The 2025-2026 AHL season is quickly approaching, with opening day slated for Friday, Oct 10, the joy is ramping up within the FloSports workplace.
With uncertainty round NHL rosters forward of coaching camp, most of those are topic to vary, however listed here are some issues to look out for within the offseason. In case your favourite prospect doesn’t make their NHL staff this season, don’t fear, the AHL is one of the best place to observe the subsequent technology of NHL Stars earlier than they hit the massive leagues.
We requested FloHockey content material creator and AHL skilled Lizz Youngster to offer her opinion on why individuals ought to watch the AHL in 2025. Right here’s what she needed to say.
2025 Abbotsford Canucks vs Henderson Silver Knights
Lizz’s AHL Groups To Watch In 2025-26
Of the 32 groups within the AHL, listed here are those that Lizz says to observe for and why.
Bridgeport Islanders
The Islanders are going into their twenty fifth season as a franchise, and so they’re bringing again a classic look. After lacking the playoffs within the final three seasons, the Islanders made some teaching adjustments, hiring assistant coaches David Cunniff and Chad Kolarik to again up new head coach Rocky Thomspon.
Not solely will the Islanders have some new faces on the bench, however they’ve additionally signed a number of gamers to one-year, two-way offers with the New York Islanders. Matthew Highmore, Ethan Bear and Cole McWard have all been signed, becoming a member of the AHL roster gamers of Chris Terry, Max Dorrington, Cam Berg, Ross Mitton Hunter Drew and Luke Rowe.
All gamers are on one yr offers.
The Islanders shall be a largely new-look staff, and might these adjustments be sufficient to get them again to the Calder Cup playoffs?
Abbotsford Canucks
Contemporary off profitable their first Calder Cup trophy, the Abbotsford Canucks could have a tall job in the event that they wish to repeat. Within the offseason, the Canucks group traded Calder Cup Finals MVP goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins group.
With out Silovs, how good will the Canucks be, and might they make one other run to the Calder Cup Finals?
Hershey Bears
After profitable the Calder Cup in back-to-back seasons, 2023 and 2024, the Bears misplaced within the second spherical of the playoffs to the Charlotte Checkers. Within the offseason, the Bears employed Derek King as their new head coach after Todd Nelson left to take an assistant teaching position with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With the storied historical past of the Bears’ group, the expectations of King are clear, get the staff again to the Calder Cup finals and win.
The Bears have signed Andrew Cristall from the WHL, and the as soon as second spherical decide who has led the WHL in scoring for the previous three seasons, hoping to spice up their offense.
With these new elements, the Bears are a staff to observe this season.
Grand Rapids Griffins
After a majorly profitable NHL draft by the Detroit Purple Wings, the Griffins could have a number of high prospects obtainable to play for them this season. The Griffins misplaced within the first spherical of the Calder Cup Playoffs to the Texas Stars, however with their doubtless stacked roster, may this yr be their yr?
Texas Stars
The Texas Stars are a staff that has fallen simply in need of enjoying for the Calder Cup, shedding to Abbotsford in six video games in 2025. Now, they’ve a brand new head coach in Toby Petersen, who was a part of the Stars’ solely Calder Cup profitable staff in 2014.
With Peterson on the helm and a number of other stars set to return, can the Stars return to the Calder Cup finals and win?
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign have a primary yr head coach in Andrew Lord, and regardless of it being his first yr teaching within the AHL, he has intensive expertise at different ranges. He was named the ECHL Coach of the Yr and within the ECHL led the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to a 155-94-39 general report.
With Lord’s profitable expertise, the Reign want to make it previous the prelims after shedding in 2025.
The Out of doors Sport Is Again
The AHL Out of doors Traditional is again after lacking the 2024-2025 season. It can characteristic the Iowa Wild and the Milwaukee Admirals as a part of Hockey Day Minnesota, reside from the United Heroes League Advanced in Hastings.
The twentieth yr of the occasion, this yr’s recreation is anticipated to have 80,000 followers and shall be a brilliant well-liked occasion for everybody concerned, and is one in every of Lizz’s favourite occasions of the yr.
Teddy Bear Tosses
Everybody’s favourite recreation of the yr, particularly Lizz’s, each staff has their very own teddy bear toss. Who doesn’t love seeing teddy bears tossed onto the ice for trigger, with all the bears donated to charities for kids after the sport.
The Hershey Bears frequently set new data with their teddy bear tosses yearly and in 2025, they set a world report for many teddy bears ever donated from a teddy bear toss with 10,514. Whereas Flo has not but been capable of attend one in every of Hershey’s teddy bear tosses, it is on Lizz’s bucket checklist of hockey video games.
CBA Age Rule Change
If the CBA Rule Change for gamers underneath 19, permitting them to play within the AHL, it may very well be a recreation changer for growth. It will enable high prospect and predicted No. 1 general NHL Draft decide Sam Dickinson to play within the AHL, gaining expertise in opposition to NHL gamers.
Gamers Who Might Make NHL Rosters This Season
A number of the high prospects that Lizz has lined through the years within the AHL may make the complete NHL rosters this yr. This is who.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki – Vancouver Canucks
Lekkerimaki was picked fifteenth general by the Vancouver Canucks in 2022, however has not but performed a full season for Vancouver.
Michael DiPietro – Boston Bruins
DiPietro was drafted sixty fourth general by the Vancouver Canucks however has not performed a full season with them and solely appeared in three video games. Now a part of the Boston Bruins group, he may play his first full NHL season this yr.
Gamers To Watch
Jacob Fowler – Laval Rocket
A goaltender for the Laval Rocket, Fowler performed for Boston Faculty earlier than signing a 3 yr cope with the Montreal Canadiens earlier than being assigned to Laval. This yr, he may very well be the beginning goaltender for the Rocket in his first full skilled season.
Artyom Levshunov – Rockford Icehogs
The second general decide within the 2024 NHL Draft, Levshunov is trying to make it to the NHL this season. He performed in 18 video games for the Chicago Blackhawks and is trying to make himself a full time roster participant for them this season.
AHL Opening Weekend Schedule On FloHockey
Right here’s each AHL recreation that can occur in week one, with all instances listed in Jap Time. All video games may be streamed on FloHockey and the FloSports App. Subscribe right here to not miss any of the motion.
Friday, October 10
- 7:00 pm — Cleveland vs Utica
- 7:05 pm — Toronto vs Rochester
- 8:00 pm — Laval vs Manitoba
- 8:00 pm — Grand Rapids vs Texas
- 9:05 pm — Calgary vs Colorado
- 10:00 pm — Tucson vs Ontario
- 10:00 pm — Abbotsford vs Henderson
- 10:00 pm — San Diego vs Coachella Valley
Saturday, October 11
- 3:00 pm — Cleveland vs Utica
- 4:00 pm — Rochester vs Toronto
- 6:00 pm — Bakersfield vs San Jose
- 6:05 pm — Hartford vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
- 6:05 pm — Charlotte vs Springfield
- 7:00 pm — Windfall vs Bridgeport
- 7:00 pm — Syracuse vs Hershey
- 7:00 pm — Chicago vs Iowa
- 7:05 pm — Belleville vs Lehigh Valley
- 8:00 pm — Milwaukee vs Rockford
- 8:00 pm — Grand Rapids vs Texas
- 9:00 pm — Abbotsford vs Henderson
- 9:05 pm — Calgary vs Colorado
Sunday, October 12
- 3:00 pm — Belleville vs Bridgeport
- 3:00 pm — Laval vs Manitoba
- 3:05 pm — Charlotte vs Windfall
- 3:05 pm — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton vs Lehigh Valley
- 5:00 pm — Syracuse vs Hershey
- 6:00 pm — Rockford vs Iowa
- 6:00 pm — Tucson vs Ontario
Prime AHL Prospects
Whereas we’re nonetheless ready for NHL camps to complete to see the ultimate rosters, listed here are among the high AHL prospects going into the 2025-26 season.
- Artyom Levshunov, Rockford
- Isaac Howard, Bakersfield
- Matt Savoie, Bakersfield
- Jacob Fowler, Laval
- Dalibor Dvorsky, Springfield
- Andrew Cristall, Hershey
- Ivan Miroshinchenko, Hershey
- Ilya Protas, Hershey
- Axel Sandin Pellikka, Grand Rapids
- Nate Danielson, Grand Rapids
- Sebastian Cossa, Grand Rapids
- Emil Hemming, Texas
- Tanner Molendyk, Milwaukee
- Danila Yurov, Iowa
- Liam Ohgren, Iowa
What had been the 2024-25 AHL Standings?
View the complete 2024-25 AHL common season standings under. Click on right here to view the newest standings.
Atlantic Division
- y – Hershey Bears – 96
- x – Charlotte Checkers – 94
- x – Windfall Bruins – 90
- x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 88
- x – Lehigh Valley Phantoms – 80
- x – Springfield Thunderbirds – 74
- Hartford Wolf Pack – 69
- Bridgeport Islanders – 37
North Division
- y – Laval Rocket – 101
- x – Rochester Individuals – 92
- x – Syracuse Crunch – 86
- x – Toronto Marlies – 86
- x – Cleveland Monsters – 81
- Belleville Senators – 79
- Utica Comets – 70
Central Division
- y – Milwaukee Admirals – 91
- x – Texas Stars – 89
- x – Grand Rapids Griffins – 80
- x – Chicago Wolves – 78
- x – Rockford IceHogs – 70
- Iowa Wild – 62
- Manitoba Moose – 56
Pacific Division
- y – Colorado Eagles – 94
- x – Abbotsford Canucks – 92
- x – Ontario Reign – 90
- x – Coachella Valley Firebirds – 84
- x – Calgary Wranglers – 81
- x – San Jose Barracuda – 81
- x – Tucson Roadrunners – 74
- Bakersfield Condors – 74
- San Diego Gulls – 66
- Henderson Silver Knights – 63
x = Clinched Playoff Place
y = Clinched Division
Who Gained The 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs?
The Abbotsford Canucks gained the finals of the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs in opposition to the Charlotte Checkers in six video games. It is the franchise’s first Calder Cup.
How To Watch AHL Hockey Dwell This Season
Followers can watch each AHL recreation reside and on-demand on FloHockey from the preseason by means of to the final recreation of the Calder Cup finals.
When Do The Calder Cup Playoffs Begin?
The final recreation of the 2025-26 AHL common season is scheduled for Sunday, April 19. The Calder Cup playoffs sometimes start just a few days after the conclusion of the common season.
NHL Prospect Protection On FloHockey
One of the best, and most full, protection of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is discovered on FloHockey. Do not miss the newest new prospect guides, rankings and extra from Chris Peters and the FloHockey employees.
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Watch the AHL, ECHL, QMJHL, USHL, And Extra On FloHockey
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