Wolf, Kovacevic, Quinn among AHL prospects ready for NHL next season

Expect another crop of young American Hockey League talent to compete for full-time roles during the 2022-23 NHL season.

Each season, AHL graduates flood into NHL training camps, often securing jobs on their way to making an impact in the NHL in short order.
Among the top 10 rookie scorers in the NHL this season, seven made a stop at the AHL level.
Here is a look at 10 top AHL prospects from the 2021-22 season, each of whom could make a NHL impact next season.
Dustin Wolf, Stockton (Calgary Flames)
Wolf, 21, was a seventh-round pick (No. 214) by the Flames in the 2019 NHL Draft.
In a standout career with Everett of the Western Hockey League, he was named the top goalie in the Canadian Hockey League in 2019 and was a back-to-back WHL goalie of the year.
This season, he made a smooth transition to the AHL. In 47 games, he was 33-9-5 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, he went 8-5 in 13 games with a 2.23 GAA and .929 save percentage. He won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Award as the top goalie in the AHL and was named to the AHL First All-Star Team and AHL All-Rookie Team.
Pyotr Kochetkov, Chicago (Carolina Hurricanes)
The 23-year-old goalie made a quick impression following his mid-February arrival from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Selected by Carolina in the second round (No. 36) in the 2019 draft, he started his AHL career by going 13-1-1 in 15 games with a 2.09 GAA and .921 save percentage. He was named the AHL Rookie of the Month in March before earning a promotion to the Hurricanes. After playing in three regular-season games and four Stanley Cup Playoff games, He returned to Chicago after the Hurricanes lost to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. In six AHL playoff games, he was 5-1 with a 1.65 GAA (second among AHL goalies), .950 save percentage (also second), and two shutouts in Chicago's run to the title.
Johnathan Kovacevic, Manitoba (Winnipeg Jets)
Kovacevic was a third-round pick (No. 74) by the Jets in the 2017 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman showed a steady, composed game that earned praise as part of a strong group of Manitoba defensemen. He had 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 62 regular-season games. He was plus-1 in four games with the Jets.
Daniil Miromanov, Henderson (Vegas Golden Knights)
An undrafted 24-year-old defenseman, Miromanov signed a two-year contract with the Golden Knights on Jun. 21 after leading Henderson defensemen with 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He also played his first 11 NHL games with one assist. He had two assists in five AHL playoff games.
Off the ice, the Henderson coaching staff praised Miromanov for his efforts in assisting his Russian teammates with their adjustment to North America.
Jordan Spence, Ontario (Los Angeles Kings)
Spence, a 21-year-old defenseman, was chosen in the fourth round (No. 95) of the 2019 draft by the Kings.
He plays an intelligent, steady game and had 42 points (four goals, 38 assists) in 46 regular-season games. He was named to the AHL First All-Star Team and AHL All-Rookie Team. In 24 games with the Kings, he had eight points (two goals, six assists) and played in three playoff games.
Jonatan Berggren, Grand Rapids (Detroit Red Wings)
Taken in the second round (No. 33) in the 2018 NHL Draft, the forward came to North America with high-level pro experience with Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League.
Nevertheless, the Red Wings do not rush prospects and kept the 21-year-old with Grand Rapids to develop his all-around game. He finished second in AHL rookie scoring with 64 points (21 goals, 43 assists) in 70 regular-season games. His 43 assists tied for first among rookies.
Jack Drury, Chicago (Carolina Hurricanes)
Along with his Calder Cup championship, the the 22-year-old forward won the SHL championship with Vaxjo in 2020-21. Carolina selected Drury, the son of former NHL forward Ted Drury, in the second round (No. 42) of the 2018 draft.
He had 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 68 regular-season games but blossomed in the Calder Cup Playoffs. His 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 18 games placed him third in playoff scoring and first among rookies. He also played two regular-season games with the Hurricanes and had two goals.
Jakob Pelletier, Stockton (Calgary Flames)
The forward was chosen by the Flames in the first round (No. 26) of the 2019 draft and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team.
The 21-year-old finished third in AHL rookie scoring with 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) in 66 regular-season games and placed second in goals among rookies. He had seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven playoff games.
JJ Peterka, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
The 20-year-old forward was chosen in the second round (No. 32) of the 2020 NHL Draft and made his North American debut with Rochester. He led AHL rookies with 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) in 70 regular-season games and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team; his 28 goals also ranked first among rookies. In 10 playoff games, he had 12 points (five goals, seven assists). He had no points in two games with the Sabres.
Jack Quinn, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres)
The 20-year-old forward was the eighth pick by the Sabres in the 2020 draft.
In a season disrupted by injury, he had 61 points (26 goals, 35 assists) in 44 regular-season games, third among AHL rookies. His 26 goals ranked third for AHL rookies. He played 10 playoff games (two assists). His played his first two NHL games with Buffalo (one goal, one assist). He was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team.