League. He ranks first within the AHL with a 1.93 GAA and is second in save proportion (.932) to go together with a 15-Four-Three file. He additionally has adjusted to an intense workload; his 23 video games are the fifth-most within the league. And he made 29 saves to win his NHL debut Tuesday, 5-Three in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche. Owen Tippett, F, Springfield (Florida Panthers)Tippett will deliver a top-10 NHL Draft pedigree to the occasion.Florida took the ahead (6-1, 207) with the 10th decide of the 2017 NHL Draft, and he has delivered early in his professional profession as he works on bettering his two-way sport within the AHL. The 20-year-old is third amongst AHL rookies with 30 factors (14 objectives, 16 assists) in 38 video games.”You take a look at [Tippett], he has are available and been impactful,” Springfield coach Geordie Kinnear stated. “He’s studying to play the professional sport.”