The AHL Is No Longer the Developmental League It Used To Be
The American Hockey League was always seen as one of the best developmental leagues in the world. But that is no longer the case.
The hockey world at large has been waiting all summer for major news to drop. Perhaps with Training Camps set to open in just over three weeks time, we’ll finally get clarity on some situations.
But while we’ve all been waiting for that major news to drop, a very interesting trend has played out in another part of the hockey world. Have you seen just how many players have elected to sign in Europe this offseason?
Tony Androckitis, the great AHL writer for Inside AHL Hockey, shared an alarming stat on just how many players have chosen to sign overseas.
As of Aug 21, Androckitis says that over 120 players who either played in the AHL or were under contract in the AHL last season have now signed overseas for the 2025-26 season. But then he takes this a step further.
Androckitis also says that at least one player from all 32 AHL teams have had at least one of their UFA’s sign overseas this offseason. We knew that there were plenty of other options outside of the AHL. But this exodus of players is showing that it’s much more than a trend. It might be here to stay.
An important question to ask at this point is why? As you will see, there are a combination of factors in play. But when you boil it all down, there’s one major theme that sticks out. Players are ultimately choosing what’s best for their own business.
Signing Overseas
When we speak of free agency, most will think of the higher-end free agents that will eventually sign with another NHL team. However, that is not the majority of free agents.
Most players on the fringe have a decision to make. They have to choose where to sign their next contract if a viable NHL option is not available immediately.
These players have to take several things into account. Here is a small sample of questions a player must consider when considering their next team.
What is the best situation for their finances?
Where is the best situation to continue to develop their game in the hopes of making it back to the NHL?
What situation would ensure a player’s family is taken care of?
Does the new situation fit a particular timeline? (Contract length)
We are seeing now that players feel the AHL isn’t their best option when considering the above questions. More and more, European options are becoming more attractive especially to those players who are getting older.
For overseas teams, they see an opportunity to add good talent to their team. They can also compensate these players better than the AHL can in most instances.
To give you an idea about what European teams pay players, check out this breakdown. A key component to this is that import players in Europe can be paid tax-free by their teams. In some cases, other perks can be added including housing, transportation and other expenses being covered.
Leaving North America doesn’t seem so bad for certain players now given what is potentially available in Europe.
What This Says About the AHL
The American Hockey League has long been held as one of the best developmental leagues in the world. That was because no matter if a player was a rookie or an experience veteran, there was a potential path to the NHL.
While that might still be true on a case-by-case basis, for the overwhelming majority of AHL veterans, that is no longer the case. The AHL is seen as a dead end for those still hoping to achieve their dream of making the NHL.
