Springfield, Massachusetts … As the National Hockey League kicks off its 2025-26 season, the NHL is proud to have 596 graduates The NHL’s 32 active opening day rosters represent more than 82% of the total number of players at the start of the NHL season.
As the new season begins, many notable AHL players from last year have made the switch to the NHL, including 2025 AHL All-Stars Yaroslav Askarov (San Jose), Sam Colangelo (Anaheim), Devon Cooley (Calgary), Jeremy Davis (Las Vegas), Joakim Kemer (Nashville), Ole Lexel (Ottawa), Logan Melux (St. Louis), Simon Nemec (New Jersey), Jani Niemann (Seattle) and Matt Savoy (Edmonton).
Six members of the 2025 Calder Cup champion Abbotsford Canucks will begin the NHL season, including Ashdeep Baines, Linus Carlson, Jonathan Lekrimaki and Atul Rati With parent team Vancouver Canucks; Sammy Bryce With the Toronto Maple Leafs; and Jack Butterfield Trophy winner Artus Silovs vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Twenty-one of the NHL’s 32 head coaches served as AHL bench bosses early in their careers. Marco Sturm After three seasons at the helm of the AHL’s Ontario Reign, he took over as the backup for the Boston Bruins and Jeff Blashill He took charge of the Chicago Blackhawks and became the sixth active NHL head coach to win the Calder Trophy.
NHL stars honing their craft in the American Hockey League include reigning Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy champions Connor Helleback Winnipeg Jets; Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning; three-time Stanley Cup champions Carter Verhaeg Florida Panthers; and top 10 scorers for 2024-25 season Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak and Kyle Connor. last season, There are 891 AHL alumni in total Played in the National Hockey League – 87.0% of all NHL players – including 330 Someone who skated in two leagues last year alone.
In operation since 1936, the AHL is the top developmental league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and officials of the National Hockey League and its 32 teams. AHL Season 90 begins on Friday, October 10, with every game broadcast live online AHLTV on FloHockey.
