Numerous young NHL prospects are making significant contributions to their respective clubs in this season’s AHL playoffs. Most recently were the efforts of a trio of STL prospects in forward Otto Stenberg (25th overall in 2025), d-man Adam Jiricek (16th overall in 2024) & forward Justin Carbonneau (19th overall in 2025) in helping Springfield take down Providence in a huge upset of the league’s best team. Stenberg’s assist led to the game- and series-winning overtime goal, which was the lone tally of the game. Jiricek & Carbonneau logged 19 and 17 minutes of ice time, respectively, in their AHL debuts.
Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect Michael Postava (Free Agent) was instrumental in leading Grand Rapids to a 3 games to 1 series victory over Manitoba in the Central Division semi-finals. In four series games, Postava posted an exceptional 1.25 goals against average and .945 save percentage. Postava & Sebastian Cossa won the Harry Holmes Memorial Award in 2025-26 as the Best Goaltending Duo in the league.
Pittsburgh Penguins d-man prospect Harrison Brunicke (44th overall in 2024) and goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov (118th overall in 2022) were the stories in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 4-1 victory over Hershey in Game 4 of their Atlantic Division semifinal series. Brunicke’s short-handed goal broke a 1-1 tie, and became the game-winner and series-clincher. Murashov stopped 37 of 38 shots in the game, consistent with his very stingy .937 playoff save percentage.
Seattle Kraken forward prospects Jagger Firkus (35th overall in 2022) and Oscar Fisker Molgaard (52nd overall in 2023) each figured prominently in Coachella Valley’s 6-2 Game 4 victory over the Ontario Reign, thus forcing a fifth game in the Pacific Division semifinal. Both players registered empty-net goals to secure the victory. For Firkus, this was his second point (1G 1A) in a very strong game for the just-turned 22-year-old. Molgaard leads the league in playoff scoring with 9 points (4G 5A).