‘This is my dream, so I want to fight for it’: On the battle to reach the NHL – and then stay there

Credit: Linus Karlsson (© Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports)

This article was written by Penelope Jennings, who is part of the Professional Hockey Writers Association x To Hockey With Love Mentorship Program. This program pairs aspiring writers with established members of the association across North America to create opportunities for marginalized people that do not traditionally get published on larger platforms covering hockey.

To Hockey With Love is a weekly newsletter covering a range of topics in hockey – from the scandals of the week to providing a critical analysis of the sport.

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Making it to the NHL is a challenge that few people achieve. But staying there is even harder. Canucks forward Linus Karlsson has learned that firsthand this season. Karlsson began the year in the AHL with the Canucks’ affiliate in Abbotsford, but has since gone back and forth between leagues, appearing in his first four NHL games.

“When I got the call up, I’m sure that gave me a boost. Like I was going to be playing for Vancouver. That was my dream since I was a kid to play in the NHL so this is where I want to be, even if I get sent down someday,” Karlsson said on a recent phone call. “Now I know what it takes to get here. You never know if you get sent down, but I’m going to take it like everyday, do my best and see how I can stay here.”

At the time of his interview, Karlsson was with Vancouver.

He was sent back to Abbotsford the very next day.

“This is my first time up there so I’m just trying to see how it is and to learn as much as I can,” Karlsson said in December, on the eve of his demotion. “Even if I’m not playing, I’m still trying to learn and you never know when you play, so I just want to be ready and do what it takes.”

But for many players like Karlsson, the pursuit of that dream they all talk about — of becoming a full-time NHLer, of being “ready” — is a path marked with playing between teams, and cities, and not knowing when or where your next game will be. Few get there in a straight line. The path for most others winds.

Texas Stars center Mavrik Bourque is in a related — but also in many ways different — situation. Bourque, 22, is one of the top prospects in the Dallas Stars’ system, and he was part of the team’s last group of cuts out of training camp. But the Stars haven’t needed to call-up many players from their AHL affiliate in Texas this season. In fact, until recently, their only AHL recall this season was goaltender Matthew Murray.

Their first skater recall was Logan Stankoven on Feb. 20 due to a number of injuries in Dallas, after the interview with Bourque took place.

Bourque, a first-round pick, would likely be next in line. Prospects of Bourque’s caliber have been called up to the NHL by most other teams in the league, but Dallas is first in the Central Division and has had no major injuries to their skaters, so he’s had to wait his turn.

“As of today, I know I’m really close. Dallas has not called up one single guy. So we don’t know who it’s going to be,” Bourque said on a recent call. “You want to play in the NHL as soon as possible. And the way I see it is I think sometimes you need time in the AHL and I think I’ve spent a lot of time in the AHL and I’m ready to make that step. But for now, I just keep working on my game and my chance will come.”

While he hasn’t gotten his chance in the NHL yet, Bourque’s skill has not gone unnoticed. He was named AHL Player of the Month in November, an award he’d been approaching ever since his AHL debut in 2021.

“I had a really good training camp my first year when I was 18,” Bourque said, “and I remember that time I was like, ‘I don’t really care, I’m just going to go back to junior with my friends.’ But I remember when I showed up at 20 I was kinda like nervous. I knew if I didn’t make it I was going back to the AHL still far from home.”

For four seasons from 2018-2022, Bourque played for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. Shawinigan is about 75 miles from Bourque’s birthplace of Plessisville, Quebec. That distance is easy when compared to the 2,041 miles from Plessisville to Cedar Park, Texas where the Texas Stars play their home games.

As Bourque gets closer to his inevitable NHL call-up, eyes have been on both him, and his friend and teammate Stankoven. And he doesn’t feel that they’re competing for a spot.

“One thing we know is if I’m playing good, that’s gonna help his game and if he’s playing good it’s going to help my game so we need each other to play good,” Bourque said. “And I think so far it’s been really good to play with him. We have a good chemistry together. So I think we just try to help each other and hopefully, maybe we can make that jump together.”

Also in the AHL with Karlsson and Bourque, you’ll find Adam Gaudette with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues’ affiliate. Gaudette, 27, made his NHL debut for the Vancouver Canucks all the way back in 2018 after a stellar college career at Northeastern University. In the six seasons following his debut, he has played for four different NHL teams and three AHL teams. In three of the six seasons, he played in both the NHL and AHL. So he’s both experienced with bouncing between teams and still chasing that dream of becoming a full-time NHLer.

“Everybody wants to get there and everybody wants to get there as soon as possible. You know, I was like that too. And I realized everybody’s different and you know, playing in the AHL is not a bad thing. It’s a benefit to so many people,” Gaudette said. “There’s a lot of guys who have solid NHL jobs because they developed in the AHL first or they went back down to work on their game and building up confidence in the AHL leads to building confidence in the NHL.”

And some organizations have easier transitions than others. Karlsson and the Abbotsford Canucks are fewer than 50 miles from Vancouver. Bourque and the Texas Stars are about 180 miles from Dallas. Meanwhile, while Gaudette was in the Canucks organization, their affiliate was the Comets in Utica, N.Y., just under 3,000 miles from Vancouver. He also did time with the Toronto Marlies, who play just a couple miles down the street from the Maple Leafs.

“Some teams definitely have their benefits over having their AHL team closer together. It’s definitely easier for transactions and, you know, I remember when I was with Vancouver that was just you know, on opposite sides of each country and it’s, it’s a difficult travel day,” Gaudette said.

“I was trying to get a place in Utica. I got a place with some guys there and was paying my rent there and then when I was called up, the team would usually put you up in a hotel or apartments that they have, specifically for players being called up. So it wasn’t too bad that you’re not allowed to pay both rent. The teams in the league wouldn’t do that to you.”

At 27, Gaudette is a veteran of professional hockey – especially of the AHL/NHL swing lifestyle.

“(What) I would say is don’t rush it. Work,” he said of his advice on managing the ups-and-downs. “Work on what you need to work on because if you put the work in down here and your time comes up top, you’re in and it won’t be as big of a transition as you think.”

At the same time, there are plenty of difficulties that come with this life, especially for those who try to settle down.

“It’s tough moving. Every year in the middle of seasons is tough on my wife and my family. But, you know, I think the experiences have helped us grow,” Gaudette said. “My ultimate goal is is to find a home in the NHL and be able to be settled for a few years at least, and it’s definitely a lot easier than moving year to year and wondering where you’re going to end up with which team. I think it does come with a little bit of trial and error with different teams.”

Since entering the league, Gaudette has gotten married. He has a one-year-old son. All of that complicates things when you get called up and have to travel across the country immediately, or you’re traded..

But it’s also what all of these people have worked for years for. Few players become everyday NHL players immediately, but most have to work at it in the minor leagues first.

First-rounders like Bourque will get their turn. Guys like Karlsson will earn theirs. And others, like Gaudette, get an early taste, and then another, and then another, but never quite stick.

“Like I said, this is my dream, so I want to fight for it,” Karlsson said.

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‘This is my dream, so I want to fight for it’: On the battle to reach the NHL – and then stay there

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