The NHL Draft is a big event for a team. It’s often an integral part of how they build the future core of their squad, with sights set on success down the road. It is also unique in the fact that the players selected are not usually immediately a part of the team. Exceptions aside, many picks end up returning to the respective junior clubs to continue their development, often not joining the team that selected them for a couple of years.
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.
