Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Thursday is Thanksgiving in the USA. It makes for a uncommon off day on the AHL schedule, although there are many video games on Thanksgiving Eve, Black Friday and Saturday to maintain followers filling buildings across the league.
Some groups will likely be on the street, in fact, and a group Thanksgiving dinner is a long-time custom {that a} participant from any nation will embrace. And for the groups who’re house, gamers are certain to have get-togethers and refill earlier than a busy weekend of hockey.
What do AHL groups should be pleased about as they dig into their meal Thursday? Let’s have a look at the Jap Convention groups, with a rundown of the Western Convention to comply with.
Belleville SenatorsWith the Ottawa Senators performing effectively and staying wholesome, the B-Sens have had some higher luck with a extra secure roster than what has hampered them up to now. Wyatt Bongiovanni, acquired from the Winnipeg Jets for future concerns in 2024, had 22 objectives final season and is powerful once more. Now it’s undrafted rookie goaltender Jackson Parsons who has helped to fill in and has delivered encouraging early outcomes. The Ottawa group has a knack for unearthing missed expertise.
Bridgeport IslandersFollowing a attempting 2024-25 season, the Islanders had a busy offseason that included bringing in Rocky Thompson as their new head coach and including quite a lot of key veterans by way of free company. This new combine nonetheless wants time to come back collectively absolutely, however the Islanders have began effectively sufficient to remain in the course of the Atlantic Division race.
Charlotte CheckersCharlotte went the Calder Cup Finals final spring and gave the Abbotsford Canucks a dogged combat till the tip. Then got here a number of summertime departures that might have drained Charlotte of expertise. As a substitute their affiliation with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers has actively labored to switch key gamers up and down the lineup. Jack Devine has been one of many AHL’s main rookies.
Cleveland MonstersThe Monsters obtained their captain again when the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Brendan Gaunce from the Minnesota Wild this previous June. Now Gaunce is up with Columbus after an excellent begin with the Monsters, and main scorer Luca Pinelli was recalled by the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The Monsters additionally debuted their throwback Cleveland Barons jerseys final week and seemed sharp doing so. Cleveland can also be drawing almost 11,400 followers per recreation by means of seven house dates, and will problem the AHL’s single-season attendance file (12,002).
Hartford Wolf PackHome ice obtained an entire new search for the Wolf Pack because the newly renamed PeoplesBank Enviornment has undergone a $145-million renovation. The constructing itself turned 50 this 12 months, however it doesn’t appear to be it. New seating, bunker suites, loge containers and a concourse makeover – along with locker room renovations – have the Wolf Pack residing in type.
Hershey BearsSo a lot for a rebuilding 12 months: With many of the veterans from the Bears’ back-to-back Calder Cup groups having moved on to different alternatives, a considerable inflow of rookies took their spots on the Hershey roster, however rising pains have been minimal. New head coach Derek King has his Bears trying harmful already and within the Atlantic Division’s high 4, and 19-year-old rookie Ilya Protas is main the group with 15 factors in 16 video games.
Laval RocketAfter ending first general within the 2024-25 common season, the Rocket gave their followers a memorable journey all the way in which to the Jap Convention Finals. Jacob Fowler’s glowing debut within the crease throughout final 12 months’s playoffs has carried over to his rookie season. Expectations are one factor, however no person actually is aware of how a prospect goes to pan out till he takes on competitors one step under the NHL degree; Fowler has a 2.10 GAA, a .918 save share and three shutouts by means of his first 11 appearances.
Lehigh Valley PhantomsAs the Philadelphia Flyers proceed to outpace expectations, there’s a brand new enthusiasm across the group that extends to the Phantoms. Rookie forwards Denver Barkey and Alex Bump are matching their hoped-for promise, whereas the goaltending pair of Carson Bjarnason and Aleksei Kolosov has proven effectively. Finally injured defenseman Oliver Bonk, a first-round decide, ought to transfer into the Lehigh Valley lineup, too. With new head coach John Snowden, improvement is effectively underway for the Phantoms.
Windfall BruinsThe Boston Bruins all the time make certain to handle their operation in Windfall, the AHL’s longest-running affiliation. Boston’s aggressive offseason plan introduced Matěj Blümel and Alex Steeves into the group, and each have already earned recollects to the NHL. Former Eddie Shore Award winner Christian Wolanin was added to the P-Bruins’ roster final week, and Simon Zajicek joins reigning Baz Bastien Award winner Michael DiPietro in making a formidable tandem in internet.
Rochester AmericansWhile the Amerks have been capable of churn out a parade of high picks onward to the Buffalo Sabres, they nonetheless have been capable of win video games. Konsta Helenius continues to develop within the AHL after going within the first spherical of the 2024 NHL Draft, and fellow latest first-rounders Isak Rosén and Noah Östlund have already seen vital time in Buffalo this season. Newcomer Zac Jones leads all AHL defensemen in scoring with 16 factors – all assists.
Springfield ThunderbirdsDalibor Dvorský has impressed in St. Louis and Colten Ellis has since moved on to Buffalo, leaving the Thunderbirds with out two of their key items from final 12 months’s membership. Nikita Alexandrov leads Springfield in scoring following a 21-goal season a 12 months in the past, and touted rookie Juraj Pekarcik has 9 factors by means of his first 16 video games as a professional. Theo Lindstein, one in all three first-round picks by the Blues in 2023, is a promising younger defenseman starting his North American profession in Springfield.
Syracuse CrunchThe Crunch not too long ago despatched their one centesimal participant on to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a milestone for one in all hockey’s most enduring and productive affiliations. It takes loads of work, loads of give-and-take, to make the connection flourish for each side. Tampa Bay has been a high contender for years, and the Crunch have been a vital a part of that success whereas additionally successful lots themselves. The additions of Jakob Pelletier and Nick Abruzzese have given the Crunch added offensive punch this season, whereas Dylan Duke and Conor Geekie proceed to develop as second-year execs.
Toronto MarliesArtur Akhtyamov got here to Toronto in 2024 as a fourth-round decide with simply 21 video games of goaltending expertise within the Kontinental Hockey League. If nobody actually knew what to anticipate from Akhtyamov as he took on the AHL for the primary time, they definitely did by the tip of final season. He has carried that customary and constructed on it this fall with the Marlies, offering a measure of stability whereas Toronto has gone by means of quite a lot of roster adjustments.
Utica CometsLet’s not sugar-coat it: It was a troublesome 2024-25 season in Utica. A 13-game winless streak to open final 12 months all however sunk their playoff hopes by November. However Ryan Father or mother’s membership by no means stop and as a substitute turned an unwelcome opponent down the stretch. This 12 months’s Comets squad is dealing with related adversity, however rookie defenseman Ethan Edwards has been a vibrant spot; the College of Michigan product has a purpose and 5 assists by means of 14 video games and earned a recall to New Jersey final week.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins had been speculated to be an ageing group on the decline, however the huge membership has emerged as one of many NHL’s greatest tales of the primary quarter and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has greater than exceeded expectations as effectively. Sergei Murashov was the AHL’s goaltender of the month for October, then was recalled and has been excellent in Pittsburgh. Depth is a should at each the NHL and AHL ranges, and the Pittsburgh group has made certain to replenish.
On the American Hockey League beat for twenty years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at the moment covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is an everyday contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
