Top AHL Picks to Showcase at Rockford All‑Star Skills and 3-on-3 Challenge

The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO arrives in Rockford with a concentrated crop of high-end prospects and national exposure. The weekend program pairs the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Tuesday (8 ET / 7 CT) with the All-Star Challenge on Wednesday (8 ET / 7 CT), a 3-on-3 round-robin among the league’s four divisions. NHL Network will televise in the United States, TSN in Canada, and AHLTV on FloHockey will stream the action while Chicago Sports Network handles production and additional airings.

For on-ice drama, the event will feature 18 players who were first- or second-round NHL draft picks, giving teams and fans a concentrated look at the pipeline feeding the NHL. Headlining the preview is Conor Geekie of the Syracuse Crunch. Geekie, 21, was selected 11th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 draft and was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024 as part of the Mikhail Sergachev deal. He played 52 games last season for Tampa Bay, and this AHL season he has produced 41 points in 40 games for the Crunch, with a 13-goal, 28-assist split that ranks him second on the team in scoring.

Geekie’s profile encapsulates the dual role the All-Star Classic now plays: a developmental showcase and a marketing vehicle. For players, the Skills Competition offers a platform to display elite speed, shooting accuracy, and puck skills that translate into NHL readiness. For Geekie, excelling in those skills could accelerate the Lightning’s roster decisions and strengthen his case for more NHL minutes. For teams like Tampa Bay that trade to acquire immediate blue-line help while replenishing forward depth through prospects, visible progress from players like Geekie validates development strategies.

Several other roster additions were flagged in All-Star coverage, including IceHogs’ Seney, Barracuda’s Lund, Gulls’ Clang, Canucks’ Berard, and a player listed as Grand Rapids’ Sebastia. While full biographical details and complete stat lines for that group were not part of the preview, their inclusion signals robust representation from AHL clubs across the league. Those names will be worth tracking in Skills events and the short-shift, high-speed 3-on-3 format that rewards quick decision-making and individual skill.

Beyond the ice, Rockford’s months of All-Star planning and BMO’s title sponsorship underline the AHL’s growing commercial profile. National television windows, cross-border distribution, and streaming access boost visibility for players and provide marketing value for affiliates and local partners. For the Rockford economy, the Classic serves as a concentrated sports tourism event that highlights how minor pro hockey can mobilize fans and sponsorship dollars.

For fans and NHL observers, the immediate takeaway is simple: watch the Skills Competition and the 3-on-3 challenge to see who can translate AHL production into NHL promise. Keep an eye on Conor Geekie as a barometer for how first-round talent adapts to pro systems, and watch the flagged names from IceHogs, Barracuda, Gulls, Canucks, and Grand Rapids as the All-Star stage redefines the AHL’s role as both a development lab and a national entertainment product.