Penguin Prospect Ville Koivunen Top AHL Rookie Ranking

The AHL rookie courses this season are very interesting. While several top first-year players have made permanent recalls to their NHL teams, more players are squeezed in the top development leagues as they prepare for their own opportunities.

The Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Awards AHL Rookie of the Year Award is still open. The rest of the season can also separate players, and we want to take stock of our positions as our home court in the regular season.

Several notes for this list. Players like Denton Mateychuk and Frank Nazar are not on the list because they appear to be with the NHL club for the rest of the season. Otherwise, players must play at least 26 AHL games this season to be on the roster. Furthermore, this is not based on which player is the best prospect. This is just ranking them based on how well this season has performed so far.

Top 15 AHL rookies so far this season

1. VilleKoivunen, LW, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pit)

Koivunen, who received a deal in the Jake Guentzel trade last season, was one of the key pieces of the Carolina Hurricanes return, has so far exceeded expectations for his first season in North America . The Finnish striker averaged almost one point per game in his last season at Liiga and did not drop in the production of the WBS Penguins. He leads all AHL rookies by 44 points, but also ranks in the top three among active rookie forwards. He did take a step forward in playing hockey, but he has always been a reliable presence with a high-energy style that is hard to compete with. Pens in AHL have Koivunen Overbake on its transitional teams.

2. Justin Hryckowian, RW, Texas (DAL)

Hryckowian was signed as a Northeastern free agent and was one of the rookies throughout the AHL season. He has played five games with Dallas and is one of the few rookies in the AHL with 0.90 points per game this season. Hryckowian is the type of player who can play almost anywhere in the roster. He provides the most effort transfer through shifts and demonstrates the ability to read and play a role at the career level. His 26 assists put him third among all AHL rookies, and he was second only to Koivunen with 39 points. Hryckowian is just the latest frontline for Texas star rookies, making a huge impact in their first AHL season, including recent Garrett Award winner Logan Stankoven.

You can catch Hryckowian and the stars this week as they greet the Chicago Wolf on Flo’s social platform in Flo Hockey’s free game of the week.

3. MatthewSavoie, RW, Bakersfield Condors (EDM)

Savoie recently called the Edmonton Oilers to impress with the big club. Currently, he ranks third among AHL rookies with a score of 37 points, showing incredible speed and tough high-end skills. Savoie’s size didn’t pull him back, and early signs were that they weren’t in the AHL either. The top 10 NHL draft picks have had plenty of time in the offseason deal with the Buffalo Sabres, who made the most of his time in the AHL and seems to be expected to have a long-term stay with Edmonton soon.

The fastest person @theahl yes….@condors Go forward and @edmontonoilers Potential client Matthew Savoie! He won the fastest skater in CCM with 13.654. oops!#ahl #AHLALLSTAR pic.twitter.com/kqnkihlvro

– FloHockey (@floHockey) February 3, 2025

4. Sam Colangelo, RW, San Diego Seagull (ANA)

Currently, Colangelo currently has a score of 0.95, which is the reliable source of offensive for the Gulls throughout the season. He also participated in 12 games with the Ducks this year. Colangelo showed high-end scoring touchdowns in the AHL and despite missing 13 games in NHL responsibilities so far, they still scored their best 19 goals. From his draft to now, Colanguilo has been a bit slow, but he actually started to get into the 36th overall ranking of player Anaheim in 2020.

5. JaniNyman, LW, Coachella Valley Firebirds (Sea)

Neiman is the highest goal scorer in rookie this season, and it is an absolute tear in the AHL All-Star Game. He was selected to compete in the All-Star Classic in Coachella Valley to replace him, and he has been there all the time in the case. In February alone, the Big Winger scored seven goals in eight games. His game seems to have been fully adapted to the AHL, and now he figures out how best to use his size and high-end scoring abilities. His 23 goals put him third in the AHL.

6. Bradly Nadeau, LW, Chicago Wolf (Car)

Nadeau has surpassed one of the 20 goals this season, and has been slow to serve in the AHL since he returned from the World Junior Championships. In fact, he has scored 15 of his 21 goals this season since returning to the AHL action on January 4. Although his one-way is a weapon of power play, most of his goals have reached the level of this year. He also scored a ridiculous 25% absurd score this season. Nadeau’s knockout game still needs more before he can be trusted in NHL games, but his scoring touchpoints are top quality.

Nadeau and the Wolves will be pursuing the Texas star this week in a free game on social media on Saturday night.

7. Tristan Luneau, D, San Diego Seagull (ANA)

For much of last season, Luneno managed to quickly get his game on track in the AHL this season. He played six games with the Anaheim Ducks but was mostly skating with seagulls. He scored 35 points in 37 games, equalizing him with teammate Sam Colangelo, and earning the highest point in each game in the AHL rookie. His 29 people also contribute to the AHL rookie course.

8. DaliborDvorský, C, Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)

The 10th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has been finding his own professional player, showing good strength in hockey and hockey while still learning how to be a steady offensive performer. Dvorský ranked third with 35 points and 9th among all AHL rookies. His performance is more than just scoring, and that’s how he will influence the game at the NHL level, as Dvorský has shown physical maturity and strength to professional players in the AHL.

Don’t see it every day!

Dylan Garand (@WolfPackahl) Stretch pass with rare goalkeeper gloves @thunderbirdsahl Star Dalibor Dvorsky is the Atlantic GTG. Yes, that’s a fun guy.#AHLALLSTAR #ahl pic.twitter.com/0ks6j978q3

– FloHockey (@floHockey) February 4, 2025

9. CollinGraf, C/W, San Jose Barracuda (SJS)

He has been up and down between the big club and the AHL, but when he is in the Barracuda, he is excellent. Graf signed from Quinnipiac as an undrafted free agent last spring, with an average of 0.91 points in the AHL. While he has earned a big representation with the Sharks, he could be a real different manufacturer as the Barracudas drive the playoffs.

10. Scott Morrow, D, Chicago Wolf (Car)

Morrow scored 35 points and fifth in the AHL rookie defenseman, earning a hockey puck on his club. The Chicago Wolves are better with his team on the ice than there is no better team, and he is always an offensive threat. Morrow had 120 goals, with 12 of them entering the net. His defensive game is to be a regular defensive game that really needs to be played in the NHL and starts to show up more without losing the guard identity that might drive the hockey.

11. LucaCagnoni, D, San Jose Barracuda (SJS)

Cagnoni is the rookie’s top defender, ranked third in the AHL, scored 10 points in his last 14 games and coached a lot of hockey. So far, he has scored 13 goals with 80 goals this season. Directly starting from junior year, I’m not sure if Cagnoni’s offensive ability will immediately translate to AHL, but definitely. He still has to overcome the ability to doubt his body and ability to play his own style at the NHL level, but he is moving the hockey at a high level and has played a lot of roles.

He won’t stop! Rookie defender Luca Cagnoni scored 6 points for San Jose Barracuda in his last five games!@theahl | @sjbarracuda #ahl #barracudahockey #thefutureisteal pic.twitter.com/mm6bmxim6h

– FloHockey (@floHockey) February 16, 2025

12. Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Currently, Lekkerimäki is ranked fourth among AHL rookies, with his ups and downs and is still working to find the level of consistency he needs at the NHL level to be a regular in Vancouver’s top six. But he can score and is looking for ways to often cut a weak AHL defense. He also ranked the highest in the Power Game goals with seven strokes.

13. Artyom Levshunov, D, Rockford Icehogs (CHI)

Levshunov’s influence is quieter given the second pick in the 2024 NHL draft last summer, but he is making an impact. Given how close he is to the draft year and began to get injured that year, Levshonov is looking for his own way, and there is evidence that he has begun to figure it out. He scored 21 points in 47 games, but his offense rate exceeded those suggestions. He ranks second among all rookies, with 128 shots online. Additionally, Levshunov has scored 10 points in the last 11 games. Things started to come, the number of he played and the number of hockey, and he started to show glimpses of future top-notch defensive player The Blackhawks.

14. Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (WPG)

Salomonsson was selected to represent Manitoba’s AHL All-Star Classic and performed well in North America’s first season. Sweden’s prospects are of size and physical condition, but playing relatively clean games can kill many games. Since the second round of draft in 2022, his game has matured and his game has matured. Salomonsson scored 15 points in 29 games, and his offensive game will only go further as he continues to adjust. He may need more time in the AHL to get there, but you can see the material for the NHL defenders.

👓POV: You are Elias Salomonsson during the 2025 Inglasco Puck Control Relay Race #AHLALLSTAR Skill Competition👀@manitobamouse | @theahl#ahl #gomoosego #gojetsgo pic.twitter.com/evik69gljt

– FloHockey (@floHockey) February 4, 2025

15. Stephen Halliday, C, Senator Belleville (OTT)

Halliday signed Ohio State University (AHL) after the end of last season. He performed well and continued this season. Halliday scored 36 points, tied with Belleville’s scoring lead. Dubuque’s all-time leading scorer in the Battle Saints made a good first impression as a pro, and it seems he could soon be Ottawa’s early call choice next season.

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