With the NHL Draft coming up this Friday, all eyes will be focused on Sunrise, Florida, where teams will be aiming to select the backbone of their franchises for years to come. And while these young prospects’ journeys may start with their name being called on Draft Night, for many that journey will make its way through the AHL.
The 2014-15 season offered a unique chance for several young players on the Checkers. The makeup of the roster forced many first-year skaters into bigger roles and an amount of ice time that is not normally reserved for rookies.
Last season was a big one for Carolina prospects, as seven Checkers players made their NHL debuts. Those call ups included some players who found their scoring touch a few years into their AHL careers, like Brody Sutter and Justin Shugg, as well as players getting late season looks, like Danny Biega and Keegan Lowe.
