AHL notebook: Top teams in league led by standout NHL prospects

Development and winning can coexist in the American Hockey League.

Some of the top prospects in NHL organizations have been able to develop in winning environments with the midpoint of the 2021-22 AHL season approaching.
Here is a look at the top five teams (by point percentage) in the AHL, and their prospects who are making an impact:

Chicago (Carolina Hurricanes)

The Hurricanes continue to churn out prospects and continue to succeed at the AHL level. Carolina's AHL affiliate in Charlotte won the Calder Cup in 2019. This season, their new affiliate in Chicago leads the league with a .800 points percentage (23-5-1-1).
Top goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi hase been out of the Chicago lineup with an injury since Dec. 17, but the 22-year-old has excelled in his first season in North America. Selected by Carolina in the fourth round (No. 104) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Makiniemi (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) has gone 11-2-1 with a 2.06 goals-against average (third in the AHL) and .922 save percentage (tied for eighth) in 14 games.
Forward Jack Drury (6-0, 180) was selected by the Hurricanes in the second round (No. 42) of the 2018 NHL Draft. After two seasons at Harvard University, Drury played last season with Vaxjo of the Swedish Hockey League. This season, the 21-year-old has scored 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 27 games, fourth on Chicago.

Utica (New Jersey Devils)

In the first season of a new affiliation with New Jersey, Utica set an AHL record with 13 consecutive wins to start the season. At 19-4-3-0 they are second in points percentage (.788), and prospects have led the way during the hot start.
Reilly Walsh has blossomed in his second pro season and the 22-year-old is tied for fifth among AHL defensemen with 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) through 26 games. Walsh (6-0, 185) was selected by New Jersey in the third round (No. 81) of the 2017 draft.
Forward Alexander Holtz, the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, continues to make his adjustment to North American Hockey. The 19-year-old (6-0, 195) has scored 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 12 games, splitting his time between Utica and New Jersey.

Stockton (Calgary Flames)

Stockton, which leads the Pacific Division with a 21-6-2-1 record (.750) has relied on a mix of veterans and prospects.
Forward Jakob Pelletier continues his dominant season with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 31 games, tops among AHL rookie scorers. The Flames took the 20-year-old (5-10, 180) with the No. 26 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Goalie Dustin Wolf is looking like a steal from that same draft. The 20-year-old (6-0, 170) was selected by Calgary in the seventh round (No. 214). The rookie ranks second among AHL goalies with a .931 save percentage and fourth with a 2.07 GAA. He is 16-2-2 in 20 games and leads the league in victories.

Ontario (Los Angeles Kings)

One of the top farm systems in the NHL is doing more than producing prospects for the Kings. Ontario is 16-6-3-1 (.692) for second in the Pacific and fourth in the AHL.
Quinton Byfield had the start to his second pro season delayed by a fractured ankle, but he is making up for lost time. The 19-year-old forward (6-4, 215), selected by the Kings with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, has scored four points (three goals, one assist) in eight games with Ontario and has one assist in six games with Los Angeles.
Samuel Fagemo was taken by the Kings in the second round (No. 50) of the 2019 draft. The 21-year-old forward (6-0, 190) has scored 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 26 games after scoring 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 32 games last season as an AHL rookie.
Gabriel Vilardi has scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 14 games with Ontario. In 54 games with the Kings last season, the 22-year-old center (6-3, 200) scored 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists). He was the No. 11 pick in the 2017 draft.

Manitoba (Winnipeg Jets)

The Jets have long had an emphasis on a draft-and-develop philosophy. That approach continues with first-year coach Mark Morrison, who has guided Manitoba to a mark of 19-9-1-1 (.667).
Cole Perfetti has been recalled to Winnipeg, but the 20-year-old center (5-10, 185) has scored 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 AHL games this season. He was selected by the Jets with the No. 10 pick in the 2020 draft.
Manitoba has a strong group of young defensemen as well. Two of them recently were promoted to Winnipeg as well.
Ville Heinola (5-11, 181), the No. 20 pick in the 2019 draft, has scored 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 24 games with Manitoba. The 20-year-old has scored five points (one goal, four assists) in 13 NHL games. Dylan Samberg (6-4, 216), a second-round pick (No. 43) in the 2017 draft, had five assists in 16 games for Manitoba. He has yet to make his NHL debut.