Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
AHL rosters continue to take shape, and opening weekend is in the books.
Eight teams across the league have new coaches, and all teams have new rosters to one degree or another. The first few weeks of the AHL season are about building familiarity with the new staff, getting the systems working on the ground, and establishing a foundation that can carry the team through the second half of the season and into the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Let’s take a team-by-team look at the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference division will follow later.
BELLEVILLE
Under the coach David BellSenators are difficult. They split the opening weekend, winning at Rochester and falling in a shootout at Syracuse. The Crunch will be familiar with the start of the B-Sens, who will face Syracuse five times before Thanksgiving in the US. Ottawa assigned a sniper Adam Gaudette to Belleville after scoring a league-leading 44 goals last season with Springfield.
BRIDGEPORT
Complete with a new logo that pays homage to the parent New York Islanders’ mid-1990s look, Bridgeport plays eight of 11 games on the road between Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, early assessment Rick Kowalskyclub as the Islanders try to bounce back from missing the Calder Cup Playoffs each of the past two seasons. Chris Terry, Liam Foudy again Pierre Engvall they are among the new faces.
CHARLOTTE
The Checkers remain in contention and haven’t missed the cut in the season since 2016. With the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers as their parent team, both sides are building strong rosters in Charlotte. A veteran blueliner Trevor Carrick he returns to the team where he won the Calder Cup in 2019, and the Checkers also bring experience to this position. Jacob Megna again Tobias Bjornfot. Chris Driedgerwho took Coachella Valley to the Calder Cup finals last season, leads the team in net when the forwards. Kyle Criscuolo again Matt Luff they are new again. A new discovery Aidan McDonoughFour goals in two wins on opening weekend earned him Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week.
CLEVELAND
The Monsters, who lost by one goal in the Calder Cup final last June, are supported by the goalkeeper Jet Greaves following a strong season of development. First round pick Denton MateychukThe Western Hockey League’s defenseman of the year last season, he is now full-time with the Monsters after a tough postseason performance last spring. Rocco Grimaldihis 36 goals ranked third in the AHL last season for Chicago, a last-minute addition to a potentially impactful roster. Opening with five straight road games is a challenge, but the Monsters have already earned a split in the opening two-game series in Hershey.
HARTFORD
First round pick Brennan Othmann and a 25-goal scorer Brett Berard are back with the Wolf Pack to continue their improvement after strong rookie seasons. Dylan Garand comes back with a lot of net experience in the team and veterans Louis Domingue once again. Hartford has reached the division finals in each of the past two seasons, and maybe this year they can take another step under a new head coach. Grant Potulny.
HERSHEY
Three peat. That’s the goal in Hershey, where the Bears are trying to become the first team in 63 years to win three consecutive Calder Cups. They came forward Luke Phil again Spencer Smallman and the protector Brad HuntAHL First All-Star Team selection last season with Colorado. Ivan Miroshnichenko again Vincent Iorio title of the young returning head, too Hunter Shepard again Clay Stevenson back to the net.
LAVAL
Laval has one of the most exciting team prospects in the AHL, and there is no shortage of local excitement and attention from Montreal Canadiens fans. Owen Beck, Sean Farrell, Riley Kidney, Filip Mešar, Joshua Roy again Luke Tuch they are among the top hitters. AHL All-Rookie team selection Logan Mailloux can hold the blue line, too Jakub Dobeš he was a standout player as a rookie last season. Pascal Vincent takes over Laval’s bench after leading the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, and Monday’s addition Alex Barré-Boulet gives Laval a terrifying threat, too.
THE LEHIGH VALLEY
Alexei KolosovThe progress on the net will be something to watch closely. Forward Oscar Eklind is another interesting addition after scoring 17 goals last season in the Swedish Hockey League. Anthony Richard from Providence to lend offensive support. Forward Massimo Rizzo is coming off three strong seasons at the University of Denver that produced two national championship titles.
PROVIDENCE
The management of the Boston Bruins always brings together a strong base of veterans in Providence, and this year is no different. Signatures Cole Koepke again Riley Tufte made the Boston program after spending time in the AHL last season. But the P-Bruins have new players Vinnie Lettieri again Jeffrey Viel while the rear end has Jordan Oesterle again Billy Sweezey now in place. Forward Fabian Lysell again George Merkulov can take big steps this season, too.
ROCHESTER
There’s a lot new in Rochester this year. The head coach Seth Appert He is now in Buffalo as an assistant coach. Captain Michael Mersch retired, and other familiar faces stepped forward. First round pick Konsta Helenius is an 18-year-old Amerk after being taken 14th overall in the NHL Draft this summer; continues a long line of top picks in Rochester. Anton Wahlberg is in Rochester after a late season layoff. Mike Leone takes over as head coach.
SPRINGFIELD
Equipped with a new seven-year extension to remain part of the St. Louis Blues, stability is the theme of the Thunderbirds. Steve Konowalchuk takes over in his first head coaching job and will have some quality depth up and down his roster, including returnees. Hugh McGing, Nikita Alexandrov, Tyler Tucker and captain Matthew Peca. Forward Zach Deana 2021 first-rounder, returns to Springfield for his second pro season.
SYRACUSE
Always mixed, the Crunch roster is filled with several late summer moves. Forward Logan Brown, Jujhar Khaira, Gemel Smith, Joel Teasdale again Jesse Ylonen everything should help a little. In defense, Tobie Bisson, Derrick Pouliot again Steven Santini they came to Syracuse to lend veteran leadership. Joel Bouchard He is heading into his second season leading the Crunch.
Toronto
Marli came forward Alex Nylandera person who can be a sniper in their ranks. He joins the general context of Joseph Blandisi, Kyle Cliffordthe captain Logan Shaw and All-Star Alex Steves. Two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray has battled injuries recently and is in net as he tries to return to the NHL. The protector Topi Niemelä had a solid first season with the Marlies.
UTICA
The Comets remained in contention until the end of the 2023-24 regular season before failing to secure a playoff bid. They brought back a lot last season to get back into contention and will be hungry to get back to the Calder Cup Playoffs. The first round Chase Stillman will try to build on a promising first season and take on a bigger role, too Mike Hardman joins the Comets after scoring 22 goals in Rockford last year.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Kyle Dubas he always paid close attention to the Marlies when he was the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now that he’s with the Pittsburgh Penguins, that’s no different, and the front office has reworked the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton system. A new coach Kirk MacDonald you have Sebastian Aho, Jimmy Huntington, Boko Mama, Boris Katchouk, Mac Hollowell again Dan Renouf all across the board to give the AHL Pens a very different look. Rookie defender Owen Pickering first round pick, and will be highly regarded as a freshman Sergei Murashov on the net.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
