AHL Stock Watch: Daniil But earned his call up to the Utah Mammoth
The AHL seems to be a league of younger players now, with many 21-and-under prospects rising to the top of the leaderboard and staying there. Teams are offering them more opportunities, which makes for some exciting prospect-filled match-ups with a ton of highlight-reel moments.
That’s a great situation for fans and evaluators, who now get to see the sport's future battle for NHL call-ups.
Here’s a look at a few prospects who are benefiting from top offensive deployment and producing.
Stock Rising 📈
Daniil But, LW, Tucson Roadrunners (Utah Mammoth)
Daniil But’s 17 points in 19 games place him near the top of the rookie production leaderboard.
Capable of feinting and dangling opponents one-on-one, turning the corner on defenders, and driving the net, But is turning into a high-end play-driver in the league. He’s also putting in the effort defensively, skating at opponents on the forecheck, rotating well, slipping clever passes under sticks, and using his size to his advantage.
That being said, he will have to refine a few elements of his game to push the offence in the same way in the NHL. While his speed is projectable to the NHL, his lack of agility prevents him from executing some of his more advanced one-on-one maneuvers and limits his effectiveness as a puck protector on the walls of the defensive zone. He’s attempting moves outside of his capabilities and missing open teammates.
But’s potential is as large as he is. With the right guidance, he could become a complementary top-six, power forward for Utah, and he's currently up with the Mammoth in the NHL.
Jagger Firkus, RW, Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken)
After only putting up 36 points in 69 games last season, Jagger Firkus is on pace to smash that total, producing at above a point-per-game over the first weeks of the season.
Backed by additional speed, his playmaking and scoring tools have shone a lot more. Eluding and beating defenders on the wall, he’s centering passes, catching up to rushes, and annoying opponents on the forecheck, generating some turnovers. He’s a shooting threat from anywhere in the slot and seems to have a better radar for teammates this season, connecting with them as they attack past him.
As the diminutive winger’s projection depends almost solely on his offensive capabilities — he won’t be able to provide the same level of checking ability as much larger forwards — this high-level production is a huge positive in his career. It suggests he’s finally figuring out how to use his high-end assets at the professional level.
He may get a chance to prove his talents in an NHL top-six down the line if he continues to dominate the AHL.
Trevor Connelly, LW, Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights)
Usually, players re-integrating into a lineup after an injury need time to ramp up their game. Not Trevor Connelly. He hit the ice and immediately started scoring for the Henderson Silver Knights, displaying the same dynamic qualities that made him such an intriguing prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Consistently beating and feinting defenders with his speed and making plays through them, he’s driving the play, taking advantage of mistakes, and creating more than his share of zone entries. Quicker at identifying passing lanes and stronger on the walls, he’s harder to shut down than he was a few months ago, following his transfer from Providence to Henderson. He’s attacking the net, firing in-strides and backchecking with the same intensity as he drives up ice.
Learning to manage risk and reward remains the biggest challenge of his development, but he seems to be taking steps toward becoming a more well-rounded player. If he can continue to develop his frame and improve his board work, while managing the puck better, he will get a chance to play in an NHL top six.
Stock Steady ↔️
Gracyn Sawchyn, RW, Charlotte Checkers (Florida Panthers)
A favorite of the Elite Prospects team, Gracyn Sawchyn looks just as effective in the AHL as in the WHL previously. He pursues the puck hard when needed, but also knows when to maintain his position in his team’s system. He rushes up the ice, pushes back defenders, and dangles around sticks, but doesn’t force plays, instead relying on his forecheck to re-establish possession. He’s blocking shots and lanes, skating the right routes at both ends of the ice, and displaying some shooting skills.
He looks like a future NHL contributor.
To become more than a bottom-six forward, however, Sawchyn will have to increase his scoring and speed over the next couple of seasons. He needs to take that next step in his offensive game that we’ve been waiting for.
Stock Falling 📉
Colby Barlow, LW, Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)
Colby Barlow is in this category almost by default. The first-round pick has the size and the scoring and checking skills needed to succeed at the AHL level. His straight-line speed has improved significantly over the past couple of seasons, to the point where he can win races to loose pucks and push an opponent off his path as he tries to reach them.
The same offensive instinct guides his movements at the AHL level as well. He rotates to the right spots ahead of passes, finds space between defenders, and goes to the net, while displaying some passing skills.
But Winnipeg isn’t known for giving its young players the best opportunities, and the trend continues with Barlow. Although he does feature on the power play, he’s only playing a few minutes at five-on-five per game. It's not enough to develop into an NHLer. Unfortunately, unless his situation changes, this may turn into another disappointing season, further dropping his stock.
Although he has the frame to play a physical game, he still has to learn to leverage it to win more battles. If he can improve that aspect of his game, he may earn more minutes.