The NHL’S loss is the AHL’s gain.

As the NHL lockout lumbers on toward a potential cancellation of the entire season, the AHL is benefitting from an infusion of talented players who should be playing in the NHL. League-wide, the talent level in the AHL is through the roof.

“It’s fast hockey. Anyone you talk to, that’s the first thing they say, ‘wow, it looks really quick out there. Is it actually quicker?’ It’s a lot quicker out there,” said Manchester Monarchs defenseman Andrew Campbell. “Everyone’s in tip-top shape just coming off the summer. Everyone’s fresh, everyone’s strong. It’s fast, it’s hard. It’s obviously a really good league right now.”

The Monarchs haven’t been left out in the cold, having Jordan Nolan, Dwight King, Slava Voynov and Andrei Loktionov skating here in New Hampshire instead of out west with the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.

Around the league, the names on the back of AHL sweaters are striking.

The Charlotte Checkers (affiliate of Carolina) have Justin Faulk, an NHL All-Rookie team selection last season. Connecticut has Chris Kreider, the Boston College export who made a splash with the New York Rangers in the playoffs last spring.

Oklahoma City boasts Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle, a duo that should be exciting fans in Edmonton. Nugent-Hopkins was a Calder Trophy finalist for NHL Rookie of the Year and Eberle led the Oilers in scoring last season.

Albany has Adam Henrique, a top New Jersey prospect who impressed in the Devils’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. Philadelphia’s farm team in Adirondack has Sean Couturier and former Monarch Brayden Schenn.

The Hershey Bears are backstopped by Braden Holtby, who was solid in the Capitals net during the NHL playoffs last year. There are also top players who would have made their pro debuts in the NHL but are instead in the AHL, like Cody Hodgson (seven assists through five games with Rochester, the Buffalo affiliate) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (with Phoenix affiliate Portland).

“You can tell the high-end skill on each team is definitely noticeable,” said Monarchs defenseman Thomas Hickey. “You have to be aware when those guys are on the ice. It’s huge. If you can go out and play well and not just fit in but excel, you know that those guys are doing it and have earned their spot in the NHL, then why can’t you?”

Many players are taking that approach and using this elevated playing level as a measuring stick.

“It’s a good challenge for all of us,” said Monarchs goalie Martin Jones. “We all want to make it to that next level. It’s good for us to push ourselves. That’s good motivation, to see where we stack up against these guys.”

It also means that you have to be more aware on the ice than ever before because some of the more talented guys can take over a game in a heartbeat.

“It’s a big step up. It’s a challenge,” said Monarchs head coach Mark Morris. “Some of these guys are used to one pace and if you let your guard down for a second, experienced players that have played at a higher level are going to sting you.”

Just how long these high-end players remain in the AHL has yet to be determined. But the result thus far is a more exciting brand of minor league hockey.

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JORDAN NOLAN (upper body injury) is practicing with the Monarchs this week and could be back on Saturday for Manchester’s game with Worcester (7 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Arena). Nolan was at first expected to be out for an extended time period but last week learned his injury was not as severe as first feared.

Meanwhile, Dwight King, who signed an AHL deal last week, is also practicing. King flew in to Manchester last weekend but without having any practice time was not ready to join the team on the ice for games.

The addition of King only adds to a packed roster. The extra talent meant that two key veterans, Thomas Hickey and David Meckler, were healthy scratches in both games over the past weekend, and that was without King or Nolan in the lineup.

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Ian Clark covers pro hockey for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. He may be reached at iclark@unionleader.com.