The Coming Thing: Don't Pass The Buch

It's been a little while since we updated the call-ups and send-downs of prospects around the league, so let's take a look at the past week or so in movements between the AHL and NHL.

Comings and Goings

Pavel Buchnevich, RW, NYR – This is a little bit of a cheat by me, as Buchnevich was only in the AHL for a conditioning assignment, but fantasy owners should be paying attention to his return from a back injury, as the Russian rookie looked awesome in his 10 games with the Blueshirts earlier this year. He's slated to rejoin the lineup Friday, then sit Saturday in the second of back-to-backs, but once the Rangers feel good about Buchnevich's health, he'll be a lineup regular again, probably in the top six.

Nikita Scherbak, RW, MON – The Habs' first-round pick in 2014 (No. 26 overall) got a three-game stint with the big club over the last week, netting his first NHL goal – on a power play, no less – but also failing to crack 12 minutes of ice time before being sent back down. Scherbak's made positive strides in the AHL – he already has 10 goals and 20 points in 27 games, which is three more goals and just three fewer points than he managed in 48 contests last season – so his stock's trending up.

Shea Theodore, D, ANA – Theodore has been seemingly near-constantly juggled between the AHL and NHL over this season and last; he's been called up five times this year, most recently Wednesday, and he netted an assist and three shots in Thursday's game. His overall returns with the Ducks haven't blown anyone away (seven points in 22 games), but he's also seen minimal minutes, as he's typically on the third pairing to replace an injured player. At 21, Theodore's still got an illustrious career ahead of him once he can break into a full-time role with Anaheim. In the AHL between this year and last year, he has a shiny 47 points in only 61 games.

Anton Forsberg, G, CLM – Called up to make a start earlier this week with Sergei Bobrovsky out sick, Forsberg stumbled, giving up four goals to absorb a loss against Carolina. He's been an absolute monster with AHL Cleveland, going 12-6-1 with a 2.16 GAA and .930 save mark, but at 24 years old, it's about time for him to start making those results translate at hockey's highest level. The Swede was sent back down after that outing to get regular action in the minors, with fellow prospect Joonas Korpisalo having been recalled to serve as Bobrovsky's backup. It wouldn't be surprising to see the two young goalies flip-flop roles multiple times down the line.

Brendan Perlini, LW, ARI – A rare British-born NHLer (although he's really Canadian) and the No. 12 pick in the 2014 draft, Perlini has done spectacular work over 17 games with AHL Tucson, netting 14 goals and 19 total points. The 20-year-old sniper has just four goals and five points with the Coyotes – who sent him down to get some extra action while they had five days off – but it'd be no surprise to see him stick in the NHL and see his role grow, considering the quality (or lack thereof) in front of him on the depth chart at left wing. Tobias Rieder, Jamie McGinn, Lawson Crouse – each is worse than the last. Don't be surprised if Perlini finds his way into top-six time; be sure to own him speculatively in deeper or keeper formats.

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, EDM – The fourth overall pick in this past year's draft and a heck of a big kid with a toolbox full of tools, Puljujarvi hasn't yet put it all together thanks to bottom-six ice time in Edmonton, but there are precious few prospects who boast higher upside than the 18-year-old Finn's. Unfortunately, his inability to break out at the NHL level got him sent down to AHL Bakersfield on Monday, where he notched an assist in his first game. Look for him to tear it up there and find his way back to the Oilers in a more full-time role next year.

Prospect of the Week
Alexander Nylander, LW, BUF – Another top pick in 2016 – No. 8 overall – the 18-year-old (son of former NHLer Michael, younger brother of current Maple Leaf William Nylander) hasn't exactly been tearing it up in with AHL Rochester, as he has just 17 points and a minus-12 rating in 31 gmes, but he just tied for top scoring honors in the World Junior Championship, netting five goals and seven assists in only seven games. That said, Nylander's coming off an impressive first (and only) season in juniors, as he led all rookies with 75 points in 57 games for OHL Mississauga last season, then scored another dozen in six playoff games. He's got all the potential in the world, but it's worth noting that his brother posted much better results in his first exposure to the AHL. Still, Alex is no slouch, and he's hardly the only guy with a poor rating on a team that's received rather poor goaltending. Keep an eye on him in the second half of the year to see whether he makes some progress.