The American Hockey League season is officially upon us, and the NHL affiliates aim to reclaim their spot as the best development system in North America. With unique and perhaps unpopular league rules, including a veteran cap and required age minimum, the AHL offers an interesting balance between competitive and developmental rosters.
However, each year, the league receives a healthy injection of 20-year-olds, typically considered high-pedigreed prospects within their respective systems. This year is no different. Here at Mckeens, we will look at a few rookie skaters to watch this year within each Division.
First up: the Pacific Division.
Jagger Firkus, RW, Coachella Valley Firebirds
Seattle Kraken's 2022 second-round draft pick, Jagger Firkus, is coming off an explosive final season in the WHL and is now ready to take that firepower to the professional ranks. The 2023-24 season was a banner year for the undersized winger, as he racked up an exhausting list of accolades, including:
- CHL Player of the Year
- CHL Top Scorer Award (126 points)
- WHL (East) First All-Star Team
- WHL Champion
- Bobby Clarke Trophy (Most Points in WHL)
- Four Broncos Trophy (WHL Player of the Year)
- WHL Playoffs Most Points (32 points)
Firkus led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 126 points, wrapping up a 310-point (144 goals, 166 assists) junior career across 230 games, all with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Despite his smaller size at 5-foot-11, Firkus continues to find new creative ways to light up the scoreboard with his incredible release and fluid offensive creativity.
Now in his third-year post-draft, he will look to translate that dynamic scoring ability to the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, who will aim to make an appearance in the Calder Cup finals for a third consecutive season.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Abbotsford Canucks
After a challenging draft-plus-one year that was riddled with health setbacks, Jonathan Lekkerimäki burst onto the scene in 2023-24 with an incredible rookie performance in the SHL. He led all SHL rookies with 19 goals and led that same field, along with his team, with 31 points. His dominant offensive play extended to the World Juniors, where he led the tournament in goals (7) and won the MVP award, contributing to Sweden's Silver Medal on home soil.
Lekkerimäki will now look to bring his scoring prowess to the Abbotsford Canucks, where he will be a central figure on the team's offence. Known for his elite-level release from the perimeter, he will be tasked with handling all of Abbotsford’s heavy lifting in the offensive zone, grabbing the keys to the team’s top-line minutes while being a key piece on the power play. Assuming a strong start doesn’t earn him an NHL call-up sooner rather than later, he’ll be a must-see prospect within this Pacific Division.
Luca Cagnoni, LD, San Jose Barracuda
Luca Cagnoni’s ability to produce offensively as a defenceman has been nothing short of impressive. After a stellar 2023-24 season that saw him notch 90 points with the Portland Winterhawks, he says goodbye to a near-point-per-game WHL career with 193 points in 205 games. Now set to embark on his pro career with the San Jose Barracuda, Cagnoni will focus on adapting his high-octane offensive game to the AHL level as a go-to option in all necessary scoring situations.
Standing at just 5-foot-9, Cagnoni's size continues to raise questions about his ability to handle professional hockey's physical demands. However, as one of the more underrated and dynamic offensive defenders within the prospect circuit, his pedigree continues to hold merit as a future NHL hopeful and is certainly worth keeping an eye on as he looks to make his mark in the Pacific Division.
Matt Savoie, C, Bakersfield Condors
The Edmonton Oilers are pushing for a Stanley Cup, but that pursuit has left their farm system lacking in young offensive talent—until they traded for Matt Savoie. The very moment the deal was finalized, the 20-year-old inherited the responsibility as the organization’s top prospect and will immediately be one of the Bakersfield Condors' primary offensive weapons.
Savoie, fresh off a fruitful WHL career, recording 263 points in just 183 WHL games, has already shown he can handle professional play. Although a small sample size, he already posted five points (two goals, three assists) in a six-game AHL stint with the Rochester Americans last season.
Though his smaller frame at 5-foot-9 might pose challenges as he levels up through the pro ranks, his speed and creativity should allow him to thrive at the AHL level, making him one of the most exciting players to watch not only in Bakersfield but the entire AHL, this season.
Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Calgary Wranglers
It’s not every day that an NHL organization trades one of their newly minted prospects on the verge of flirting with 100 points as an OHL defenceman. Yet, that’s exactly what the Canucks did, sending Hunter Brzustewicz to the Calgary Flames organizations at last year’s NHL deadline in exchange for a rental asset. With that in his rearview, pushing for an NHL spot in Alberta is on the menu, and although he has yet to play a game at the pro level, it doesn’t feel too far away.
After turning heads during his first NHL preseason with Calgary, Brzustewicz looked strong enough to battle for a spot on the Flames' roster, eventually falling just short. Now that reality has set, Brzustewicz will naturally kick off his pro career deployed on the Wranglers’ defensive corps but will do so as the team’s top right-handed option.
His poised, polished two-way game is defined by his high hockey IQ, excellent edgework, and smooth transitions. He may not play at the fastest pace, but his ability to dictate play, quarterback the power play, and ability to consistently make smart decisions has made him a key addition to the Wranglers.
Now, following a year in which he finished second among OHL defenders in scoring with a whopping 92 points, he’ll be looking to show why he should have been taken well above his eventual 75th overall landing spot.
Filip Bystedt, C, San Jose Barracuda
Filip Bystedt may not garner as much attention as some of his fellow Sharks’ prospects. Still, he has quietly been developing into an impressive two-way player and an important piece to this system’s future while overseas. Joining the Barracuda late in the 2023-24 season, Bystedt kicked the door down immediately, commanding the respect of Sharks fans, scoring seven points (four goals, three assists) in eight games, including a standout three-point debut.
The 2022 first-round pick carries a unique combination of size (6-foot-4) and skill, which he compliments with an elegant skating stride and ability to play two-way hockey. While fulfilling a top-line role at the NHL level may not be in the cards, he feels destined to play meaningful middle-six minutes for the Sharks somewhere down the road.
For now, he brings an exciting mix of responsible yet skilled game to the Barracuda and should formulate part of this team’s top-six forward group as they look to improve on their spot in the basement of the Pacific Division from last year.