Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Here, there, and everywhere, several well-known names around the AHL found themselves on the road as the NHL trade deadline passed on Friday afternoon.
While NHL teams are making roster shake-ups with an eye toward this spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs or the long-term vision, the aftershocks extend beyond that. For AHL teams, the power to re-make the playoff races has arrived as the final quarter of the regular season approaches.
Sometimes that means getting a key piece for a push into the Calder Cup Playoffs. Last year, for example, the Charlotte Checkers benefited greatly when the Florida Panthers acquired a veteran netminder. Kaapo Kähkönenwho ended up being the last to knock the Checkers out of the Calder Cup final.
But there are times when the trade deadline means losing a key player for the benefit of the NHL’s parent team. Other AHL teams had to give up talent that could be part of the sweetener that makes the deal work for the NHL’s parent club with Stanley Cup hopes. Or as players are removed from an NHL team’s roster, replacements are released to the AHL affiliate for later season additions.
So it happens at this time of year. And more moves are still possible at the AHL level. The AHL trade and loan deadline is Friday at 3 pm ET. Then there’s the annual post-season influx of new talent from the NCAA, Canadian Hockey League and elsewhere.
Here’s a look at some of the key changes around the AHL:
Abbotsford Canucks
The defending Calder Cup champions added a defender Jack Thompson from the San Jose Sharks organization for fellow blueliners Jett Woo. For Thompson, who turns 24 next week, it’s a chance to showcase himself for a future NHL career with the parent Vancouver Canucks after appearing in 31 games for the Sharks in 2024-25. The 2024 AHL All-Star already has five points (two goals, three assists) in his first Abbotsford appearance.
Belleville Senators
Graeme Clarkeacquired by the Ottawa Senators from the Washington Capitals, earned the right to work in his Belleville debut Saturday night with a goal and two assists, helping the B-Sens to a 7-3 victory over the Utica Comets to end a six-game losing streak. Belleville, a middle-of-the-pack team in scoring this season, landed a former AHL All-Star (2024) who now has 17 goals in 51 games and 25 consecutive seasons with Utica. This postseason run has become something of a Belleville tradition, and Clarke could be the offensive weapon they need.
The Calgary Wranglers
As the Calgary Flames make decisions about their future, forward Brennan Othmann it starts again. A 2021 first-round pick by the New York Rangers, the 23-year-old put together a 21-goal rookie season with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2023-24 and had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 26 games with Hartford this season. Othmann, who has three points in 42 NHL games, is a welcome addition to a Wranglers team that is fighting to get above the Pacific Division playoff spot.
The Grand Rapids Griffins
The league-leading Griffins came through the deadline unscathed, a nice break considering the parent Detroit Red Wings are chasing a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Justin Hall faced St. Louis Blues as part of Justin Faulk trade, which takes an important member of the Grand Rapids blue line. On the other hand, it will reduce the chances of any veteran logjam on the team’s roster.
The Hartford Wolf Pack
Fighting to stay alive in the Atlantic Division race, the Wolf Pack have added significant speed to their forward lineup Aidan Thompson. The rookie from the University of Denver – where he won the national championship in 2024 – came to the New York Rangers from the Chicago Blackhawks in search of defense. Derrick Pouliot. He had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 40 games for the Rockford IceHogs, and had two assists in his debut at Hartford on Saturday.
Henderson Silver Knights
It wasn’t a trade, but an internal move that strengthened the Silver Knights: moving forward Alexander Holtz resigned and assigned to Henderson on Friday. The Silver Knights are already a top-10 team offensively and become even more dangerous with Holtz, who scored 16 goals for the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24. The seventh pick in the 2020 Draft, Holtz had three goals and six assists in 28 games with Vegas this season.
The Hershey Bears
Wyatt Bongiovanni he came another way in the Ottawa-Washington treaty that found Clarke and Belleville. Bongiovanni’s career blossomed with Belleville, where he broke out scoring 22 goals last season. This offseason has been one of significant change for the Bears, who saw the core of their back-to-back Calder Cup teams last summer. In a team still coming together, Bongiovanni is one change but someone who can provide some experience and stability.
The parent Capitals also acquired additional organizational depth from the Vegas Golden Knights in a multi-player trade that brought Jesper Vikman. The 23-year-old doesn’t play week-to-week, but he played 18 games for the Henderson Silver Knights before the deal.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms
One of the biggest prospects to leave on Friday was a defender David Jiříčekwho came to the Philadelphia Flyers from the Minnesota Wild. The 22-year-old was drafted sixth in 2022 and will look to get his career back on track after his second trade in 15 months. Jiříček has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 24 games for the Iowa Wild this season, and scored a quick goal in his first game against Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Philadelphia management has been aggressive about overhauling the organization’s depth on the blue line this season, and with the Phantoms positioned for a possible playoff spot, they will rely heavily on Jiříček for minutes and power play help.
Working all season to fix the Lehigh Valley program, the Flyers have also been brought forward Boris Katchouk from Minnesota last week as more scoring help for the Phantoms.
Dominion of Ontario
The Pacific Division-leading Reign got more defensive help on Monday, getting a defenseman Nikita Novikov on loan from the Buffalo Sabres. Novikov is only 22, but brings three seasons of AHL experience in Ontario and two years in the KHL. Novikov had 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 50 games with Rochester this season, and joins a Reign blue line stacked with veterans. Joe Hicketts again Samuel Bolduc.
The Providence Bruins
Another first-round pick on the move Lukas Reichelwho was traded to Boston by Vancouver. It’s another chance to prove myself for the 2020 first-round pick as he joins his third organization this season. Reichel has played 19 games in the NHL this season and also represented Germany in the Olympics last month, and could be another powerful addition to Providence’s stacked roster.
The Bruins also added Alexis Gendron as part of a four-player trade with Philadelphia. Gendron scored 20 goals as a rookie for Lehigh Valley last season.
The Americans of Rochester
Perhaps the AHL’s biggest name on the move last season was the All-Star forward Isak Rosénwho went to Winnipeg on a multi-player deal with Buffalo. Rosén had 25 goals and 43 points in just 37 games with Rochester this season, and seven points in 16 NHL games with the Sabres. The rest of Rochester’s essence remained the same, and added depth to the winning forward Caleb Lawrence on loan from Los Angeles on Monday.
Rockford IceHogs
As the Chicago Blackhawks adjust their roster and make decisions, the IceHogs are feeling that impact, too; he has a goalkeeper Drew Commessoprotector Sam Rinzel and rookie forward Nick Lardis they were all on the Blachkawks list Monday night. Getting it Derrick PouliotA First Team All-Star selection last season, from the New York Rangers gives the IceHogs added strength on the blue line, especially if more talent is called up to Chicago.
San Jose Barracuda
The Barracuda will be living up to its name with the addition of a protector Jett Woowho has a bad way to be the leader of the group. He won a Calder trophy with Abbotsford, can be a shutdown defender, and adds a snarl. With the Barracuda running in the Pacific Division, he was made for a team that could make a long run in the postseason.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
