Young defensemen are put through repeated tests when they enter the American Hockey League.
Those trials in the NHL's top developmental league only intensify when the Calder Cup Playoffs arrive, when these prospects face as many as two months of top-tier competition.
Here is a look at five young defensemen who are excelling in the AHL playoffs:
Evans has followed up a standout rookie season with an excellent performance in the playoffs.
He scored in triple overtime of Game 3 of the Pacific Division Final for Coachella Valley against Calgary (Calgary Flames), the AHL's regular-season champion.
The Kraken selected Evans in the second round (No. 35) of the 2021 NHL Draft, and he has quickly taken to the pro game. One of the first top prospects to cycle into Seattle's development system, the 21-year-old was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after he led all first-year defensemen with 44 points (six goals, 38 assists) in 71 games.
His 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in the playoffs lead all AHL defensemen. Coachella Valley eliminated Tucson (Arizona Coyotes) in a best-of-3 first-round series, then Colorado in the best-of-5 Pacific Division Semifinals. Coachella Valley and Calgary are tied 2-2 in the best-of-5 Pacific Division Finals following Calgary's 1-0 win in Game 4 on Wednesday.
The Capitals are in the midst of refilling their prospect pool, and Iorio is a key part of their future.
Iorio was selected by Washington in the second round (No. 55) of the 2021 draft and has settled in as a reliable option with Hershey. The rookie had 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 63 regular-season games and has four points (one goal, three assists) in seven playoff games.
He also made his NHL debut March 4 and had an assist in an 8-3 win at the San Jose Sharks.
After eliminating Charlotte (Florida Panthers) in the best-of-5 Atlantic Division Semifinals, Hershey completed a three-game sweep of Hartford (New York Rangers) in the best-of-5 Atlantic Division Finals with a 3-1 win in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Jones has steadily progressed in the Rangers' develop system over two pro seasons with Hartford.
The Rangers selected Jones in the third round (No. 68) in the 2019 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old led all Hartford defensemen this season with 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 54 games, and he had six points (two goals, four assists) in nine playoff games. Jones played 16 games with the Rangers this season and had two points (one goal, one assist).
Hartford swept Springfield (St. Louis Blues) in a best-of-3 first-round series before eliminating Providence (Boston Bruins), the Eastern Conference regular-season champion, in the Atlantic Division Semifinals before losing to Hershey.
Niemela was a late-season addition for Toronto after playing 58 games in his native Finland with Liiga team Karpat Oulu. He had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists).
Selected by the Maple Leafs in the third round (No. 64) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract May 13, 2022. He headed to the AHL and had two points (one goal, one assist) in six regular-season games, and five points (two goals, three assists) in seven playoff games.
Toronto was swept in three straight by Rochester (Buffalo Sabres) in the best-of-5 North Division Finals that ended with an 8-4 loss in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Stastney, 23, emerged as a strong prospect in his rookie season with Milwaukee and went on to play eight games with Nashville, where he had two assists.
The Predators selected Stastney in the fifth round (No. 131) of the 2018 NHL Draft before he went on to play four NCAA seasons at the University of Notre Dame. Had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 58 games with Milwaukee.
After returning to the AHL following the completion of Nashville's season, he has played eight games and had the series-winning goal in Game 5 for Milwaukee in the Central Division Finals against Manitoba (Winnipeg Jets). Milwaukee took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 Central Division Finals against Texas (Dallas Stars) with a 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Wednesday.
