AHL to NHL: The Transition

Over the last half decade most teams have developed a three season program for transitioning their AHL scoring stars to NHL top-six forwards. It's a fairly simple formula but it's amazingly consistent.
Once a player proves they can score at the AHL level, usually among the top-20 scorers, the team will sign the player to a two-way contract. This second, transition year gives teams a chance to get a better read on a player's development. It can mean anywhere between six to sixty NHL games, but almost always sees the player contribute in both leagues. The final year is the one-way contract year, where the player gets every opportunity to crack the top-six and produce in the NHL.














