From Tampa Bay to Nashville, Ingram Resurrects Career With AHL Milwaukee

Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side but for goaltending prospect Connor Ingram a change of scenery from the Tampa Bay Lightning organization to Nashville over the summer paved the way for his resurgence at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Milwaukee Admirals, which included a 2020 AHL All-Star selection - his second -  and a 21-5-5 record on the campaign until the season was placed on hold last month. His 1.92 goals-against average and .933 save percentage on the season each rank third best among AHL goalies.

For reasons unknown, Ingram and Tampa Bay did not work out despite the former Syracuse Crunch goalie also posting top numbers league-wide last season. In early March of 2019, Tampa Bay demoted the goalie from their AHL affiliate in Syracuse to the ECHL, where Ingram finished the season with the Orlando Solar Bears instead of helping push the Crunch into the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs.

That summer, Tampa Bay found a trading partner in Nashville, sending Ingram to the Predators for a seventh round draft pick. It was rumored that Ingram was made available at the 2019 trade deadline, but there weren't any takers.

"I got in a spot in Tampa where they were pretty clear that my time there was over, so thankfully they gave me another shot - they moved me out instead of just letting me play in the ECHL for another year," Ingram told InsideAHLHockey.com in Ontario, California at the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic. "I'm very thankful to them and thankful to Nashville for giving me a shot. I wouldn't be here without that move."

Exactly three weeks ago, on March 23, Nashville signed Ingram to a three-year contract extension through the 2022-23 season. This coming after Ingram registered career highs in wins, goals-against average and save-percentage with AHL Milwaukee in 33 appearances this season.

Ingram formed a dynamic duo in net with Troy Grosenick (20-9-3) in Milwaukee, as the two netminders led the Admirals to a league best 41-14-8 record upon the AHL's pause of the season after March 11th's games.

"It's been really good. Troy is one of my favorites I've ever played with. He's great for me," Ingram said of his goalie partner in Milwaukee. "He's so good at what he does too. You have to earn your playing time. You know that if you ever slip up there's a guy right on your heels, whether that's me or him. It's been really good for us."

Milwaukee has been a dominant, well-rounded team all season long - touting four 20-goal scorers up front including last year's AHL MVP Daniel Carr, who sits in 10th in the league in scoring (23 goals, 27 assists) despite only appearing in 47 AHL games this season.

When asked what led the team's strong play, Ingram chose the simple route.

"It's pretty cliche, but it's probably the best group of guys that I've ever been around," Ingram said back in late January. "When guys are having fun, it makes you win more. And when you win more you have more fun, so it's been really good."

Among the biggest differences Ingram has noticed now playing in the Western Conference than when he was in the Eastern Conference a year ago is travel.

"I miss sleeping in my own bed every night. A lot more hotel rooms," Ingram added, joking, "A couple more Southwest Airlines. I had never been on one before this season. I don't like this pick your own seat thing, just tell me where I'm going."

With a three-year extension signed, Ingram knows where he's going for the foreseeable future - whether it will be spent in Milwaukee or in the NHL with Nashville remains to be seen.