- Calgary Wranglers forward Matt Coronato joins the show. The 13th overall selection at the 2021 draft was re-assigned to the AHL after recording two points in his first 10 NHL games. Since joining the Wranglers, Coronato has recorded 18 points in his first 14 games. They discussed his rise to the pro game, particularly with the Chicago Steel program, and how he's managed his first professional season so far.

- Jesper Wallstedt wins AHL player of the week honors again. The sixth overall selection at the 2021 draft has posted a .939 save percentage in 13 games this year with the Iowa Wild. Will he play in an NHL game this year?

- Logan Stankoven is the prospect of the week. The 2021 second-round pick is leading the AHL in scoring as a rookie, with 26 points in 19 games. Jacob and Patrick think he'd be an NHL regular if he weren't stuck behind a deep Dallas Stars roster.

- The Arizona Coyotes are the team of the week. Jacob and Patrick share how Dylan Guenther, Josh Doan and Victor Soderstrom are progressing with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners.

- Around the 'A': Dustin Wolf recalled, Marlies signed Cameron Gaunce, NHL veteran Paul Mara was named an assistant coach with Hartford, and Arber Xhekaj is off to Laval.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Buffalo Sabres sent Jiri Kulich and Devon Levi to Rochester, but Isak Rosen remains in the NHL. Kulich and Rosen made their NHL debuts this past week, with Rosen earning an extended look. Levi, 21, is set to get his first taste of AHL action in a move that Patrick and Jacob believe was long overdue.

- Brandt Clarke is dominating the AHL competition. The 2021 eighth overall selection leads all AHL defensemen as a rookie. But pump your brakes on calling for an NHL recall.

- Laval Rocket prospect Joshua Roy is the prospect of the week. The 2021 fifth-round pick has 18 points in 18 games. Pat explains how his impact goes beyond his raw point totals.

- The Chicago Blackhawks are the team of the week, with the Rockford IceHogs as their AHL affiliate. The guys dive into the strong starts from Nolan Allan, Colton Dach and Drew Commesso.

- Around the 'A': AHL trades, San Diego ending their abysmal losing streak, and Will Bitten coming up clutch on Hockey Fights Cancer night. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are finding their footing. Patrick discusses how the impact of John Tortorella joining the organization has trickled down to the farm club.

- Kent Johnson is right where he's supposed to be in Cleveland. Jacob dives into why Kent Johnson ended up in the AHL after recording 40 points as an NHL last year and why it's the right move for his development.

- The Charlotte Checkers are the team of the week as the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Patrick gives us an update on Spencer Knight, Mackie Samoskevich and Ludovic Waeber.

- Tampa Bay Lightning AHL forward Maxim Groshev is the prospect of the week. Groshev, 21, has recorded 13 points in his first 14 games of the year. The 2020 third-round pick has the highest ceiling of any Syracuse Crunch forward right now.

- Around the 'A': Pat empties out his notebook, discussing Abbotsford's hot start, Alex Nedeljkovic making history and a tribute to Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins intern Julia Mazur, who passed away Saturday after a courageous battle with cancer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- What are the Edmonton Oilers getting in Kris Knoblauch? Hired by Edmonton on Sunday, Knoblauch was the Hartford Wolf Pack coach since the 2019-20 season. Pat provides some insight on who he is as a coach and how the whole thing went down from the perspective of Hartford's personnel.

- Nick Blankenburg is in the AHL this season following a strong rookie year in the NHL last year. Despite adding Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson to the team's blueline, in addition to Jake Bean returning to full health, Blankenburg is simply too good for the AHL. How much longer will this last? 

- Could Isaac Poulter be the next great hidden gem goaltender? The 22-year-old undrafted netminder has recorded a .938 save percentage in seven AHL games this season. His road to his hot start was a murky, bumpy ride. Now, he's on track to get an entry-level contract sooner rather than later. 

- Rochester Americans forward Jiri Kulich is the prospect of the week. The 2022 first-round pick by Buffalo is off to a fantastic start to the season, recording 13 points in his first 12 games. With Tage Thompson out and the Sabres struggling to score at 5-on-5 — it's a no-brainer to recall him, even if it's just for a game or two. What's the harm? 

- The Carolina Hurricanes are the team profile of the week, with no exact AHL affiliate. Canes prospects Vasily Ponomarev, Domenick Fensore, Griffin Mendel and Ronan Seeley have returned to the Chicago Wolves, who decided to run without an NHL affiliate this season.

- Around the 'A': Pat empties his notebook and dishes out some tidbits from around the league. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Hershey Bears coach Todd Nelson joins the show! The reigning Calder Cup champion takes us behind the curtain of last season's championship run, the development of Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre, plus why his day with the Cup was shortened. Nelson also gave us the scoop on Ivan Miroshnichenko and his philosophies with connecting to young prospects. 

- Three recent first-round picks were re-assigned to the AHL this past week. The guys dive into why Philip Broberg, Matt Coronato and Kent Johnson find themselves in the minors. 

- Jesper Wallstedt is the prospect of the week. The 20-year-old goalie was named AHL player of the week. His strong start to the year comes at a time when Filip Gustavsson is struggling with the big club. 

- The New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets are the organization profile of the week. The guys discuss how Simon Nemec, Graeme Clarke and Chase Stillman are progressing. 

- Why are the Chicago Wolves struggling out of the gate?

- Pat empties his notebook with another edition of 'Around The A.'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Following the tragic death of Adam Johnson, neck protectors are becoming commonplace in the AHL already. Will this become the new norm?

- Arshdeep Bains is the prospect of the week. The 22-year-old is leading the AHL with 15 points in nine games. The second-year pro was an undrafted signing by Vancouver ahead of the 2022-23 season. He's a prime example of a player whose hockey IQ overcompensates for subpar skating.

- The Calgary Flames recalled Connor Zary after he recorded 10 points in six AHL games. What does this mean? Why now? And who is Zary?

- The Los Angeles Kings are the team profile of the week, with the Ontario Reign as their AHL affiliate. They discuss Brandt Clark, Erik Portillo, Akil Thomas and Alex Turcotte.

- And more, as Patrick looks around the 'A' for the rest of his notes from the week.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Buffalo Sabres prospect Matt Savoie is heading to Rochester for a conditioning stint. The ninth overall selection in the 2022 draft is unable to play in the AHL this season unless it's for a two-week conditioning stint.

- The Detroit Red Wings are putting Sebastian Cossa in a position to thrive. After playing in the ECHL as a 20-year-old last season, Cossa is in the AHL and has fared well in his first two games.

- The Dallas Stars are the NHL team profile of the week as they examine prospects with the Texas Stars. Jacob and Patrick give the 411 on Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque and Christian Kyrou.

- Vasily Podkolzin of the Abbotsford Canucks is the player of the week. Podkolzin is off to a hot start in the AHL with seven points in his first six games. (Note: This episode was recorded before Wednesday's game, where Podkolzin was stretchered off after sustaining a nasty hit via Keaton Middleton.)

- Around the 'A': Patrick empties out his AHL notebook.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Pittsburgh and Vancouver swap depth defensemen, exchanging Jack Rathbone for Mark Friedman. Jacob and Pat dissect the deal for both teams, while also discussing what this means for Rathbone – a once highly regarded prospect.

- Nicholas Robertson is lighting it up. With five points in his first two games, he looks too good for the AHL, yet again. The guys discuss how Robertson is in the wrong place at the wrong time and could very well make some NHL rosters – even ones contending for playoff spots.

- Prospect of the week: Brad Lambert. The 19-year-old recorded three points in his first three games. He looked assertive, confident and poised in his first weekend of the 2023-24 AHL season.

- Team of the week: Montreal Canadiens: Jacob and Patrick discuss the growing crop of prospects in Laval, namely Joshua Roy, Sean Farrell, Emil Heineman and Riley Kidney.

- Around the 'A': Pat empties his weekly notebook, discussing the Hershey Bears raising the Calder Cup banner, encouraging starts to the year for Brennan Othmann and Logan Stankoven, and much more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Arizona Coyotes winger Dylan Guenther starts off with the Tucson Roadrunners in his first year of AHL eligibility.

- Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke's been loaned to the Ontario Reign.

- Rangers forward Brennan Othmann is headed to the Hartford Wolfpack, while the Ottawa Senators sent former 10th overall pick Tyler Boucher to the Belleville Senators.

- Shane Wright begins his season in the AHL as an exception to the usual CHL/NHL Transfer Agreement.

- The Carolina Hurricanes still don't have an AHL affiliate for the season after the Chicago Wolves decided to go independent from an NHL affiliate. Where did their prospects go?

- And more, including longtime AHLers who made NHL rosters.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Matthew Phillips appears poised to make the Washington Capitals roster. Phillips, one of the best forwards in the AHL over the last few years, has recorded three points in three pre-season contests.

- A few AHL players were claimed off waivers, including Ty Emberson, Lassi Thomson, Samuel Fagemo and Jansen Harkins.

- Some notable names were not claimed off waivers as well. The guys dive into why Jack Rathbone, Egor Sokolov, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ty Smith were not claimed. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- What does Pascal Vincent bring to the table as the new coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets?

- Will Cuylle is making some noise at training camp. Fresh off recording 25 goals and 45 points with the Hartford Wolf Pack last season, Cuylle is earning looks alongside top players at New York Rangers camp.

- Is Simon Edvinsson going to be back in Grand Rapids, or will he make the Detroit Red Wings' NHL roster?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Shane Wright was granted an exemption to the NHL-CHL Player Agreement. Wright, the fourth overall pick at the 2022 draft, is now AHL eligible in the event he doesn't make the Kraken's roster out of training camp.

- Jacob reveals a proposed solution to the NHL-CHL Player Agreement that a member of an NHL front office proposed to him.

- The Hockey News Editor-in-Chief Ryan Kennedy joined the show fresh off his trip to Washington D.C. to see the NHLPA/Upper Deck player showcase. Ryan provides insight into some of the young prospects we could see in the AHL this year.

- September Sweethearts, Part 2: Jacob and Patrick isolate four defensemen — Declan Chisholm, Jake Christiansen, Trevor Carrick and Jack Rathbone — who could come out and surprise everyone at training camp. These three players may not necessarily make the team, but they could make an impression on their NHL club and vault themselves up the call-up pecking order in the process. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- They discuss the importance of winning at the AHL level. The whole Chicago Wolves fiasco has shined a light on a long-forgotten element within the NHL's development league — independent owners want to win. And it's their money on the line.

- September Sweethearts, Part 1: Jacob and Patrick isolate three forwards — Jean-Luc Foudy, Connor Zary and Cole Guttman — who could come out and surprise everyone at training camp. These three players may not necessarily make the team, but they could make an impression on their NHL club and vault themselves up the call-up pecking order in the process.

- Jacob and Patrick workshop an NHL/AHL Top Prospects Game idea, such as an AHL U-23 all-star showcase coming to life. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The guys are joined by Chicago Wolves athletic trainer Kevin Kacer to discuss his career, what the daily life of a trainer is like, what makes hockey different, how things have changed since he started, and packing peanuts pranks. 

- They also discuss the Toronto Marlies' recent signings and give you their best starting lineup of AHLers who never became full-time NHLers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Ryan Merkley — one of hockey's polarizing prospects in recent years — is KHL-bound. Jacob and Patrick dive into why the former first-round pick of the Sharks in 2018, struggled to cement himself as an NHL regular, let alone as a high-end AHL defenseman during the course of his entry-level contract. 

- Jacob and Patrick play an AHL-themed game of Would You Rather. The criteria was which prospect would you choose if you were starting a franchise from scratch. For forwards, it was Marco Rossi, Luke Evangelista or Lukas Reichel. Defensemen were Simon Edvinsson, David Jiricek or Simon Nemec. In net it was either Dustin Wolf, Jesper Wallstedt or Yaroslav Askarov. 

- Darren Raddysh signed a two-year, one-way deal in Tampa. Jacob and Patrick dive into how signing one of the best defensemen in the AHL last year, to a two year deal, is some shrewd work by Tampa Bay. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Sean's analytic models. Sean recycled a point share model — originally from Hockeyreference.com — and applied it to the AHL. He explains his thought process and his goal of generating AHL analytics.

- Jacob and Sean then analyze AHL prospects that treaded upward or downward this past season, such as Jiri Kulich, Lassi Thomson and Raphael Lavoie.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- So, how about the Chicago Wolves? Set to become the first AHL team without an NHL affiliate since 1994-95, the Wolves' roster is starting to take shape, and a lot of questions remain to be answered.

- How will the Carolina Hurricanes operate without an AHL affiliate? Prospect development is one thing, but the Canes are also short of NHL recall options in general.

- Which first-round picks from the 2023 NHL draft could we potentially see in the AHL next season?

- Shane Wright isn't AHL-eligible next season, once again. Could we still end up seeing him play some games for Coachella Valley again?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NHL Free Agent Frenzy has a lot of significance for the AHL as well. More than 70 players have earned two-way deals since July 1, and some AHLers from last year have a huge opportunity to earn a spot in the NHL on one-way contracts. Jacob and Patrick go through players who earned two-way deals for multiple years before examining 12 signees in depth.

Want to know more about one player in particular? Check out the timestamps below:

Hunter Shepard: 05:50 

Alex Nedjelkovic: 09:38

Strauss Mann: 14:30

Lucas Carlsson: 16:34

Connor Carrick: 18:55

Will Butcher: 20:48

Noel Hoefenmayer: 23:11

Mac Hollowell: 26:34 

Max Lajoie: 28:13 

Lias Andersson: 30:24

Matthew Phillips: 33:04 

Mason Morelli: 35:59

Check out the full episode and subscribe on your preferred platform.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Two of Washington's recent first-round picks, Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre, came up clutch in the finals.

- Seattle prospect Ryker Evans exceeded all expectations in his first year as a pro.

- Over to the AHL coaching carousel, the Henderson Silver Knights and Syracuse Crunch named new head coaches. The Grand Rapids Griffins also brought in two intriguing assistants to support newly named coach Dan Watson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Coachella Valley Firebirds are up 2-1 over the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup final. Jacob and Patrick recap the beginning of the series while Patrick tells us about what he saw in Coachella Valley.

- AHL alumni took center stage in the Stanley Cup final. A whopping 24 of 25 players to play for the Vegas Golden Knights in the final have played in the AHL before.

- Who could be the next Jonathan Marchessault? The undrafted winger — who worked his way up from an AHL contract out of junior — won the Conn Smythe for the NHL's playoff MVP. Jacob lists two players that could end up becoming the next late-blooming gem for an NHL team.

- The Chicago Wolves hired Bob Nardella as their new coach. The former assistant coach will run the bench for the AHL's first independently run team since 1994-95, which Patrick discusses at length on the show. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob Stoller and Patrick Williams preview the series on this episode of The Hockey News On The 'A' Podcast. They also discuss Greg Cronin becoming the new coach of the Anaheim Ducks and the AHL's first-ever all-prospects team.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Hershey Bears are one win away from punching their ticket to the Calder Cup final. After losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final to the Rochester Americans, Hershey won three straight games. What changed?

- Joakim Kemell is our prospect of the week. The 19-year-old, ranked 24th in THN's Future Watch Issue, has raised his stock immensely since coming over to North America once his Liiga season ended.

- Yaroslav Askarov lost his starting job for the Milwaukee Admirals. After combining for a .873 save percentage in the first two games of the series, Askarov was yanked in favor of Devin Cooley. 

- Will Dan Bylsma ever coach in the NHL again? The Stanley Cup-winning coach could be due for some consideration, given how well he's done with this Coachella Valley team. 

And more!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The AHL conference finals are getting underway. The Rochester Americans and Hershey Bears face off in the East, with the former leading the series 1-0 after winning 5-1 on Tuesday night. The Milwaukee Admirals and Coachella Valley Firebirds make up the Western Conference final, which starts Thursday night.

- Luke Evangelista is our prospect of the week. The 21-year-old right winger has recorded 13 points in 10 games, which is tied for third in AHL playoff scoring.

- The Toronto Marlies made changes to their coaching staff. Despite leading the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate to a North Division title this season, coach Greg Moore and assistants A.J. MacLean and John Snowden will not return.

- Why Mitch Love, Spencer Carbery and Karl Taylor could become NHL head coaches. Patrick and Jacob dish their insight on three hot coaching prospects who have shined in the AHL over the past few years. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- After both teams swept their respective opponents, the Hershey Bears and Rochester Americans are slated to battle in the Eastern Conference final. The guys discuss the keys to each team's respective sweep and what a matchup between the two teams will look like.

- Hershey, the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, is our team of the week. Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre highlight a cast of young guns that have played big roles on what is a largely veteran-led Hershey team.

- The Western Conference final is far from being determined. The Texas Stars and Milwaukee Admirals head into Game 4 with the Admirals having a chance to close out the series. The guys discuss how the series has shaken out so far.

- The Coachella Valley Firebirds and Calgary Wranglers are heading to Game 5. The AHL's two best teams have been close all series long. Pat and Jacob give their series picks.

- Ryker Evans of the Firebirds is the prospect of the week. Evans leads all AHL defensemen in playoff scoring with 12 points in 12 games. Pat and Jacob discuss how far the 2021 second-round pick is from being an NHL regular.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Central Division final features the Milwaukee Admirals against the Texas Stars, the team of the week. The guys discuss Milwaukee's personnel, Texas' consistency all year long and how the two teams size up to one another.

- The North Division final has the Rochester Americans taking on the Toronto Marlies. If Toronto gets Joseph Woll soon, they could quickly become a Calder Cup favorite.

- Topi Niemela of the Toronto Marlies is the prospect of the week. The 2020 third-round pick has top-four defenseman written all over him.

- In the Pacific Division final, it's the Coachella Valley Firebirds versus the Calgary Wranglers. The AHL's two best regular season teams are meeting in the second round of the playoffs.

- It's the Hartford Wolf Pack taking on the Hershey Bears in the Atlantic Division final. Through six AHL playoff games, Hartford goalie Dylan Garand has posted a .954 save percentage.

Check out the full episode on your preferred platform.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Coachella Valley Firebirds and Providence Bruins are on the brink of elimination. The Firebirds, who finished second in AHL standings this year, are headed to a Game 5 versus Colorado. The Bruins, third in the AHL, are down 2-1 in their best-of-five series against Hartford.

- Dylan Garand is the prospect of the week. The 20-year-old rookie goalie is the reigning CHL goalie of the year and posted a .941 SP in five playoff games this year for the Hartford Wolf Pack. He recorded a .894 SP in 32 AHL regular season games during the 2022-23 season.

- Calgary and Abbotsford have been much closer than we anticipated. The Wranglers, the AHL's best team, have been getting quite the challenge from Abbotsford. Pat and Jacob discuss why and how Calgary can overcome this hurdle.

- The Manitoba Moose are the team of the week. A heavy underdog heading into their series against Milwaukee, Manitoba is currently up 2-1 and one win away from upsetting the Admirals. The Moose won Game 2 and Game 3 in OT. Patrick and Jacob may have been underselling the Moose for far too long.

- Jiri Kulich continues to shine for Rochester. After recording 46 points in 62 AHL games, the Sabers; 2022 first-round pick has recorded three points in two playoff games (including the Game 2-winner). Pat and Jacob discuss Kulich's evolution and how he appears closer to NHL action than many initially thought. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Patrick and Jacob discuss Tye Kartye's NHL debut. Kartye recorded 57 points in 72 games and won the AHL's rookie of the year this season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. An injury to Jared McCann saw Kartye get inserted into the playoff lineup Wednesday, and he scored his first career NHL goal.

- The Sweet 16: Patrick and Jacob go over the 16 teams remaining in the Calder Cup playoffs. Now that the play-in round is done and these matchups are solidified, it feels like the playoffs are really starting to begin.

- Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is the prospect of the week. After recording a .903 SP through his first 24 games, Askarov has posted a .917 SP in his last 24 appearances. As electric and eccentric as any goalie prospect you'll find, he's often worth the price of admission alone. But how far away is he from becoming an NHL regular? 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Jacob and Patrick piggyback off the AHL Awards and name their picks for each award, plus sprinkle in their own awards that they created. Check out who they chose for the MVP, top goalie, top defenseman, top forward, prospect of the year, breakout player of the year and veteran of the year.

- Simon Nemec and David Jiricek excelled in the AHL, just one year removed from being drafted in the top 10 of the 2022 NHL draft.

- In the AHL coaching carousel, Belleville, Henderson, San Diego and Grand Rapids have openings. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- But first... Shane Wright is our prospect of the week. Wright, who was with Coachella Valley on a conditioning loan before going to the world juniors, returns to the AHL after his Windsor Spitfires were swept in the first round of the OHL playoffs. The 2022 fourth overall pick has recorded five points in six AHL games this season.

- Atlantic Division: The Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins are duking it out for first place in the division and conference. The Charlotte Checkers, Springfield Thunderbirds, Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hartford Wolf Pack have clinched their spots, too.

- North Division: The Toronto Marlies have clinched first in the North Division, though they've gone 1-6-2-1 in their last 10. The Cleveland Monsters and Laval Rocket are competing for the final playoff spot. Those are two legitimate sleepers.

- Central Division: Will the Milwaukee Admirals prevail? Or will the Texas Stars continue their hold on first in the Central? The Manitoba Moose, Iowa Wild and Rockford IceHogs highlight the other three teams in the mix.

- Pacific Division: The AHL's two best teams, the Calgary Wranglers and Coachella Valley Firebirds, are in the same division. One of the two will have to punch their ticket to the Division semifinal via the best-of-three play-in round. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Jacob and Patrick start the show off by dissecting the report that the Chicago Wolves are planning to be without an NHL affiliate for the 2022-24 season. Patrick provides some history of the Wolves and the situation, and Jacob explains how they became incompatible as an affiliate partner with a lot of NHL teams. (Note: Patrick is speaking on behalf of himself with his specific views, not those of the AHL.)

- Dustin Wolf is our prospect of the week (again). The 21-year-old goaltender is putting up the best season by an AHL goalie from the past decade. Jacob pulls up some advanced stats to back up why.

- Jacob thinks the Milwaukee Admirals are dark horse Calder Cup favorites. Pat wonders if the teams' impending reinforcements — Phil Tomasino, Luke Evangelista, Kiefer Sherwood, Mark Jankowski — will gel with the teams' current personnel. He's seen it happen both ways, and it's not always a slam dunk that the most "stacked" team prevails.

- The Arizona Coyotes are the team of the week. Patrick points out that Arizona's AHL affiliate hasn't gone on a deep playoff run since 1996-97. He analyzes Coyotes prospects, such as Victor Soderstrom, Michael Kesselring, Vladislav Kolyachonok and Milos Kelemen.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Coachella Valley Firebirds assistant coach Jessica Campbell joined the show. Campbell became the first female assistant coach in AHL history this season. She discussed Coachella Valley's first year in the AHL, her experience working alongside Dan Bylsma and prospect Tye Kartye while also touching on why it's important that NHL teams construct their hockey ops departments with people from diverse backgrounds.

- Patrick explains how the AHL's Calder Cup playoff format is different than the Stanley Cup playoff format.

- The 2023 Calder Cup playoffs are taking shape. Patrick and Jacob analyze each team that would be battling it out in the best-of-three play-in series if the playoffs started today.

- Thomas Bordeleau is the prospect of the week. The 2020 second-round pick was just recalled by the Sharks yesterday — notching an assist against the Vegas Golden Knights Thursday night — after recording 41 points in 64 games this year. What's his trajectory?

- The Boston Bruins are the team of the week, with a look at the AHL's Providence Bruins. Yes, the Bruins' screw-ups at the draft are well documented, but they quietly have consistently hit on a handful of prospects lately.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Henderson Silver Knights forward Brendan Brisson joins the show to talk about the highs and lows of his first full pro season in the AHL, having a player agent as a father, playing for coach Manny Viveiros and more.

- Ty Kartye is the prospect of the week. The left winger for the Coachella Valley Firebirds is in his rookie pro year with 47 points in 60 games so far.

- Speaking of rookies, who votes for the rookie of the year in the AHL?

- The Minnesota Wild are the team of the week, with a focus on the Iowa Wild. Jacob spoke about Marco Rossi after writing a profile on him recently and had some nice words to say about Iowa coach Tim Army. But there are plenty more players to discuss on the team.

- And more, so check out the full episode.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Patrick expands on what he says is a shift in mentality among AHL coaches after the trade deadline. The training wheels are off as the quest for the Calder Cup is well underway. He spoke to some coaches and executives around the league and shared what was said.

- Jack Drury got recalled. After recording 13 points in his last 15 AHL games, Drury was recalled by Carolina in wake of the Andrei Svechnikov injury. Patrick and Jacob discuss Drury's NHL ceiling.

- Toronto Marlies forward Bobby McMann is the prospect of the week. He has 21 goals in 29 games and 18 in his past 17 games. Can you really be more red-hot than Bobby McMann is? The 26-year-old is yet another testament to the amount of depth Toronto has assembled via the NCAA undrafted free-agent market.

- The Philadelphia Flyers and AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms are the teams of the week. Patrick and Jacob discuss the development of Tyson Foerster, Elliot Desnoyers, Bobby Brink, Samuel Ersson and Olle Lycksell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert joins the show. Appert has coached the US National Development Program and has nearly 20 years of experience as a head coach and assistant at the NCAA level. He talked about the differences and similarities of coaching NHL prospects in the AHL and draft-eligible prospects. Appert also provided insight on two of Buffalo's recent first-round picks, Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen.

- Patrick and Jacob go over notable paper transactions while explaining what that term even means. 

- Contrary to their provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers will keep their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif. Patrick spoke to Oilers AGM Keith Gretzky and got some insight as to why that may be. 

- Luke Evangelista is the prospect of the week. The 2020 second-round pick has four points in three games with Nashville after recording 41 points in 49 AHL games this season.

- The New York Rangers are the team of the week. Can Ryan Martin bring his special sauce from his Detroit/Grand Rapids days to rejuvenate the player development on Broadway? They've struggled to develop their homegrown prospects, particularly forwards. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Patrick sat down with Hershey Bears VP of hockey operations Bryan Helmer. A veteran of over 1,100 AHL games as a player, two seasons as a coach, and the last seven seasons as an executive — Helmer had an interesting perspective on the NHL and AHL trade deadlines from all angles. 

- Prospect of the week: Ville Heinola, Winnipeg Jets. Heinola is arguably the best defenseman in the AHL, and the 22-year-old is a hot topic in the prospect world. Patrick and Jacob take a look at his development. 

- Could Karl Taylor become a head coach in Nashville? Fans don't seem to love John Hynes, and with Barry Trotz coming in, there could be changes. Do the Preds give their prospect whisperer the keys, or is that not even a possibility? 

- The Chicago Blackhawks are the team of the week, with analysis on Lukas Reichel, Alec Regula and Isaak Phillips. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Jacob chatted with Byron Bader of hockeyprospecting.com to discuss how his model projects some notable prospects currently treading in the AHL (Marco Rossi, Lukas Reichel, Aatu Raty and more, so be sure to check out the full episode).

- Jacob and Pat discussed Toronto Marlies forward Bobby McMann's hot streak, with 14 goals in his last 15 games.

- William Eklund is the prospect of the week. The 2021 first-round pick has recorded 25 points in his last 25 games after recording 16 points in his first 25 matches of the season

- The Pittsburgh Penguins are the team of the week. The cupboards are bare with the Baby Pens in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Nashville Predators recalled Phillip Tomasino on Monday. After a rookie season that saw him record 32 points in 76 games last season, Tomasino didn't make the Predators out of camp this season, and he had been with Milwaukee since the start of the season — recording 32 points in 38 AHL GP. What took so long for him to earn a recall?

- A way-too-early Calder Cup outlook. Who are the contenders in the Eastern and Western Conferences? Who are the sleepers? And why do AHL teams' Championship chances change so drastically after the NHL trade deadline?

- Georgii Merkulov is the prospect of the week. Merkulov, 22 signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent before the 2022-23 season. He has 35 points in 43 games with Providence (AHL).

- The New Jersey Devils are armed with a deep prospect pool, and there's a good chance they could unload some of their AHL prospects in a deadline deal.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Patrick discusses his experience covering the AHL All-Star Classic in Laval last weekend. He sheds light on league president Scott Howson's first state of the union, the electric crowd in Laval and the "first-class event" itself.

- Jacob suggests how to enhance the All-Star Game, as he and Patrick pondered the merits of a top prospects game in the AHL.

— The Montreal Canadians are our team of the week. Jacob and Patrick looked at some of the notable names with the Laval Rocket this year. Jesse Ylonen, one of the players mentioned, was recalled by Montreal today.

— The prospect of the week is the Calgary Wranglers' Dustin Wolf. The 21-year-old netminder has a .928 SP this year (second among goalies that have played at least 15 games played). Should the Flames call him up?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Part 2 of the Connor Carrick interview: Carrick dove into what it's like for a player at his stage of his career, touching on topics like free agency, mentoring young players and why he picked Boston.

- Alex Galchenyuk is in the AHL and he's trying to climb his way back up. Patrick spoke with Galchenyuk last week and provided some insight into the situation.

- Aatu Raty is the prospect of the week. What are the Vancouver and Abbotsford Canucks getting in the main return piece of the Bo Horvat trade?

- The St. Louis Blues are the team of the week. Things are about to get interesting with the Blues, who look primed to become sellers at the trade deadline.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- It's Part 1 of a conversation with Connor Carrick of the AHL's Providence Bruins. Carrick brings remarkable insight into how the media can improve the engagement and analysis of hockey. Does the NHL need its own version of The Last Dance on the NBA's Michael Jordan?

- Connor McMichael of the Hershey Bears is the prospect of the week. The 2019 first-round pick of the Washington Capitals was assigned to the Bears in November after spending last season in the NHL.

- The Columbus Blue Jackets are the team of the week, with a look at the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. Most of the prospects are called up to The Show due to injuries, so David Jiricek and Trey Fix-Wolansky are two players to watch for this squad.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- San Jose Sharks defenseman Nick Cicek joined the show to discuss his rapid rise up the pro hockey ladder. The 22-year-old from Winnipeg started last season on an AHL two-way deal, which he parlayed into an entry-level contract with the Sharks this past summer.

- Patrick spoke with Minnesota's 2021 first-round pick, goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. After recording a .894 save percentage in his first 10 AHL games with the Iowa Wild, he has since posted a .927 SP over his last nine appearances.

- Thomas Harley of the Texas Stars is the prospect of the week. The 2019 first-round pick has scored 20 points in 36 games while being deployed heavily at even strength and molding his utility on the penalty kill.

- The Winnipeg Jets and the AHL's Manitoba Moose are the teams of the week. Jacob went through five Jets prospects with promising potential.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- With the AHL all-star teams announced, Patrick and Jacob evaluated the players named to the North, Atlantic, Central and Pacific Division rosters.

- The Carolina Hurricanes are the team of the week, and we dove into raw, high-upside picks like Ryan Suzuki and safer depth options like Jack Drury.

- Ridly Greig of the Belleville Senators is the prospect of the week. Greig, a 2020 first-round pick, has 22 points in 23 games this season (11 of which have come in his last 8 games).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Six AHL players made it to the world juniors. How have they performed in their seasons up to this point?

- The prospect of the week is Laval Rocket defenseman Justin Barron. How's he played since being acquired by the Montreal Canadiens at last year's trade deadline?

- The Manitoba Moose have two intriguing goalie prospects in Arvid Holm and Oskari Salminen. They're nearly splitting the games, and neither of them are letting up.

- The Vancouver Canucks are the team of the week. Who are the most promising prospects playing for the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The Coachella Valley Firebirds have played 21 games this season, and none of them have been at home in Palm Desert. They'll finally get that chance this Sunday.

- Yaroslav Askarov is the AHL prospect of the week. What stood out most about his game?

- It's time to give an update on the stocks in the AHL. Who is trending upwards and who's falling?

- The Dallas Stars are the NHL team profiled this week.

- And more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Logan Shaw was named captain of the Toronto Marlies, so why not break down the prospects on the team and see who may get called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs?

- Speaking of call-ups, Lukas Reichel got the call to the Chicago Blackhawks. He played one game in The Show before being re-assigned to AHL Rockford.

- Luke Evangelista is the player to watch for the week. The right winger has 17 points in 21 games for the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL affiliate for the Nashville Predators.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob and Patrick also covered more AHL content:

- Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings is the prospect to watch. After starting the season in the NHL, he since has seven points in eight games for the AHL's Ontario Reign.

- Marco Rossi was re-assigned to the Iowa Wild on Monday and scored three points in his first game.

- They profile the Edmonton Oilers and their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, headlined by 21-year-old defenseman Philip Broberg.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- The NHL and CHL extended their transfer agreement last summer through June 30, 2029, multiple sources confirmed to The Hockey News. But exceptions allow for a player to get a two-week conditioning stint in the AHL if they are scratched at least five games in a row. The Seattle Kraken did this with Shane Wright, but what does the NHL/CHL transfer agreement mean in general for the AHL?

- Joel Hofer is the prospect of the week. The goalie for the St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds has a 2.49 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 12 games, posting a 4-6-4 record.

- The Colorado Avalanche are the team of the week. Who are the top prospects putting up the points for the AHL Colorado Eagles?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Calgary Wranglers goalie Dustin Wolf joins the show to talk about moving from Stockton to Calgary and his development in pursuit of an NHL job.

- Hendrix Lapierre is the prospect of the week. The 20-year-old center has 10 points in 12 games for the Hershey Bears.

- Defenseman Nick Cicek recently made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks after spending the past two seasons in the AHL.

- The Ottawa Senators are the team profile of the week. Who in Belleville looks the closest to reaching the NHL?

- And more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Logan Shaw joins the show to talk about his AHL player of the week honors and the Toronto Marlies.

- Simon Edvinsson is the prospect of the week with eight points in nine games for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

- Matthew Phillips highlights the Calgary Flames prospects on the AHL Wranglers.

-And more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Jack Drury impressed in his rookie pro season last year, with 52 points in 68 games for the Chicago Wolves in 2021-22. But this year, he's stuck with one goal in six games. Is there any cause for concern with his game?

- Prospect of the week: Lukas Reichel. The winger has 10 points in seven games for the Rockford IceHogs and averaged a point per game last year in the AHL. How close is he to a permanent NHL stay?

- Team of the week: Buffalo Sabres. Jacob Stoller and Patrick Williams talk about the Sabres prospects with some of the highest upsides on the Rochester Americans. Center Jiri Kulich and right winger Isak Rosen are two examples, both with seven points in eight games.

- Tampa Bay has found another diamond in the rough in Felix Robert. The 23-year-old undrafted forward signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning in July and has 11 points in eight games with the Syracuse Crunch.

- And more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Dan Bylsma joins the show right off the top to talk about his new job with the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the unique situation of helping start an AHL team from scratch.

- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ty Smith was re-assigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton despite playing his first two pro seasons in the NHL. Why?

- Prospect of the week: Kirill Marchenko of the Cleveland Monsters. The winger has seven points in six games (five games at the time of recording) during his first season in North America.

- NHL team profile of the week: Los Angeles Kings. How many promising prospects do they have, and who might be included in a trade if the Kings decide to pursue Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices