Chirps from Center Ice

Welcome to Day 2 of the AHL Previews here at Chirps at Center Ice. Today we find ourselves in the North Division. Some of these teams play the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins, some do not. If a team plays in WBS it will be listed in bold. WBS road games will be in regular type. Ready, get set, go!

Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames)

Last year: 39-29-5-7 (91 pts.) 3^rd place North Division. Lost in Division Finals in 6 games to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Head Coach: Jim Playfair

Offseason moves: Stefan Meyer, J-P Lamoureux

The case for: Distance. Abbotsford is your typical AHL outpost. Nearest team is Manitoba, who is many many miles away. Teams have to go through extensive travel to get there. Also, the Heat didn’t lose too many real key guys, with all the firepower over in the West Division this year they will likely contend with Grand Rapids for the division title.

The case against: The aforementioned Griffins, and even the Hamilton Bulldogs. Also, distance cuts both ways, the Heat have to travel to places as near as Manitoba and as far as Wilkes-Barre / Scranton this year. That is a ton of miles. It wears on you. Abbotsford may make the playoffs, but in the grind known as the “second season” the Heat might get shut off in May.

Beat writer: Cam Tucker (website / twitter)

Twitter: @abbotsfordheat

Vs. WBS: Dec 15 / Dec 17; Mar 11 / Mar 12.

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Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

Last year: 34-39-3-4 (75 pts.) 7^th place North Division

Head Coach: Curt Fraser

Offseason moves: Greg Amadio, Jamie Johnson, Chris Minard, Joey MacDonald

The case for: The signings. Minard is a sniper, Amadio on defense, an old face in MacDonald returning to the Griffs in goal and this team is loaded for bear and will look to win games early to set the tone for the winter / spring.

The case against: Depth. Recalls to parent Detroit can easily sting this team and Minard was injury-prone with Springfield last year. The team will need to stay intact and healthy to have any chance of contending.

Beat writer: (by committee) MLive.com

Twitter: @griffinshockey

Vs. WBS: Do not play.

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Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens)

Last season: 52-17-3-8 (115 pts.) 1^st in North Division. Lost in Conference Finals to the Texas Stars in 7 games.

Head Coach: Randy Cunneyworth

Offseason moves: Alexandre Picard, Alexander Avtsin, Jimmy Bonneau, David Urquhart

The case for: Hamilton always ices a quality team. Winners of the North Division last year, will need to fend off Grand Rapids, but should make the playoffs this year and look to avenge the Game 7 home loss to the Texas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

The case against: Youth. A quick check of who is likely to be in the AHL-version of the bleu blanc et rouge this year shows no one older than age 26. Yes, the AHL is a developmental league. But, with the experience in some of the uniforms of the other teams in the North Division this year, do I dump the puck in late in a 2-2 game or skate it in? Is this guy going to go left or go right with less than 4 minutes to go in a scoreless game? These are things which will come with games played. Thing is, pick the wrong choice and you lose that 2-2 or scoreless game.

Beat writer: Garry McKay

Twitter: @dogsplaybyplay – play-by-play voice Derek Wills. (the Bulldogs are the only AHL team without an “official” Twitter feed.)

Vs. WBS: Do not play.

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Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche)

Last year: 34-37-1-8 (77 pts.) 6^th place North Division.

Head Coach: David Quinn

Offseason moves: David Liffiton, Greg Mauldin, Julian Talbot, David Van Der Gulik, Jason Bacashihua, John Grahame

The case for: Mauldin plays hard on defense. Bacashihua is a solid goaltender. Van Der Gulik was 2^nd on the Abbotsford Heat in scoring last year. You need scoring, solid D and great goaltending to have any chance, right? Lake Erie has the ingredients to make some noise this year.

The case against: The losses of Darren Haydar and All-Star T.J. Hensick to in-Conference foes make it difficult to have hope this season on the shores of Lake Erie.

Beat writer: Dennis Manoloff

Twitter: @monstershockey

Vs. WBS: Do not play.

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Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks)

Last season: 40-33-5-2 (87 pts.) 4^th place North Division. Lost in Division Semifinals to the Hamilton Bulldogs in 6 games.

Head Coach: Claude Noel

Offseason moves: Shawn Weller, Tyler Weiman, David Shantz

The case for: If highly heralded prospect Cody Hodgson does an extended apprenticeship on the Prairie this year, watch out. Marco Rosa returns, Weiman is a great goaltender; the Moose could surprise a few people this season.

The case against: Youth. They lose the leadership veteran Mike Keane brought night after night and Michael Grabner looks graduated to The Show, so as with other teams within the division, the Moose could very well be in it early but be out of it late.

Beat writers: By committee: Winnipeg Free Press / Ken Wiebe: Winnipeg Sun

Twitter: @ManitobaMoose

Vs. WBS: Feb 4 / Feb 8; Mar 15 / Mar 16

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Rochester Americans (Florida Panthers)

Last year: 44-33-2-1 (91 pts.) 2^nd place North Division. Lost in Division Semifinals to the Abbotsford Heat in 7 games.

Head Coach: Chuck Weber

Offseason moves: Mark Cullen, Mike Santorelli, Andrew Peters, T.J. Fast, Joe Callahan, Bill Thomas, Triston Grant, Mike Kostka

The case for: Rochester is one of the most tenured teams in the AHL, rich in history; they want to put on a good show in the AHL’s 75^th Year Anniversary.

The case against: The parent team. The situation between Rochester and parent Florida is downright caustic. They are in the final year of an affiliation agreement and all signs point to a divorce at the end of the year. Fans are turning in season tickets and it is just not a good situation for all involved with the current situation with Florida. Cullen and Santorelli are bonafide players at the AHL level, both being All-Stars at some point in their careers in this league, but they may be a band-aid on a bullet wound at this point.

Beat writer: Kevin Oklobzija (blog / twitter) – Keith Wozniak is a fan running LetsGoAmerks.com and also tweets.

Twitter: @AmerksHockey

Vs. WBS: Nov 5 / Nov 7; Nov 27 / Apr 2

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Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Last season: 33-35-6-6 (78 pts.) 5^th place North Division.

Head Coach: Dallas Eakins (@dallaseakins)

Offseason moves: Danny Richmond, Mike Zigomanis, Joey Crabb, Jerry D’Amigo, Matt Lashoff, Nazem Kadri*

The case for: Zigomanis should be playing in the NHL. Crabb played with the Chicago Wolves and won a Calder Cup a few years ago. D’Amigo left college early to turn pro. Lashoff is a good defenseman. (*- Kadri is a heralded prospect who, if he doesn’t stick with the Leafs could see some time with the Marlies.) Couple these guys with the youth already present in the Marlies locker room along with the fact that the parent Maple Leafs are on the rise and you have a recipe for success.

The case against: Four words: Danny Richmond on defense.

Beat writer: MarliesHQ (twitter / website)

Twitter: @TorontoMarlies

Vs. WBS: Dec 8 / Mar 4

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Like with the West Division Preview yesterday, if you spot glaring errors or omissions, please leave drop me a line in the comment section. Tomorrow we hit up the Atlantic Division.