NHL Prospect Roundup: Top five AHLers worthy of a call-up

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Most weeks, we look at a handful of prospects from across the hockey landscape that deserve your attention.

But today, we’re narrowing the focus by looking at five AHLers who deserve call-ups to the NHL sooner rather than later. The idea is to include players with five games or fewer of NHL experience – sorry, Dustin Wolf.

So let’s do it. Here are five players that could make an impact if called upon in 2023-24:

Logan Stankoven, RW (Dallas Stars)

You can throw Mavrik Bourque on here too, but what Stank is doing as an AHL rookie is incredible. He’s on pace for 90 points this season, achieved just once among U-21 AHLers since 2000 (Patrick O’Sullivan had 93 points in 2005-06). The undersized 5-foot-8 forward can do so much with the puck and packs some muscle he isn’t afraid to use. Stankoven has top-six potential with the ability to play center and the wing, but it feels like he’ll be better off on the right side. Regardless, I can’t wait for his NHL debut. He’s already too good for the AHL.

Georgii Merkulov, C (Boston Bruins)

Merkulov had an uneventful four-game stretch with the Bruins earlier this season in more of a support role. But in the AHL, Merkulov is a point-per-game player and one of the league’s most productive forwards from the past two years. He lacks the speed and size to be a big-time impact player in the NHL, but he’s got a bullet of a shot and the stats don’t lie. If the Bruins lose a key forward to injury, Merkulov could jump into a top-six spot immediately.

Nikita Chibrikov, LW (Winnipeg Jets)

I’d like to see Brad Lambert get a chance, too, but Chibrikov seems more NHL-ready at this point. He has good puck skills, works hard and has solid hockey sense, and he’s great on the power play. Chibrikov isn’t the quickest skater on the ice, but he’s skilled enough to get past good defensemen consistently. Speaking of consistency, that wasn’t really there in the KHL, but he’s more engaged every night for the Moose. I’ve liked him for a while now, and I hope he becomes something for the Jets.

Zachary L’Heureux, LW (Nashville Predators)

Yaroslav Askarov is an obvious answer here, but I wanted to focus on someone else. I asked a few AHLers this year which player they’d absolutely hate to go 1-on-1 against the most. Zachary L’Heureux’s name was brought up a few times. The 20-year-old isn’t huge, but he’s strong and downright nasty. His suspension list for the past few years reads like something from Slap Shot, but he has the offense to back it up. He’s on pace for more than 50 points and 200 penalty minutes with the Milwaukee Admirals, which is incredible. He’s the kind of guy that will thrill Preds fans and piss off everyone else with his throwback hockey style. Will it translate well in the show? I hope so, because no prospect brings violence and shot-power like he does.

Jack Thompson, D (Tampa Bay Lightning)

After a pro rookie season with Syracuse last year, Thompson has taken things up a step this year. The 21-year-old has rocketed up Tampa Bay’s depth chart thanks to a 50-point pace with the Crunch this season, putting him among the AHL’s point leaders among defensemen. Thompson was always a solid point producer in the OHL, but he’s also aggresive and can eat minutes. He fits the mold of a modern-day blueliner who can do a little bit of everything, and that makes him valuable. The Bolts called him up for his NHL debut last month, but I think if injuries arise, Thompson could be a good fit for a third-pairing role in the short term. There’s NHL upside here, for sure.

Other notables: Samuel Helenius, C (Los Angeles Kings), Daniil Guschchin, RW (San Jose Sharks), Clay Stevenson, G (Hershey Bears)

Discover Betano.ca – a premium Sports Betting and Online Casino experience. Offering numerous unique and dynamic betting options along with diverse digital and live casino games, Betano is where The Game Starts Now. 19+. Please play responsibly.