So many young hockey players grow up with the common goal of one day making the NHL. While each player must take their own path, each hopes the path eventually ends with them donning an NHL jersey.  Only a small percentage of top tier players have the ability to leap right from junior or college hockey to the NHL.  In fact, nearly 90% of all current NHL players first developed in the American Hockey League (AHL) and/or ECHL before graduating to the NHL.   

Each player uses their experience in these development leagues for a different reason. It could be a young player not quite ready for the NHL who needs to gain experience at the professional level and become accustomed to the level of play.  Or perhaps a player is struggling or not seeing much ice time in the NHL and is seeking to build the confidence they once had.  Maybe a veteran player is brought in to serve as a mentor to the younger roster and teach them the necessary habits needed to succeed.  Regardless of the reason, the AHL and ECHL provide a necessary resource to the NHL parent clubs who look to build a championship roster, especially in the salary cap era where development of prospects is paramount.

Coordinator of Hockey Operations for the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), Matt Salewski sees how the AHL and ECHL continue to be a crucial step for hundreds of NHL players.

“The evolution and use of analytics and statistics in professional hockey has exploded, and the data helps show how the AHL and ECHL are the catalyst for players making the jump to the next level. You cannot deny the importance these leagues play.”

According to Salewski, the NHL opened the 2019-20 season with 622 AHL graduates on opening-day rosters, making up over 82% of NHL players. Meanwhile, the ECHL had 57 former players on active NHL rosters, marking the 19^th consecutive season with more than 50 former ECHL players.

The simple fact is that so many players rely on their experience in the AHL or ECHL to build themselves into NHL talent. Hearing first-hand the impact AHL and ECHL experience has had on a player’s development can prove how vital these leagues can be.

…

Michael McLeod was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round (12th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Following his final Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2018, McLeod was assigned to the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League. He would go on to play 108 AHL games, totalling 14 goals and 43 assists before becoming a regular with the New Jersey Devils.  His time spent in the AHL afforded him the opportunity to further develop his elite speed and hockey IQ.

While being a first-round pick comes with high expectations, McLeod sees his time in Binghamton as a blessing.

“It was a great learning experience; it really helped my game and let me figure out what role as a hockey player I need to take on. The AHL is a competitive league and it helped me become a more physical player on the forecheck, helped me learn to make quicker plays and keep things simple when it needs to be.”

Chicago Blackhawks forward Dylan Strome found great success in the OHL with the Erie Otters, playing alongside future NHL stars Connor McDavid and Alex DeBrincat.  Strome was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes third overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After finishing two more seasons in Erie, Strome began his pro career in the NHL with the Coyotes, but then struggled to find his offensive prowess.  He was then assigned to Tucson of the AHL, using the opportunity to round himself out as a player. He became an AHL All-Star, recorded 53 points in 50 games, and would earn another opportunity at the NHL level.  He became a regular player in Arizona and was later traded to Chicago where he is a reliable 2-way centre, succeeding on all 200-feet of the ice, and contributing offensively.

While every player dreams of playing in the NHL immediately, Strome used the opportunity in Tucson to build confidence and prepare for the next level. Along with his development on the ice, Strome used his time in Tucson to simply learn how to become a professional.

“I feel like my time in Tucson was 100% necessary for me to become successful in the NHL. It taught me how to become a professional, how to live alone for the first time and how to take on the tough schedule of being a professional hockey player. I’m very happy I got the chance to play in the AHL to learn and further my career.”

Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg experienced a different path to the NHL than McLeod and Strome. After going undrafted while playing in the USHL, Lomberg spent 2 seasons in the NCAA at the University of Maine.  From there, he returned to the USHL for a season before signing his first professional contract with the Stockton Heat, AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames, in 2015.  Between 2015-2020, Lomberg spent time in the AHL and ECHL, looking to find consistency in his game, before playing for the Flames and now the Panthers at the NHL level.

Lomberg embraces his role on such a skilled team, bringing physicality and determination to the forward unit.  He displays quick hands and is never afraid to be physical when needed.

“It definitely helped me develop and grow my game. That’s the point of the AHL and ECHL, to develop those younger players and make them NHL-ready. I was fortunate to learn from some amazing coaches, as well as learn a lot from the more experienced players I got to play with.”

Lomberg emphasizes how many players become successful at the next level because of their time spent in these developmental leagues.

“Some people don’t realize just how many players in the AHL actually play at the next level. It goes to show how you need to take advantage of the opportunities when you have them, because the margin for error is so small.”

…

The AHL and ECHL combine for 57 teams and approximately 1,600 players each year, providing opportunity for each player to grow and develop as an athlete and as a person. Being paid to play the game they love across North America, in front of thousands of loyal fans is a dream for so many growing up. The hope of these organizations is that individual and team success at the AHL and ECHL level will translate to success at the NHL level. 

PHPA Coordinator of Player Research and Relations, Baron Bedesky, further elaborates and emphasizes a point made by Strome earlier.

“Countless NHL players have credited those leagues as key stepping stones. Not only do players further develop their on-ice skills, but they learn how conduct themselves as professionals off the ice, whether that be with their teammates, staff, media, even the community in general.”

Each player takes their own path to fulfill their dream of making the NHL. While reaching the NHL is their main goal, many are beginning to understand how spending time in the AHL and ECHL can be crucial to their development in a variety of ways.