Another year, another Portland Pirate is the AHL’s top rookie.

In what is becoming a minor league tradition, Buffalo Sabres prospect Luke Adam has been named the recipient of Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the league’s best first-year player.

Adam’s win marks the third consecutive year a Portland Pirate has claimed the award. Tyler Ennis captured the award last year while Nathan Gerbe received the honour in 2008/09. Current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Teddy Purcell was the last non-Pirate to capture the award as a Los Angeles Kings prospect, doing so with the Manchester Monarchs.

The St. John’s, NL. native finished first in rookie goal scoring, finding the back of the net 28 times. Adam’s 60 points was second only to Bridgeport Sound Tigers forward Rhett Rakhshani’s 62 point effort. Adam, who also enjoyed an 11 game point streak from February 26 to March 22, the longest of any rookie since 2005, recorded 16 multi-point games this season.

The award is voted on by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

Adam was selected in the second round, 44th overall of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He suited up for 19 games with the Sabres this season, recording three goals and one assist.

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!