AHL Unveils 2025‑26 Top Prospects Team
The American Hockey League revealed its 2025‑26 Top Prospects Team, a six‑player lineup that spotlights the league’s most promising talent heading into the next NHL draft cycle.
Forwards Lighting the Scoreboard
Konsta Helenius, a teenage forward for the Rochester Americans, topped his club with 63 points in 63 games and set a franchise record for scoring by a teenager. Ilya Protas, skating for the Hershey Bears, tied for sixth in the AHL with 66 points and earned the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the league’s outstanding rookie.
Defensive Powerhouses
Adam Engström, a defenseman with the Laval Rocket, led all AHL blueliners with five game‑winning goals during the season. Carter Yakemchuk, a rookie defenseman for the Belleville Senators, contributed 40 points in 54 AHL appearances, showcasing a blend of offensive flair and defensive reliability.
Goal‑Minding the Future
Sergei Murashov, the Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins’ netminder, posted a sub‑2.80 goals‑against average and a save percentage that ranked third across the league, underscoring his readiness for an NHL call‑up.
The recognition extends beyond individual statistics, reflecting the growing depth of talent nurtured by the AHL and its affiliates. Teams from Massachusetts to Sweden, from Alberta to the Mid‑Atlantic, contribute to a global pipeline that the NHL monitors closely. As the league looks ahead, these prospects represent the next wave of skill, speed, and character that will shape the professional game.