Admirals Sign 24-Year-Old Goaltender Ethan Haider to AHL Contract for 2026-27

Ethan Haider spent his first two professional seasons proving he belonged in the ECHL. Milwaukee decided he belongs in the AHL.

The Admirals signed the 24-year-old goaltender to a one-year AHL contract for the 2026-27 season, the team announced March 26, locking up a netminder whose numbers in Atlanta this year made the decision straightforward. In 32 appearances with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators, Haider went 20-10-1 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average, adding one shutout. His 20 wins are tied for third most in the ECHL this season, and he became just the seventh goaltender in Gladiators franchise history to reach that threshold in a single year.

The path to this contract ran through two college programs and two professional leagues. Drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Haider played four seasons in the NCAA at Clarkson University and the University of Connecticut before turning pro. His rookie ECHL season with Atlanta in 2024-25 showed flashes: an 18-15-2 record, a .894 save percentage, and four shutouts. This season, the sophomore version was sharper across the board, dropping his GAA nearly a full goal while pushing his save percentage up 30 points.

The AHL sample is small but clean. In two career appearances with Milwaukee, Haider carries a 1-0-1 record, a 1.07 GAA, and a .957 save percentage. His first AHL win came November 15, when he stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Texas Stars.

Across parts of two ECHL seasons in Atlanta, Haider has accumulated a 38-25-2 record with a 2.82 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 68 contests, numbers that frame exactly why Milwaukee moved to secure him before another team could. The contract ensures Haider will open next season on an AHL deal rather than having to earn a recall from the ECHL again.