Deep down, Luke Mittelstadt probably realizes none of this makes sense. With four goals and nine assists through six games, Mittelstadt is the leading scorer in the AHL.

Five goals in two games from John Leonard. A 13-point start from Luke Mittelstadt. And an AHL Player of the Week who might already be headed for bigger things.

On Monday night in South Philly, the kid who wore a Flyers jersey as a tyke when learning how to skate, who went to bed dreaming of following in his dad’s footsteps as an NHLer, became just that.

“We’ve laid a foundation that’s of stability, of care, of hard work, and I think we’re starting to see the fruits of our labor.”

Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Alex Bump has been selected as the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending October 18, 2026.

A year ago, Frederic Brunet and Michael DiPietro were with the Providence Bruins, trying to prove they had what it took to make their dreams come true. On Friday night in Anaheim, Brunet scored his first NHL goal and DiPietro secured his first NHL win Boston’s 4-2 victory.

We’re only two weeks into the season, but help is already on the way for some AHL teams who need it.

We’ve already seen seven goals in one rivalry game, a five-goal opening weekend from one of the league’s hottest young scorers, and a Hershey playmaker who apparently forgot that assists are supposed to be difficult.

Marek Alscher has spent five years playing in North America now. He’s earned bigger roles with the Charlotte Checkers and represented his native Czechia at the World Championship. The most impactful motivation, though, was the taste of the NHL he got.

Tickets are now on sale for all events during the 2027 American Hockey League All-Star Classic presented by Rectifi.law, to take place February 7-8 in Cleveland.