Best AHL forwards with more than 100 AHL GP that were successful in NHL?

[Czechboy]

I have this theory that there is such a thing as too much AHL. At some point you just become a really good AHL player and then end up in Europe.

Since we are in training camp and lots of 'send him back to Jr' or 'send him back to the AHL until he proves himself' will be coming up.

It is a very thinline in development. Rushing is bad but so is over ripening.

So here is the challenge!

Name me some good to great NHL forwards (not D and G, totally different rules) that played over 100 AHL games.

I'll start:

Tomas Plekanec played over 200 AHL games and played over 1000 NHL games and had a very good career.

As someone that doesn't qualify... David Krejci played 94 AHL games before a very good NHL career. 6 games shy. I think it will be a very short list of undrafted and undersized players. 20 at absolute most.
I'll post the answers here from below

Jason Spezza is a good example BUT that was AHL due to a lockout!

Yannic Perrault is a perfect answer

Drake Batherson (if he keeps it up) is a great answer

Mike Hoffman!

Alex Burrows has entered the talk

Danny Briere!

Demitra! (and it sucks that has EP page has him as Yaroslav.. change that to a Slovak flag!)

Andrew Brunette (nice find!)

Gustav Nyqvist!

Patrik Elias!

Yanni Gourde

Ryan Reaves (for the GP but nothing else.lol)

Nazem Kadri (really surprised by this one)

Joel Ward

Brad Marchand

Click to read more...

 

[Golden_Jet]

Spezza
Marchand

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Spezza

"Hard mode" of this would be to disqualify players who played in the A during a lockout

Drake Batherson is one - 103 games played, 116 pts

Nick Paul is another one from Ottawa. Mike Hoffman, too... he played during a lockout but pretty sure he would have hit 100 AHL games anyways.

I thought Mark Stone did, too, but he only hit 91 games (98 if you count playoffs). He did make me think of Ryan Dzingel, who while a marginal NHLer for the most part had a pretty successful career and I am sure played well over 100 AHL games. JG Pageau is another one.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Yanic Perreault

Yanic Perreault - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Yanic Perreault, 1971-04-04 Sherbrooke, QC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the undefined with Chicago Blackhawks. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

How about the ultimate....

ECHL- 134 games
AHL- 107 games
then finally the NHL playing 913 games with 85 playoff games....

Alex Burrows

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Briere, Brunet, Demitra
There's going to be lots depending on your definition of 'successful'

 

[wetcoast]

I know that you said forward but posting Larry Robinson anyways here

1971-72	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL	74	10	14	24	54		15	2	10	12	31
1972-73	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL	38	6	33	39	33		--	--	--	--	--

As for forwards this guy had a pretty good career

1997-98	Saint John Flames	AHL	25	15	11	26	20	3	20	5	15	20	16
1997-98	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL	56	16	34	50	24	-1	--	--	--	--	--
1998-99	Calgary Flames	NHL	13	1	1	2	10	2	--	--	--	--	--
1998-99	Saint John Flames	AHL	53	28	34	62	30	-2	7	4	4	8	2
1999-00	Calgary Flames	NHL	56	3	15	18	22	-5	--	--	--	--	--
1999-00	Saint John Flames	AHL	17	15	11	26	14	5	--	--	--	--	--

To the OP and too much AHL theory, it's not really a thing as each players development and their respective team situation are always different so if Kulich spends some more time in the AHL it won't kill him.

 

[Czechboy]

"Hard mode" of this would be to disqualify players who played in the A during a lockout

Drake Batherson is one - 103 games played, 116 pts

Nick Paul is another one from Ottawa. Mike Hoffman, too... he played during a lockout but pretty sure he would have hit 100 AHL games anyways.

I thought Mark Stone did, too, but he only hit 91 games (98 if you count playoffs). He did make me think of Ryan Dzingel, who while a marginal NHLer for the most part had a pretty successful career and I am sure played well over 100 AHL games. JG Pageau is another one.

These are great answers... thank you.

I'm 50-50 on Nick Paul. He's near 30 and has less than 150 NHL points (I know his game is more complex than that)

He's definitely a story of perseverance and success? Maybe I'm sleeping on him?

 

[wetcoast]

Joe Mullen also played in the IHL (teams those days had their minor league teams spread over the AHL and IHL) and it didn't hurt him.

1979-80	Salt Lake Golden Eagles	CHL	75	40	32	72	21		13	9	11	20	0
1979-80	St. Louis Blues	NHL	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	0	0	0	0
1980-81	Salt Lake Golden Eagles	CHL	80	59	58	117	8		17	11	9	20	0
1981-82	Salt Lake Golden Eagles	CHL	27	21	27	48	12		--	--	--	--	--

 

[Nico Hischier]

David Clarkson

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Gustav Nyquist

 

[EXTRAS]

Yanni Gourde
38 ECHL games
298 AHL games

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Patrick Elias

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

While not known for points obviously, Ryan Reaves will most likely hit 900 games this year after 214 AHL games.

 

[Czechboy]

Briere, Brunet, Demitra
There's going to be lots depending on your definition of 'successful'

Those guys were all successful by GP or points.

David Clarkson

I'm 50-50 - 200 nhl points and retired? 570 games is impressive. I'll him.lol

 

[Boonk]

Carter Verhaeghe is a recent one. Better goal scorer at the NHL level too.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Nazem Kadri

 

[Golden_Jet]

Lots of names that don’t fit the good to great players

 

[Nico Hischier]

Those guys were all successful by GP or points.

I'm 50-50 - 200 nhl points and retired? 570 games is impressive. I'll him.lol

Define successful… he signed a very big contract in the nhl… I’d say that’s successful

 

[Czechboy]

I know that you said forward but posting Larry Robinson anyways here

1971-72	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL	74	10	14	24	54		15	2	10	12	31
1972-73	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL	38	6	33	39	33		--	--	--	--	--

As for forwards this guy had a pretty good career

1997-98	Saint John Flames	AHL	25	15	11	26	20	3	20	5	15	20	16
1997-98	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL	56	16	34	50	24	-1	--	--	--	--	--
1998-99	Calgary Flames	NHL	13	1	1	2	10	2	--	--	--	--	--
1998-99	Saint John Flames	AHL	53	28	34	62	30	-2	7	4	4	8	2
1999-00	Calgary Flames	NHL	56	3	15	18	22	-5	--	--	--	--	--
1999-00	Saint John Flames	AHL	17	15	11	26	14	5	--	--	--	--	--

To the OP and too much AHL theory, it's not really a thing as each players development and their respective team situation are always different so if Kulich spends some more time in the AHL it won't kill him.

Lots of great D and G stories. In fact, I'd consider it normal for a goalie to have over 100 AHL games played before even sniffing the NHL. D too! Very rare to be drafted and step in right away and be successful. AHL is a tremendous league for developing goalies and D - I'd argue most go through the AHL to be honest.

Not about Kulich at all.. I posted this a few years ago and couldn't find it.lol So I just wanted to revisit the answers. Sunday coffee!

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

These are great answers... thank you.

I'm 50-50 on Nick Paul. He's near 30 and has less than 150 NHL points (I know his game is more complex than that)

He's definitely a story of perseverance and success? Maybe I'm sleeping on him?

Paul was a late bloomer/project but I am confident he will have a long and accomplished career. I would certainly rate him above Dzingel and wouldnt be surprised if he accomplishes more than Hoffman when all is said and done.


Others since 2005-2006
- Brad Marchand
- JT Miller
- Nazem Kadri
- Jonathan Marchessault
- Brandon Montour
- Gus Nyqvist
- Kevin Fiala
- Tomas Tatar
- Brian Boyle
- Clarke MacArthur
- Kyle Palmieri
- Kris Versteeg
- Mav Bourque
- Andrew Mangiapane
- Andrei Kostitsyn
- Tommy Novak
- Matt Moulson
- Connor Brown
- Jonathan Cheechoo
- Vlad Namestnikov
- Curtis Glenncross
- Tanner Pearson
- Mat Perreault
- Rich Peverley
- Tyler Johnson
- Michael Amadio
- Frans Nielsen
- Stefan Noesen
- Pat Maroon
- Teddy Purcell
- PA Parenteau
- David Desharnais

I sorted by PPG so am probably missing a bunch of D and role players, too

 

[Czechboy]

Define successful… he signed a very big contract in the nhl… I’d say that’s successful

I added him, it's a good point.

with every new one.. the .ppg column gets smaller and smaller.

 

[Czechboy]

Paul was a late bloomer/project but I am confident he will have a long and accomplished career. I would certainly rate him above Dzingel and wouldnt be surprised if he accomplishes more than Hoffman when all is said and done.


Others since 2005-2006
- Brad Marchand
- JT Miller
- Nazem Kadri
- Jonathan Marchessault
- Brandon Montour
- Gus Nyqvist
- Kevin Fiala
- Tomas Tatar
- Brian Boyle
- Clarke MacArthur
- Kyle Palmieri
- Kris Versteeg
- Mav Bourque
- Andrew Mangiapane
- Andrei Kostitsyn
- Tommy Novak
- Matt Moulson
- Connor Brown
- Jonathan Cheechoo
- Vlad Namestnikov
- Curtis Glenncross
- Tanner Pearson
- Mat Perreault
- Rich Peverley
- Tyler Johnson
- Michael Amadio
- Frans Nielsen
- Stefan Noesen
- Pat Maroon
- Teddy Purcell
- PA Parenteau
- David Desharnais

I sorted by PPG so am probably missing a bunch of D and role players, too

Would it have killed you to post their AHL GP totals.lol

Thanks for this!

 

[Czechboy]

Lots of names that don’t fit the good to great players

Couldn't agree more. We are getting into role players and face punchers. High number of GP and very low .ppg.

 

[Czechboy]

Nazem Kadri

This one surprised me? Lockout or contract situation or was he just bouncing back and forth? Great answer!