Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
The lengthy Thanksgiving vacation weekend in the US means busy AHL buildings, and a time for groups and followers to offer their very own model of thanks as they give the impression of being again on the yr.
We had a take a look at what Jap Convention groups can be grateful for earlier. Now it’s time to maneuver by means of the Western Convention.
Abbotsford Canucks
In successful the primary Calder Cup championship ever for a Vancouver Canucks affiliate, head coach Manny Malhotra and his gamers took their followers on a memorable experience final spring. A few of these gamers moved on to Vancouver, others discovered new alternatives elsewhere. However all of them shall be linked in AHL historical past and depart an abundance of reminiscences for Abbotsford followers.
Bakersfield Condors
After his well-documented private challenges off the ice, Connor Ingram is discovering his method again on the ice with the Condors. The dad or mum Edmonton Oilers acquired the two-time AHL All-Star from Utah in coaching camp. Ingram has gained loads of followers by means of the years, and individuals are rooting for him in Bakersfield and past.
Calgary Wranglers
Calgary followers had appreciable hope for Matvei Gridin, the Flames’ first-round choose within the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old ahead leads all AHL rookies with 20 factors (eight targets, 12 assists) in 18 video games for the Wranglers.
Chicago Wolves
Cayden Primeau was poised to be the Chicago Wolves’ number-one goaltender earlier than being claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs in October. However Carolina claimed him again on Nov. 8 and he lastly made it to Rosemont. Primeau was 21-2-2 in 26 video games with Laval final season because the Rocket gained the AHL’s regular-season title.
Coachella Valley Firebirds
Second-year professional Jagger Firkus, a 2022 second-round choose by the Seattle Kraken, has taken an enormous step this fall, posting 20 factors (9 targets, 11 assists) by means of 17 video games with Coachella Valley. As is all the time the case with a high prospect, he could find yourself going to the NHL dad or mum group earlier than lengthy. However for now, a minimum of, the Firebirds have themselves a top-end offensive menace.
Colorado Eagles
Except for one other glorious begin, the first-place Eagles additionally obtained some thrilling off-ice information again in September once they broke floor on a brand new enviornment in close by Greeley, Colo., that’s set to open in 2028. Half of a bigger mixed-use leisure district, the mission finally may even entail a resort, water park, eating choices and three ice sheets together with residential and workplace house. Mix these facilities with the spirited Eagles fan base, and the group ought to proceed to have one of many high atmospheres within the AHL.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Nearly all the things has gone proper to date this season for the Griffins (15-1-0-1). They lead the league in scoring, rank second in protection, and even once they had a setback in shedding goaltenders Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava to damage they managed to thrive. Whereas the dad or mum Detroit Pink Wings are celebrating their centennial season, the Griffins are of their twenty fifth yr within the AHL and this 2025-26 marketing campaign is wanting prefer it may very well be a particular one.
Henderson Silver Knights
How would the Silver Knights deal with shedding standout goaltender Carl Lindbom on recall to the Vegas Golden Knights? Fairly properly, because it seems. A group that has struggled within the win-loss column lately, the Silver Knights are proper within the Pacific Division combine following an energetic offseason that fortified their blue line significantly. It is a group with a number of the finest services and assets within the AHL, and now they’ve the success to go along with that.
Iowa Wild
Needing some offensive punch, the Wild turned to a well-known identify from the previous, bringing in Gerry Mayhew on an AHL contract again on Oct. 17. The AHL’s MVP in 2019-20, Mayhew has seven targets and 10 factors in his first 15 video games again in Des Moines.
Manitoba Moose
A really energetic summer season has paid off to date for the Moose, who’ve a balanced offense led by newcomers Walker Duehr and Samuel Fagemo with six targets apiece. Manitoba has seven wins in its previous eight video games whereas seeing defenseman Elias Salomonsson and goaltender Thomas Milic make their NHL debuts with Winnipeg this week.
Milwaukee Admirals
Irrespective of what’s going on round them, the Admirals maintain dealing with their enterprise. The dad or mum Nashville Predators have struggled, and when the NHL group goes by means of a tough time it will possibly influence the AHL affiliate. However head coach Karl Taylor all the time shoos away any potential distractions for his group, the place the main focus stays strictly on what the Admirals should do. At 11-3-2-0, Milwaukee has a top-five document within the league whereas persevering with to supply NHL-ready prospects to the Preds.
Ontario Reign
Akil Thomas has had a troublesome battle with accidents in his profession, together with being restricted to only 25 video games with Los Angeles final season. However he has performed all 18 contests for the Reign to date in 2025-26 and has offered 13 factors (4 targets, 9 assists) as Ontario jostles for Pacific Division positioning.
Rockford IceHogs
Take your choose as to which prospect in Rockford ought to most excite Chicago Blackhawks followers – there are a lot. Rookie Nick Lardis, together with his 19 factors in 19 video games. Goaltender Drew Commesso. Defensemen Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski. Oliver Moore, who’s already making an impression in Chicago after a scorching begin in Rockford. The IceHogs, below first-year head coach Jared Nightingale, are a key a part of the Blackhawks group’s rebuilding effort.
San Diego Gulls
Matthew Phillips simply retains producing. A two-time 30-goal scorer as a Calgary Flames prospect, Phillips performed 31 video games within the NHL in 2023-24, gained a Calder Cup in Hershey in 2024, and led the division-champion Colorado Eagles in scoring in 2024-25. Now in San Diego on the primary yr of a two-year contract, Phillips has a team-best 17 factors in 18 video games.
San Jose Barracuda
Rather a lot like Rockford, the Barracuda discover themselves a vital a part of an NHL rebuilding plan. The San Jose Sharks have offered the Cuda with the likes of Filip Bystedt, Igor Chernyshov, Kasper Halttunen, Mattias Havelid, Cam Lund and Quentin Musty – all latest first- or second-round draft picks – this season, making the AHL membership an entertaining group to observe. Typically their youth reveals, however that could be a pure a part of participant improvement. An 11-game factors streak (9-0-1-1) ended on Friday, however San Jose nonetheless sits second within the Pacific Division.
Texas Stars
A franchise that has all the time valued its folks, the Stars now have three members of their 2014 Calder Cup championship group behind the bench as new head coach Toby Petersen has joined assistants Max Fortunus and Travis Morin. And captain Curtis McKenzie, a rookie on that title group and some of the revered figures within the AHL, is again for his ninth yr with Texas after serving to them attain the convention finals final spring.
Tucson Roadrunners
Cameron Hebig returned for his sixth season with the Roadrunners after a memorable 2024-25 season during which he earned a visit to the AHL All-Star Traditional and signed his first NHL contract with Utah. Hebig, who inked a two-year extension with the Mammoth over the summer season, has responded with eight targets and 15 factors in 18 video games for Tucson to date.
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally presently 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.
