Award recognizes most outstanding player on an AHL contract (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars) [Ed. Note: This is a fun one today. A few years back, I had the idea to recognize players who play in the AHL but aren't on NHL contracts. The idea sat in my head for a while, and this summer I finally put it together. Today, a group of league media led by me is launching The Bruce Boudreau Award . I'll write a process story about it for tomorrow or later today, but the highlight of the journey included an interview with Bruce Boudreau, something I never thought I'd be able to say when I started as a journalist. I'm incredibly proud and excited to finally get this into the world.] GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids forward Dominik Shine has been named the recipient of the inaugural Bruce Boudreau Award . The award, selected by a panel of league media, honors the most outstanding American Hockey League player who is not playing on an NHL contract, recognizing their leadership, ...