Though gaudy numbers in junior or college hockey may have earned elite status for some at the NHL Draft, it will be AHL training that will help round out the two-way game that eventually gets them to the NHL.
Here is a look at five strong forward prospects developing in the AHL (in alphabetical order):
Jonatan Berggren, Grand Rapids (Detroit Red Wings)
Possessing ample pro experience from playing in Europe, Berggren (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) has displayed plenty of maturity in his game.
Selected by the Red Wings in the second round (No. 33) of the 2018 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old was given time to develop for three seasons with Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League, one of the top leagues in the world. He also played for third-place Sweden at the 2020 World Junior Championship.
The Red Wings then brought him to North America this season and have let him evolve with Grand Rapids, where he has scored 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 22 games. Berggren is taking a development path that several Detroit forwards have already traveled, including forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Michael Rasmussen, Joe Veleno and Filip Zadina.
Jakob Pelletier, Stockton (Calgary Flames)
Fresh off four excellent seasons with Moncton and Val-d'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Pelletier (5-9, 160) has made a smooth transition to the AHL.
Calgary management brought in several key AHL veterans in the offseason to help young prospects like Pelletier, and those moves have succeeded. Stockton leads the Western Conference with a 15-2-2 record and has been one of the top success stories in the AHL.
Selected No. 26 in the 2019 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old leads AHL rookies in scoring with 25 points in 20 games and is tied with Charlotte forward Cole Schwindt for third with nine goals. His 25 points also place Pelletier third among all AHL players.
JJ Peterka, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
Peterka (5-11, 192), selected by the Sabres in the second round (No. 34) of the 2020 draft, has arrived in the AHL as a 19-year-old after gaining 84 games of top-level experience in Germany and Austria.
Rochester coach Seth Appert has worked closely with Peterka to fine-tune details in his game, and the improvement is visible. Peterka plays an aggressive, energetic game and is strong on the forecheck. With 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 20 games, Peterka is well on his way to becoming a full-time NHL player.
Jack Quinn, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
The eighth pick in the 2020 draft, Quinn (6-0, 185) went through his fair share of growing pains in the AHL last season that included season-ending hernia surgery in April. The Sabres also experimented using him as a center and on the wing.
Mononucleosis has the 20-year-old out of the Rochester lineup, but Quinn is still tied for fourth with four other players in AHL scoring with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 17 games. He is also tied for fourth in goals with Martin Frk of Ontario and Laurent Dauphin of Laval.
Brayden Tracey, San Diego (Anaheim Ducks)
Tracey (6-0, 177), selected No. 29 by Anaheim in the 2019 draft, played 12 games for San Diego last season when the 2020-21 Western Hockey League season was delayed. Though he did not score a point in the AHL last season, the introduction to the pro game served him well before he returned to Victoria of the WHL and finished with 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 22 games.
It's paid off this season. Tracey has scored 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 19 AHL games.
