Much discussion has taken place regarding prospects such as Porter Martone (PHI) and Cole Hutson already experiencing success at the NHL level. Setting aside James Hagens (BOS), much less attention has been paid to the numerous recent signees who were assigned to the AHL out of the gate. Young talent abounds at that level, and we definitely will see many of them in the NHL soon.
The player freshest on my mind is forward Roger McQueen (ANA), as he recently recorded his first professional point in his first game with the San Diego Gulls. (McQueen has signed an amateur tryout agreement to compete for the Gulls, but has not signed an entry-level contract, although he is expected to.) The 6’6″ pivot/winger, who fell to the Ducks at 10th overall last year, was regarded as a sure-fire top-5 pick until a back injury cost him virtually all of his draft season. McQueen, who suffered a fracture in his back (thought to have originally occurred in 2023), saw the proper treatment of his injury delayed due to its initial misdiagnosis of a herniated disc. Although most teams shied away from drafting a player with an injury of that sort, Anaheim saw enough positives in the 17 games he did play to make him their first pick. Thankfully, McQueen appears to be fully recovered, as indicated by being named the ECAC Rookie of the Year for Providence College. The fact that he has continued playing after his college season ended is another sign pointing to good health.
The New York Islanders continue to impress with their bevy of young talent, and two recent signings prove that point. Former first round picks Victor Eklund (2025) and Cole Eiserman (2024) both play for Bridgeport in the AHL, and right away were thrown into the fire. Eklund started his North American pro career with the winning shootout tally against Laval, high praise to put a player in that position in his first game. Since that time, Eklund has 6 assists in 4 games, good for 1.5 points per game. Eiserman has added to this production with a goal and assist of his own.
Then we get to highly-touted goaltenders Trey Augustine (DET) and Michael Hrabal (UTA) as recent AHL roster additions (both playing on amateur tryout agreements this season, with ELC’s in place starting in 2026-27). For Augustine, the top-ranked prospect in the Wings’ organization, the beginning of his pro career marks the end of a highly-decorated amateur run. Not only is Augustine the two-time Big 10 Goaltender of the Year, he also has two World Junior Championship gold medals as Team USA’s go-to puck-stopper in 2024 & 2025. With respect to Hrabal, the massive (6’7″) Czech had a .937 save percentage for UMass this season en route to being named a finalist (along with Augustine) for this year’s Mike Richter Award (NCAA hockey’s top goaltender). In his professional debut for AHL Tuscon, Hrabal was named the game’s first star by posting 22 saves in a 4-2 win over the Ontario Reign.