The defensive prospect flourished in his first AHL season and - more importantly - went the whole season without another shoulder injury. He lands at number 11 on our countdown.
The concerns about defenseman Slater Koekkoek going into 2014-15 could be summed up quiet easily in this one line from his ranking last summer on this list:
Death, taxes, Slater Koekkoek shoulder injuries.
Luckily for Koekkoek and all involved, his first AHL season was blissfully clear of shoulder injuries. The defenseman suited up for 72 of Syracuse's 76 games, and was such a consistent force on the blue line that Tampa rewarded him with his first call up.