I'm a little more optimistic than PMM (or I have a lower standard for 'impact player'). I'm hopeful that both Baertschi and Poirier will turn out to be top 6 forwards in the NHL. Ortio has starter potential and I think that this is the last season he will ever see the AHL. I believe that Wotherspoon will be a shutdown defenseman in the NHL, absolutely love his game.
Arnold seems like a guy who will be a bottom 6 presence for a while. Ferland turning into an impact guy would be exciting, but I just haven't seen enough yet to expect it. Culkin is impressing at a young age and after a few years of seasoning I could see him sticking somewhere.
Lastly, I've moved Wolf up purely on the basis of reviews of him by Huska. Talking about how he adjusted to the north american game relatively quickly and how his attitude and presence mean a lot to the team, I think he'll earn a few looks in the NHL.
NHL Impact Players:
- Emile Poirier
- Sven Baertschi
- Joni Ortio
- Tyler Wotherspoon
NHL Support Players:
- Michael Ferland
- Bill Arnold
- Ryan Culkin
NHL Fringe Players:
- Corban Knight
- Max Reinhart
- Patrick Sieloff
- Brett Kulak
- Devin Setoguchi
- David Wolf
AHL Career Players:
- Ben Hanowski
- Garnet Hathaway
- Bryce Van Brabant
- Kenny Agostino
- Mark Cundari
- Matthew Tousignant
- John Ramage
- Nolan Yonkman
- Sena Acolatse
- Brad Thiessen
- Turner Elson
AHL Fringe Players:
- Taylor Vause
- Dustin Stevenson
- Trevor Gillies
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