The American Hockey League has a younger look in the Eastern Conference this fall, and the change is showing up in the lineup cards. A revised NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement now permits certain 19-year-old first-round NHL picks from the Canadian Hockey League to begin their pro careers in the AHL rather than returning to junior, adding another layer of premium prospects to the league.
Why the AHL rookie class is stronger
- Under the previous arrangement, many drafted CHL players who were not yet eligible for the NHL had to go back to their junior clubs.
- The updated CBA opened an AHL route for 19-year-old CHL players chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft.
- Eastern Conference organizations are already using that option, while other young players have arrived from NCAA hockey and European professional leagues.
Defensemen making the jump
Kashawn Aitcheson, Hamilton
The New York Islanders’ 17th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is taking his first pro shifts after a dominant season with Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League. Aitcheson, 20, won the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s top defenseman and was named to both the OHL and CHL First All-Star teams. His 28 goals and 70 points led OHL blue-liners. He has one assist through four games with Hamilton.
Radim Mrtka, Rochester
Buffalo selected Mrtka ninth overall in 2025, and the defenseman is back in Rochester after an eight-game AHL audition last season. The Sabres subsequently returned him to Seattle of the WHL, where he posted one goal and 33 assists in 43 games. The 20-year-old has no points in four games for Rochester so far, but is expected to receive a steadier turn in the lineup this season.
Grand Rapids has a crowded young bench
Detroit’s AHL club has three notable young additions, including a goalie expected to share the crease and two forwards producing early.
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Trey Augustine: The 21-year-old goaltender signed with Detroit on March 31, 2026, after three years at Michigan State. A 2023 second-round selection, 41st overall, Augustine was a Hobey Baker Award finalist last season after going 24-9-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts. He was the Big Ten’s top goaltender and a First All-Star Team choice. In Grand Rapids, he is expected to split time with Michal Postava. Augustine is 0-1-1 in two appearances, with a 3.90 GAA and .857 save percentage.
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Carter Bear: Detroit took Bear 13th overall in 2025. The 19-year-old forward arrived after scoring 36 goals and 77 points for Everett, helping the WHL club reach the Memorial Cup last spring. Bear has a goal and an assist in his first three AHL games.
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Jesse Kiiskinen: The 21-year-old came over with more pro mileage than most rookies. Nashville drafted him 68th overall in 2023 before Detroit acquired him on June 25, 2024. He played four seasons in Finland’s Liiga, including a 17-goal, 28-point campaign in 54 games for HPK last season. Kiiskinen broke loose with three goals and an assist in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Chicago and has five goals and seven points in five games.
Hartford’s trade arrivals find their footing
Cole Beaudoin
Beaudoin has already been called on by the Rangers, skating four NHL games without a point. He returned to Hartford on Wednesday after recording an assist in the Wolf Pack’s 4-1 loss to Lehigh Valley.
The 20-year-old opened his AHL season in style, registering a goal and two assists in Hartford’s 5-2 win at Lehigh Valley on Oct. 3. He now has one goal and five assists in six AHL games.
New York acquired Beaudoin, defenseman Sean Durzi and a 2027 third-round pick from Utah in the deal that sent Vincent Trocheck to the Mammoth. Utah had chosen Beaudoin 24th overall in 2024 after his four-season OHL run with Barrie, including one year as captain.
Liam Greentree
Greentree joined the Rangers organization in the Feb. 4 trade that sent Artemi Panarin to Los Angeles. The Kings had made the 20-year-old forward the 26th selection of the 2024 draft.
After four OHL seasons with Windsor, Greentree finished last year with 38 goals, 36 assists and 74 points in 52 games. His first five outings for Hartford have produced two goals and two assists.
Islanders prospects begin in Hamilton
Cole Eiserman is another first-round forward getting his introduction to the pro game. The Islanders selected him 20th overall in 2024, and he signed on March 18 after two seasons at Boston University.
Eiserman had two goals and seven assists in 12 games with Bridgeport, then the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, late last season. The 20-year-old has one goal and two assists in four games with Hamilton.
Zonnon picks up where his playoff run ended
Bill Zonnon already gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a glimpse of his AHL readiness during last spring’s Calder Cup Playoffs. The 20-year-old had four goals and three assists in 11 postseason games as the Penguins reached the Eastern Conference Final.
Pittsburgh selected Zonnon 22nd overall in the 2025 draft. After four seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League with Rouyn-Noranda and Blainville-Boisbrand, he has opened this AHL campaign with three goals and two assists in four games.
The early returns from this group are not just about points. The league is receiving more first-round skill, NCAA standouts and European-trained players at the same time, making the AHL a sharper proving ground for the next NHL call-up.
