whats the background of AHL players-do they come from HS?NCAA?Jrs.? why arent the really good ones in the NHL?

Answer 1

allot of this players in the AHL have been drafted and not ready to jump to the NHL. most come from the Junior leagues in Canada and some from the colleges in the US and allot come from overseas. when they get drafted by a team it doesn't matter so much on the points they get through there year in the farm league they just need to learn the teams system then they get the call up when they are ready and sometimes when there are injuries. some players do make the team there first year and some don't.

Answer 2

NCAA is becoming more common, but the majority come from junior hockey leagues, the OHL (Ontario), WHL, QMJHL etc. (some also come from international leagues) These are all leagues for teenagers. The teens, if they are good enough, are then drafted by NHL teams, or, if not drafted, may be signed directly by AHL teams. Superstar calibre players may jump directly from junior to the NHL (think crosby), very good prospects probably spend a year or two in the AHL. Long shots are more likely in the ECHL or lower, and hoping to crack the AHL. I'd say there's a slight differance for goalies, where a promising young goalie might still be sent to the ECHL to get playing time.

The best young AHL players may well end up in the NHL. The reasons they haven't may be that they need experience, or that they have trouble keeping up with the NHL game, perhaps do to size (less true now) or speed (still quite true). A small, good stickhandler with below par skating can pot some goals in the AHL, but be to big of a liability against faster NHL players to spend much time there.

Answer 3

They are brought in and start to be brought up to speed. The AHL is faster then some of the leagues, as they are teh better/best players carrying on. Actually alot of the best are brought up when they are ready, or seen as ready. Most teams though have veterns who have already worked their way up to the NHL and aren't ready to retire or be demoted. The AHL players don't tend to be quite good enough to make it up into the NHL or quite good enough to replace the vetern. For the record the AHL isn't the only minor league. You also have things like the West Coast Hockey League(WCHL) or at least I think that is their name. The AHL is mostly the Eastern Confrence's minor league. Anyway though when you have young teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins you actually see alot of the younger ones that were great in the AHL making it into the NHL. Also some make an impact but most don't hear who they are. Best example ask a Pens fan about Ouellet. Ask them because alot of others wouldn't know who he was, but he was brought up from Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton Penguins(the baby Pens) last season. He is tied on the team for third on Goals(5) and points(10).

Answer 4

They come from all over the world and are placed in AHL wich are NHL minor leagues,for training and watching to see if their NHL ready.Lots of players you think are good in the AHL aren't so when they get to the NHL.

Answer 5

Junior players and players that just cant crack the NHL play in this league to improve their game, get the experience or just keep in shape. They come from all over. Junior, NCAA and etc..
Guys like Wade Flaherty ( Manitoba goalie/ Vancouver ) have been brought up and sent down so many times i doubt he will ever play in the NHL. Guys like MA Fleury used it to improve and polish his game. Now he is the everyday started for Pittsburgh.
Me, i would be just as happy playing in the A as the NHL.

Answer 6

Players come up from many places, one of the most notable is the ECHL. Many ECHL teams have contracts with NHL teams.

Therefore a player would move up somthing like this:
ECHL -> AHL -> NHL

Answer 7

You crawl before you walk and these players come from all over.