Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
U.S. Thanksgiving is all the time a key marker on the AHL schedule.
With folks returning residence and households taking a break from vacation consuming, the weekend is historically a robust attendance draw for U.S.-based groups. Getting a house date or two this week is all the time a pleasant coup for groups as they enter the vacation season, a time when attendance actually begins to take off across the AHL.
Thanksgiving can be a time for, nicely, giving thanks. Here’s a team-by-team take a look at what every group can be glad about this vacation.
ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS
With Vancouver only a quick drive to the west, Abbotsford is Canucks nation, be it of the NHL or AHL selection. So correct growth in Abbotsford can imply future success in Vancouver. Followers have been in a position to watch Danila Klimovich discover his approach to the highest of the group’s scoring record, in addition to first-rounder Jonathan Lekkerimäki start his North American profession. There’s additionally a seventh-round discover in rookie defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev, who has been excellent.
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS
Going from one franchise fixture to a different as captain speaks to consistency for the Condors. They named Seth Griffith their new captain Tuesday to switch the now-retired Brad Malone. Griffith is the Condors’ longest-tenured participant, and his 244 factors (79 objectives, 165 assists) in 258 video games are franchise data. The 2-time AHL All-Star ahead has been one of many league’s steadiest performers for greater than a decade now.
BELLEVILLE SENATORS
After an damage to Mads Sogaard, the B-Sens jumped to discover a alternative goaltender and added veteran Malcolm Subban on an AHL deal. For Subban, who in 2023 took the Rochester People to the Jap Convention Finals, there appears to be like to be nonetheless loads of sport left. It’s additionally a homecoming of types, as Subban performed his junior hockey for the Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls.
BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS
Coping with a 2-9-1-1 begin brought about partially by six one-goal losses, the Islanders went into Hershey on Nov. 15 and handed the Bears a 6-1 thumping. An evening later they paid a go to to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and turned in a 5-2 win. Two prime opponents, two decisive wins. These will be constructing blocks for the Islanders, who now have a minimum of a degree in 4 of their previous 5 contests.
CALGARY WRANGLERS
Seeing a prime prospect graduate to the NHL and stick is all the time an achievement for an AHL membership. It will also be a complication, in fact. Who would change somebody like Dustin Wolf, who moved on to the Calgary Flames full-time after three distinctive AHL seasons? Devin Cooley, that’s who. The offseason signing has been placing up numbers (10-3-0, 1.89, .940) which have helped put the Wranglers atop of the Pacific Division.
CHARLOTTE CHECKERS
Residence dates throughout Thanksgiving week are a staple for the Checkers, who can have the Iowa Wild visiting city for the vacations. After a difficult five-game street journey, the Checkers are again in entrance of their followers at Bojangles Coliseum this week and for a lot of the subsequent month. Charlotte will also be grateful for second-year professional Aidan McDonough, whose 10 objectives are already one shy of his whole from all of final season.
CHICAGO WOLVES
That Dustin Tokarski signing is wanting very smart now, particularly after accidents have hit the Carolina Hurricanes in internet. The 2-time Calder Cup champion inked a tryout cope with the Wolves on Nov. 2 and has rapidly lent a chilled presence within the Chicago crease. Whereas a gifted however younger assortment of prospects discover their method, they’ve Tokarski there to regular them every evening.
CLEVELAND MONSTERS
A nine-game profitable streak is kind of a pleasant deal with for Monsters followers to take into the vacation. So is an opportunity to have the likes of first-round picks David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk and Corson Ceulemans all taking their spot on the Cleveland blue line. After going to the Jap Convention Finals final season, the Monsters once more look harmful.
COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS
New head coach, a drastically remade roster, and coming off back-to-back heartbreaks within the Calder Cup Finals. How would the Firebirds deal with a lot change? Fairly nicely, apparently. Derek Laxdal stepped behind the bench and has his group on a 7-0-1-1 run that has them ascending the Pacific Division standings quickly. Firebirds followers will even have an opportunity to absorb among the league’s prime expertise when Coachella Valley hosts the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Spotlight 29 Casino on Feb. 2-3, 2025.
COLORADO EAGLES
Thanksgiving is a time to see previous acquainted faces, however Eagles followers have been doing that since October. Colorado Avalanche administration introduced again a parade of Eagles alumni in two-time AHL MVP T.J. Tynan, Jacob MacDonald, Jayson Megna and Calle Rosen. All of them nonetheless can play at excessive stage, too, and the Eagles needs to be harmful as soon as once more this season. Colorado followers have additionally seen 5 Eagles – Ivan Ivan, Matthew Stienburg, Nikita Prishchepov, Trent Miner and Chase Bradley – make their NHL debuts with the Avalanche already this season.
GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
Seeing Sebastian Cossa’s elevation from unproven goaltender to turning into one of many AHL’s elite has been a deal with for Griffins followers. So has capturing to the highest of the Central Division. The offense wanted time to search out itself, but it surely has, and the Griffins have collected 30 objectives of their previous seven video games. They’re rolling.
HARTFORD WOLF PACK
Ahead Brett Berard has proven that his 25-goal rookie season was not a one-off. Main the Wolf Pack with 13 factors (seven objectives, six assists) in 16 video games earned him a recall to the New York Rangers. The 2020 fifth-round choice has picked up a aim and an help in his first two NHL video games and performs an brisk model that’s positive to resonate with Rangers followers.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS
Laborious-nosed Mason Geertsen introduced final week that he’s in remission after being recognized with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2023. That’s one thing to be glad about far past something on the ice. Geertsen has been a hard-nosed participant for greater than 400 video games within the AHL with Henderson, Utica, Hartford, Colorado, San Antonio and Lake Erie.
HERSHEY BEARS
Two years, two Calder Cup titles, and the Bears are again in competition for the AHL lead once more this season. They’re bidding to turn into the primary membership to three-peat as a Calder Cup champion since Springfield did so between 1960-62. Any such title continues to be seven months away, however the previous few seasons have been particular even by the excessive requirements of the league’s senior-most franchise.
IOWA WILD
Holding a two-year, $4.4 million contract that begins subsequent season with the Minnesota Wild, Jesper Wallstedt has an opportunity to place the ending touches on his AHL growth this season. The 2021 first-round decide has had a particular two-plus seasons with Iowa and is a two-time AHL All-Star. Any evening that Iowa followers have an opportunity to see Wallstedt work in internet is particular.
LAVAL ROCKET
The place does one begin with this season’s Rocket membership? There may be new head coach Pascal Vincent, who rapidly has made his group right into a defensive drive. Or there’s the Jakub Dobeš–Connor Hughes goaltending tandem that has been distinctive. Or there’s a deep base of prospects that includes Owen Beck, Jared Davidson, Adam Engström, Logan Mailloux, Filip Mešár, Luke Tuch, and main scorer Joshua Roy, who was just lately recalled by the Montreal Canadiens. Place Bell already had one of many AHL’s greatest atmospheres; this season’s Rocket may make these followers even louder.
LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS
Anthony Richard’s return to the Lehigh Valley roster from the Philadelphia Flyers is a jolt for the Phantoms offense; Richard has 11 factors in eight AHL video games this 12 months. Samu Tuomaala continues to construct on his strong rookie season with a team-best 18 factors, together with the profitable aim in Wednesday’s time beyond regulation victory at Hartford.
MANITOBA MOOSE
Following a 3-7-0-0 begin, the Moose have taken three of their previous 5 contests. Now they’ve eight of their subsequent 12 video games at Canada Life Centre as they attempt to make up floor. Simply 20 years previous, defenseman Elias Salomonsson has made a fast adjustment to the AHL after spending elements of the previous 4 seasons within the Swedish Hockey League.
MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
Regardless of seeing their goaltending image change over the summer time, together with promotions for first-rounders Zach L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to the Nashville Predators, the always-reliable Admirals proceed to chug alongside. Karl Taylor, the AHL’s longest-tenured head coach, has wanted little time to place out one other contender, and Vinnie Hinostroza continues to construct a case for a return to the NHL by main the AHL in scoring (23 factors) getting into the vacation weekend.
ONTARIO REIGN
Be careful when ahead Samuel Fagemo begins to get sizzling. Final season he gathered 43 objectives in solely 50 video games with the Reign. After opening the primary six video games of this marketing campaign with no aim, he has buried seven objectives in his previous 9 video games. That may very well be unhealthy information for the remainder of the Pacific Division. Glenn Gawdin has additionally been on a tear, with 12 factors in his final 5 video games.
PROVIDENCE BRUINS
Michael DiPietro discovered new life in New England after elements of 4 seasons within the Vancouver group. After re-solidifying himself final season as a full-time AHL netminder, he has taken cost within the Windfall internet and gone 6-2-2 with a 2.08 goals-against common and .924 save share.
ROCHESTER AMERICANS
Devon Levi got here to the Amerks final January and was a workhouse down the stretch. He’s again in Rochester after beginning the season with the Buffalo Sabres, and the target is to get him loads of motion in internet – which is superb information for the Amerks. The persevering with growth of Isak Rosén sees him atop the Amerks’ scoring desk.
ROCKFORD ICEHOGS
Because the Chicago Blackhawks’ rebuild continues, IceHogs are attending to see loads of that hoped-for Chicago future. Rockford options first-round picks Kevin Korchinski, Artyom Levshunov and Frank Nazar. These three and goaltender Drew Commesso are a part of the core that the Hawks hope will develop collectively in Rockford earlier than advancing to Chicago.
SAN DIEGO GULLS
Ahead Sam Colangelo joined the Gulls coming off a 24-goal efficiency final season at Western Michigan College. He hardly wanted any acclimation time in San Diego as he collected 9 objectives in his first 14 video games. That work has earned him a recall to the Anaheim Geese.
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA
After attempting occasions within the latest previous, the Barracuda boast a enjoyable assortment of younger expertise. There may be Yaroslav Askarov in internet, ahead Collin Graf main the AHL in rookie scoring, and rookie Luca Cagnoni one of many top-scoring defensemen within the league. The guardian Sharks’ overhaul is absolutely underway and shall be relying on these prospects to come back via in some unspecified time in the future. For now, although, Barracuda followers have a nightly probability to see some sturdy prospects develop in entrance of them.
SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS
Goaltender Colten Ellis has been a stalwart because the Thunderbirds have labored to solidify themselves. Dalibor Dvorsky, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Dylan Peterson are among the key items of the St. Louis Blues’ future who’re progressing nicely as AHL rookies.
SYRACUSE CRUNCH
Brandon Halverson may barely discover a job in hockey a few years in the past after accidents and on-ice struggles imperiled his profession. Now he leads the AHL in GAA (1.59) and save share (.941) whereas taking part in on an AHL cope with the Crunch after the Tampa Bay Lightning group took an opportunity on him, writing one of many AHL’s greatest tales this season.
TEXAS STARS
All of the Stars proceed to do is develop expertise after which ship it on their NHL guardian in Dallas. That’s why Dallas is a prime contender and why Texas yearly places collectively a robust group. This season isn’t any completely different with Lian Bichsel, Justin Hryckowian and Arttu Hyry all a part of that subsequent expertise wave. Mixed with an distinctive offseason that retooled the Texas roster, this group is positioned to make noise within the Central Division as soon as once more.
TORONTO MARLIES
Artur Akhtyamov’s emergence as one of many AHL prime goaltenders early within the season? Nikita Grebenkin’s play resulting in his recall to the Toronto Maple Leafs? Alex Nylander working an AHL contract into an NHL alternative? Rookie ahead Fraser Minten recovering from damage, impressing rapidly, and advancing to the Leafs? Among the many AHL’s prime groups up to now, the Marlies have had no scarcity of fine information.
TUCSON ROADRUNNERS
Egor Sokolov came to visit to the Utah Hockey Membership in an offseason commerce feeling that he wanted a brand new begin following 4 seasons with the Belleville Senators. He presently leads the Roadrunners with eight objectives and 16 factors in 16 video games. Jaxson Stauber has additionally been a strong addition, with a .930 save share over his first seven begins for Tucson.
UTICA COMETS
Per week in the past, the Comets didn’t have a lot to be glad about. However they snapped a season-opening 13-game winless slide with spectacular street wins in Syracuse and Rochester, then made it three straight victories by treating the house followers to a 5-3 overcome Windfall on Wednesday. Offseason addition Mike Hardman is the reigning Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Participant of the Week, and rookie defenseman Seamus Casey leads the Comets in scoring after starting the season in New Jersey.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS
By way of accidents and a altering solid in internet (the Penguins have used 5 beginning goaltenders via 14 video games), this group has discovered a approach to get the job achieved for brand new head coach Kirk MacDonald. After they do return to full well being and maybe have a roster that settles down, they are going to be that a lot better for having confronted these early-season challenges.
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.
