AHL All-Star Classic preview
Brannstrom of Chicago, Blackwood of Binghamton headline young talent in event
By
Patrick Williams
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
After the skills competition Sunday (7 p.m. ET), each of the AHL's four divisions (Atlantic, North, Central, Pacific) will compete in a 3-on-3 round-robin tournament that will conclude with a championship game Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, SNNOW). The two-day event will also feature community events and the AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2019 induction, which includes Don Cherry, with some of the top executives in the NHL and AHL on hand.
This season, Colorado Avalanche forward and all-star Mikko Rantanen ranks second in the NHL with 74 points (23 goals, 51 assists) in 50 games. But Rantanen, who was selected by Colorado with the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, competed in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2016 when he had 52 points (24 goals, 28 assists) in 60 games with San Antonio.
And Rantanen isn't alone.
Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, defenseman Zdeno Chara, and goalie Tuukka Rask have each participated in the event. Long before winning the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals last season, goalie Braden Holtby and defenseman John Carlson represented Hershey. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson participated in 2013, and Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban received an invitation in 2010 as a prospect for the Montreal Canadiens.
In 2015, forward Jonathan Marchessault made his third appearance as a prospect for Tampa Bay before helping the Vegas Golden Knights advance to the Stanley Cup Final last season.
Last season, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson played in the event in Utica, New York, before taking an early flight the next day and lifting the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-1 win against Tampa Bay.
As with past AHL All-Star Classics, first- and second-round NHL Draft selections will have a healthy presence among each division team, which will consist of 12 players.
Leading the way is Vegas' top prospect Erik Brannstrom (5-foot-10, 173 pounds) of Chicago, who will play for the Central Division. Selected by the Golden Knights with the No. 15 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old defenseman has 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 31 games after playing two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League for HV71.
The New Jersey Devils will have goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and forward John Quenneville represented for the North Division. Blackwood (6-4, 225), 22, who was selected in the second round (No. 42) by New Jersey in the 2015 NHL Draft, has split time between NHL and AHL this season, going 5-4-0 with 2.42 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in New Jersey, and 6-7-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .911 save percentage in Binghamton.
Quenneville (6-1, 195), 22, was selected by the Devils in the first round (No. 30) of the 2014 NHL Draft and has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 games for Binghamton.
The Atlantic Division will feature Bridgeport forward Michael Dal Colle (6-3, 204), who was selected with the No. 5 pick by the New York Islanders in the 2014 draft. The 22-year-old scored his first NHL goal against the Devils on Jan. 17 and has two points (one goal, one assists) in 13 NHL games to go with 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 28 AHL games.
San Antonio rookie Jordan Kyrou (6-0, 175) started the season with the St. Louis Blues before being sent down on Oct. 29. Selected in the second round (No. 35) in the 2016 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old forward has adjusted quickly to the AHL in his first professional season. He was named the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for December after having 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in nine games and will represent the Central Division this weekend. Since being assigned in October, Kyrou has received two recalls to St. Louis and has three points (one goal, two assists) in 16 NHL games and 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 27 AHL games.
Stockton forward Curtis Lazar (6-0, 205) has rebuilt his career after playing 245 NHL games for the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames. Selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by Ottawa, the 23-year-old headed to the AHL after training camp in Calgary. He needed ice time to develop his game, and Stockton has offered a chance for him to play heavy minutes in a variety of situations while taking on a leadership role. In 40 games this season, Lazar has 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) and will play for the Pacific Division.
Much like Lazar, Texas forward Denis Gurianov (6-2, 195) is also working on justifying his first-round pedigree after the Dallas Stars picked him No. 12 in the 2015 draft. The 21-year-old struggled to get into Texas' lineup during a run to the Calder Cup final last season but has bounced back in his third AHL season and will be a part of the Central Division team. He has 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 32 games for Texas and has also played 12 games for Dallas, where he has three points (one goal, two assists).
Rochester, which has emerged as a Calder Cup contender, will be represented by 21-year-old defenseman Brendan Guhle (6-2, 196), who replaced defenseman Zach Redmond for the North Division. A second-round pick (No. 51) in the 2015 draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Guhle has 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 38 games in his second professional season.
Next season, the AHL will take the All-Star Classic to California for the first time with Ontario serving as host.
