AHL: The San Antonio Kids

McKeen's Chief correspondent David Burstyn looks at a handful of San Antonio players, eager to make the jump to the NHL next season. Defenseman David Schlemko and forwards Alexander Nikulin, Brett MacLean, Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik are featured.

David Schlemko (Phx), D, San Antonio

Signed in the summer of 2007 to an entry level contract after going undrafted, Schlemko has risen to the big leagues like his former Medicine Hat Tiger teammates Cam Barker and Kris Russell .. has played in three NHL games this year and has shown the most improvement of all Rampage players on the backend .. a sizeable defender who passes the puck better than he handles it .. has struggled this season with containing players, as his strength levels need improving .. gets beaten routinely on the boards and in front of the net .. is smart enough to establish position early and angle-off players but has a difficult time with power forwards, especially down low .. thick stride, he is a capable skater and moves ok in all directions .. his offensive ability has matured thanks largely to his position on the PP unit where he can use his shot and passing abilities to create .. Schlemko has shown progress this season, what is even more remarkable is that he has improved despite the Rampage not having an experienced defender for him to learn from .. he could develop into a nice third-pairing defenseman for the Coyotes and see more NHL games next season than AHL contests.

Alexander Nikulin (Phx), C, RW, San Antonio

Acquired early in the season for Drew Fata after he demanded a trade from the Ottawa Senators organization .. has not found his groove, as his development has been stunted even further, as he has yet to find a spot on the top two lines - even on one of the weaker teams in the AHL he is a third-line player .. despite his disposable frame, he rarely exerts himself physically and appears nonchalant when it comes to retrieving pucks along the boards .. he is a slightly awkward skater and still has not managed to add power to his stride .. more of a methodical playmaker with a surplus of offensive skills, he has yet to be placed with linemates this year that will demonstrate his talents .. he does have good hockey sense, passes the puck well but he also does not compete and appears to have lost any type of motivation playing in North America .. a return to Russia seems imminent.

Brett MacLean (Phx), LW, San Antonio

MacLean has been a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing campaign for the Rampage .. a natural scorer, he has notched 20 goals thus far in his first pro season .. MacLean puts himself into position to score, while he may not be the fastest or the most astute defensively, there is no denying his ability to finish in close .. he parks himself in front of the net on the PP and looks for tips and deflections while screening the goalie .. he has a great wristshot, as it is hard and accurate .. his skating continues to hold him back .. he is not a poor skater but when handling the puck he tends to slow down .. further, the fact that he does not have an arsenal of moves or use his teammates well is concerning .. he gets caught flatfooted in defensive situations and needs to react quicker to the play around him .. employed to be a finisher, his defensive game has not been able to develop, as the team already leans on him for goals .. he should see some action next year but expect him to continue to develop for a few more seasons at the AHL level.

Kevin Porter (Phx), C, W, San Antonio

Entering his first season of pro hockey after a brilliant four-year career at Michigan highlighted by a Hobey Baker award to conclude his senior year .. Porter is the ultimate when it comes to versatility, as he can be slotted on any line and not cripple systems .. he works well with a scorer but is also defensively conscious .. a strong skater with a surplus of moves that disguises his lack of overall speed .. at times, he tries and is forced to do too much on this inferior team .. as a rookie, he has handled his responsibilities gracefully and competes regardless of the score .. he is often rewarded by the hard work he puts in to see a play go through .. his hand skills and ability to stickhandle in both open ice and in traffic make him a very complementary player to a finisher, as was exhibited when he played alongside MacLean .. nice hard shot and is employed on the point in PP situations .. Porter has the potential to fill a spot on the third line next season and not look out of place.

Chad Kolarik (Phx), RW, San Antonio

A stand-out in Michigan, helping the Wolverines get to the Frozen Four, while racking up over a point-per-game in his final two years .. an energetic winger who plays bigger than his size .. he has quick wrists and can make plays with the puck .. makes swift and calculated moves, however is physically underdeveloped and can not impose his will at this level .. plays more of a distribution-type-of-game, as he has the signs of being a finisher but opts to pass it before he shoots .. a skilled player when the puck is in his possession but is still learning the nuances of the game without it .. reacts quickly in changes to the play, which bodes well for his chances of making it to the NHL.