Early recall gives chances a chance on the NHL Stage | Geahl.com

Patrick WilliamsTheahl.com features a writer

Nothing needs to be perfect for an assignment in the AHL coming out of training camp.

Much of the discussion and debate will take place when a candidate for the NHL job is sent to the AHL instead when the rosters are submitted at night in October. But the age-old advice from NHL managers and coaches — go to the AHL, take care of business and practice — is right. Several of the top players in the first month of the AHL regular season have since overcome that disappointment, dug in, and returned to the NHL.

Let’s break down some of those players who have created opportunities for themselves in the NHL.

Matěj Blümel, Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
After a League-leading 39-Goal season with the Texas Stars last season, Blümel had a long list of Free Agency. He ended up choosing Boston, signing a one-year deal on the opening day of free agency.

and Marco Sturm Taking over the head coach in Boston and the many changes surrounding the team after two decades as a Stanley Cup contender, Blümel’s decision made a lot of sense. Boston’s roster was full of opportunities, and the 25-year-old joined the organization after a busy season. Boston has a long history of giving its senior players in Providence the opportunity to get Ice time with an NHL Club.

It didn’t work out as planned. Boston instead sent Blumeli to Providence before the start of the regular season. But injuries struck, as they often do, and the NHL CLUB needed reinforcements. Fortunately for Blümel, he had established himself as one of the top memories of the organization. Completing to a 12-2-0-0 start, Blümel’s 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 13 games ranks him third on the team in scoring.

On Monday morning, the call came to Blümel, who had recorded a point in his last four games before that promotion. He made his Boston debut and played 13:10 in a home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. With Boston heading to the west coast this week, more playing time is likely.

Braeden Bowman, Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights)
Entered as a top ager in the Ontario Hockey League, the tower picked up a one-year AHL contract offer from the Silver Knights in July 2024.

While Henderson missed the Kender Cuff Plowoffs his season, Bowman made the most of his chances last season and ended up tied for second on the team with 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games. That started a good run of the season. His seven goals in 12 games are even for a rookie Tuomas ronen Because Henderson took the lead, and he had a pair from two goals for the silver knights.

The Golden Knights called up Bowman last week, and he quickly got a lot of work. He collected his first NHL goal this past Saturday night in St. Louis, and at 19:05 The following night in Minnesota they placed fourth among the group’s team forward.

Jared Davidson, Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)
The fifth-round pick won’t get an easy ride to a full-time NHL career.

That was not the case for Davidson, who had passed his first two years of NHL draft eligibility before the Canadiens signed him for a fifth season, using his career with the Heattebirds to begin earning a job in 2023-24. After being limited to 38 AHL games as a rookie, he broke away with a 24-game effort last season with the Rockets. He hasn’t slowed down, even if his nine goals in 13 games put him second in the AHL.

The program’s call to the NHL came last Friday when the Canadiens brought him to Laval. And the NHL Debut came in one of the bright spots: Saturday night in Montreal in six Bruins starts.

Fixed Hunt, Calgary Wranglers (Calgary Flames)
Being a top producer at the AHL level and serving as a simple plug-and-play recall option for a parent NHL team would be a reliable niche to fill.

Hunting is attended but it forms a solid work that does that. After a 58-goal campaign during whintle’s 2015-16 season, the forward earned an opportunity with the Florida Panthers organization as a late signing that season. He turned around the following season, and by 2017-18 he had already found time to remember the NHL. He ended up playing 63 regular season games for the Panthers while also producing another 23 goal season in the AHL.

From there it was to the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Toronto Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs for shortstops. Finally it was March 2023 the excavation sent him to the flames that supported the continuous landing area.

A strong option to remember the flames, he has been able to drive offensive and molded productions. After 16 goals in 49 games last season for the Banglers, he reached 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in his first 16 ahl games this season to tie for first goals.

His return to the NHL team came Monday morning ahead of Tuesday’s road game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sergey Murashov, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Written down in many Prevations predictions, Pittsburgh has found a strong edge 10-5-4 to start sitting three points in the pocket in the Eastern Conference of the NHL.

After a solid 2024-25 campaign with Wilkes-Barre / Screen and the ECHL’s Wheel Dealers, Murashov went to the Pittsburgh camp and did something else. Pittsburgh management opted to send the 21-year-old back to the AHL for other jobs. But Murashov, the 2022 fourth-round pick, could force his charge through Pittsburgh sooner than expected. He went to Wilkes-Barre / Screen and ended up being named the Ahl GoalTender of the month in October after finishing with a 1.68 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.

When Tristan Jarry Due to the injury, Pittsburg called up Murashov on November 4. He made his NHL decision against the Los Angeles Kings on November 9 and handled it well. The NHL team in Stockholm for the NHL Global Series this past weekend, he returned to the Net on Sunday and gave 22 outings – he gave a shutout in Nashville, 4-0. Among the acquisitions of the offseason Artūrs ŠilovsJack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the Cup Plowoffs last season with the Abbotsford Canucks, and Murashov, Pittsburgh has a surprising situation of guard.

Alex Steeves, Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
Like Blümel, Steeves had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign with the Toronto Marlies and is likely to get a new opportunity. He also signed with Boston as free agency opened.

And like Blümel, he found himself back in the AHL. But he has been underperforming and has produced eight points (three goals, five assists) in his opening nine games. That the NHL calls until November 8 for the 25-year-old. That night he made his Boston debut at the Scotiabank Arena against Toronto, his first NHL organization. In a rematch with the Boston Celtics on November 11, he scored his first goal in the win.

He’s starting to find his way into the Sturm’s lineup, averaging a career-high 12:31 of ice time in five games, and has also gotten time on the penalty kill for Boston.

Riley Tufte, Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
Tufte completes the trio of P-Bruins forwards now in Boston.

Unlike Blümel and Steeves, this is Tufte’s second year in the Boston organization. The 27-year-old, a first-round pick by the Dallas Stars back in 2016, has grown into a proven prospect over the past three seasons. Now Tufte, who is 6-foot-6 and 233 pounds, may find another level. His eight goals in 13 games are tied for third in the AHL, and his 16 points are also tied for third in the league.

He joined Blümel on Monday and remembered and provided Boston’s only goal in the loss to Carolina while skating 15:13.

In the American Hockey League Beat twenty and twenty, Theahl.com Features Writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and flosports and is a regular contributor to the network. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding coverage in the league in 2016.