Five AHL Forwards Who Deserve A Call-Up

With the American Hockey League nearly at the halfway point of the season multiple forwards have made the case for a second-half NHL audition.

Five players we think have earned a call-up are:

Vinnie Hinostroza – Milwaukee Admirals

Hinostroza is a known commodity with 374 games of NHL experience but it is hard to leave the current AHL scoring leader (33 points in 25 games) off the list.

A crafty, pass-first player, the 30-year-old has been able to create offense at the AHL level consistently over the past three seasons and deserves a look with a Nashville Predators team that is second-last in the NHL in goals for.

Rory Kerins – Calgary Wranglers

The 22-year-old has a nose for the net, leading the AHL in goals (19) and sitting third in points (31) in 30 games this season.

Kerins centered a dominant line with Jakob Pelletier and Dryden Hunt early in the season before Pelletier was recalled to the NHL, he would also have chemistry with former Wranglers Walker Duehr and Connor Zary.

With season-ending injuries to Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirkland a call-up is likely to come for Kerins if the Flames are sellers at the deadline or if more injuries arise.

Ethen Frank – Hershey Bears

The co-leader with Kerins in goals, Frank has 19 goals and 26 points in 30 games for the defending Calder Cup champions this season.

Frank is an incredible skater and has won the fastest skater event at the AHL All-Star Game two-years in a row. He has also been one of the top goal scorers in the AHL since he entered the league, recording 79 goals in 156 games since the end of the 2021-22 season.

It will be tough to crack the Washington Capitals roster given all of their success but with some injuries to key forwards Frank could bring dynamic offensive ability to the team.

Luca Del Bel Belluz – Cleveland Monsters

Now in his second professional season Del Bel Belluz sits third in the AHL in goals (16) and is tied with Kerins for third in points (31) in 28 games.

The 22-year-old scored a goal in his first NHL appearance last season and possesses a great shot and skills with the puck.

With a plethora of injuries to the Columbus Blue Jackets Del Bel Belluz could comfortably slide into a top-nine role and gain NHL experience without being put in a bad position.

Collin Graf – San Jose Barracuda

The undrafted 22-year-old rookie leads the Barracuda in assists (19) and sits second in points (24) in 27 games.

Graf has great vision and playmaking, he would be a good complement to San Jose’s youngsters Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Fabian Zetterlund.

After a string of recent wins and the acquisition of Nikolai Kovalenko there suddenly aren’t any forward spots open on the Sharks roster but Graf should be first in line if injuries arise or if the team completes any more trades.

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