Rangers, Devils prospects among those in spotlight down stretch in AHL

NHL general managers crave stretch-drive pressure and playoff experience for prospects.

The American Hockey League provides those two ingredients. As teams battle for a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs, ever-tightening races will ensure prospects receive opportunities to test themselves against late-season tension.
Here is a look at five NHL organizations whose prospects are in a stretch-drive battle in the AHL's Atlantic and North Divisions. A breakdown of the NHL prospects from the AHL's Central and Pacific Divisions will follow next week.
Bridgeport (New York Islanders)
Hampered by recalls to the Islanders, an 0-8-2-1 slide, which began in December and stretched for five weeks, put Bridgeport's season in peril.
However, an 8-4-1-0 run has it firmly back in the Atlantic Division race.
Working alongside NHL veteran
Cory Schneider
, 23-year-old
Jakub Skarek
started twice when Bridgeport swept a three-game set last weekend. He made 34 saves in a 6-3 win at Hartford (New York Rangers) on Friday and followed that effort with 30 saves (16 in the third period) for a 2-1 win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pittsburgh Penguins) on Sunday.
The Islanders selected Skarek in the third round (No. 72) of the 2018 NHL Draft. After earning brief time with Bridgeport in 2019-20 and 2020-21, he has settled in at the AHL level since. He is 8-11-3 with a 3.30 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in 24 games this season.
Other top under-23 prospects: defenseman
Samuel Bolduc
; forwards
William Dufour
, Arnaud Durandeau,
Ruslan Iskhakov
Cleveland (Columbus Blue Jackets)
For much of the season, the Blue Jackets have stationed defenseman
David Jiricek
, the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, with Cleveland. The 19-year-old has taken on heavy minutes and his 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 32 games tie him for third among AHL rookie defensemen.
He missed time in the AHL playing in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he represented Czechia. He had seven points (three goals, four assists) in seven games for his silver-medal team and was also named to the tournament All-Star Team as well as its top defenseman.
Other top under-23 prospects: goalie
Jet Greaves
; defenseman
Jake Christiansen
; forward Cole Fonstad
Hartford (New York Rangers)
Hartford has not reached the playoffs since a run to the Eastern Conference final in 2015. A return to the postseason would allow top prospects for the Rangers to get some valuable seasoning.
New York selected forward
Will Cuylle
in the second round (No. 60) of the 2020 NHL Draft. Because the Ontario Hockey League did not play in 2020-21, Cuylle was able to play with Hartford during the abbreviated AHL season. After finishing his OHL career last season with Windsor, he has had a strong return to Hartford.
Playing a hard-nosed style, the 21-year-old has a team-leading 16 goals to go with eight assists for 24 points in 47 games. He also played his first four NHL games with the Rangers.
Other top under-23 prospects: goalie
Dylan Garand
; defensemen
Zac Jones
,
Matthew Robertson
; forwards
Karl Henriksson
,
Lauri Pajuniemi
,
Bobby Trivigno
Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
Rochester has been an instrumental piece in Buffalo's rebuilding project in recent seasons.
Last season, forwards Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn each became playoff-tested with Rochester before their eventual move to Buffalo.
Another crop of top picks has a similar opportunity this spring. Forward
Jiri Kulich
went to the Sabres with the No. 28 pick in the 2022 draft and does not turn 19 until April 4. He has 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 39 games as an AHL rookie despite missing time as a teammate with Jiricek at the World Junior Championship, where he also took a spot on the tournament All-Star Team with nine points (seven goals, two assists) in seven games.
Other top under-23 prospects: forwards
Filip Cederqvist
,
Isak Rosen
,
Lukas Rousek
Utica (New Jersey Devils)
Defenseman
Simon Nemec
continues to impress in his first AHL season after New Jersey selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft.
Nemec, who turned 19 on Feb. 15, has taken on a regular role with Utica. In 43 games, he has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) and has fit in well with a group of experienced defensemen. The Devils also opted to send Nemec to the World Junior Championship, and he had the opportunity to captain Slovakia. He finished with five points (one goal, four assists) in five games.
Utica experienced an early playoff exit last season after finishing first in the regular season. A push to reach the postseason again and make amends for that setback would provide Nemec with invaluable experience.
Other top under-23 prospects: goalies
Nico Daws
, Akira Schmid; defensemen
Nikita Okhotiuk
,
Michael Vukojevic
,
Reilly Walsh
; forwards
Graeme Clarke
,
Nolan Foote
,
Alexander Holtz
,
Tyce Thompson