Chirps from Center Ice

Welcome back to the AHL Previews here at Chirps from Center Ice and welcome to the Eastern Conference. If you missed the Western Conference Previews you can find the North Division here, the West Division here and the Midwest Division here. I also have tabs at the top of your computer screen which drop down for the division you want to examine.

The Atlantic Division loses the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Connecticut Whale and Springfield Falcons to the newly formed Northeast Division and gains the St. John’s IceCaps who are the affiliate to the Winnipeg Jets, who replaced the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Wilkes-Barre plays every team in this division at least four times, with the home games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza listed in bold.

Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings)

Last Year: 44-26-4-6 (98 pts.) 2nd place Atlantic Division. Lost to the Binghamton Senators in 7 games in the Atlantic Division Semifinals.

Head Coach: Mark Morris

Arena: Verizon Wireless Center

ECHL Affiliation: Ontario Reign

Offseason Moves: Rob Bordson, J.D. Watt

The case for: Will contend for division title as they do year in and year out. Will shuffle some players to and from parent Los Angeles which will get the invaluable NHL experience.

The case against: Portland looks better. Providence isn’t going to be easy to play this year. St. John’s is the big unknown. Could be an all or nothing for the Monarchs of ManchVegas this season.

Beat Writer: None

Twitter: @MonarchsHockey

Broadcaster: Ken Cail

vs. WBS: @ 10/29, @ 11/19, 1/20, 2/23

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Portland Pirates (Phoenix Coyotes)

Last Year: 47-24-7-2 (103 pts.) 1st place Atlantic Division. (under affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres) Lost to the Binghamton Senators in 6 games in the Atlantic Division Finals.

Head Coach: Ray Edwards

Arena: Cumberland County Civic Center

ECHL Affiliation: Gwinnett Gladiators

Offseason Moves: Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Tyler Eckford, Dean Arsene, Nathan Oystrick, Justin Pogge, Marc Chevrie

The case for: An all-star cast of newcomers coming in on a new affiliation. The Coyotes may have problems in house, but they are making sure that their top minor league affiliate is stacked.

The case against: Goaltending. Pogge is a loose cannon as evidenced from his days playing for the Charlotte Checkers and Marc Chevrie is a young, untested netminder. Portland could lose a bunch of 6-5, 5-3 and 4-3 hockey games this season.

Beat Writer: Maine Hockey Journal (blog / twitter)

Twitter: @portlandpirates

Broadcaster: Jeff Mannix

vs. WBS: @ 11/18, 12/2, 2/11, @ 2/20

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Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)

Last Year: 38-36-3-3 (82 pts.) 5th place Atlantic Division

Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy

Arena: Dunkin Donuts Center

ECHL Affiliation: Reading Royals

Offseason Moves: Jamie Tardif, Josh Hennessy

The case for: Providence used to be a mainstay in the Calder Cup Playoffs year after year. They’ve missed two years straight. Young, hungry group of guys who could give opponents fits this season give fans hope.

The case against: Young, untested goaltending. Could be a trial by fire for the netminders and another potentially long year in The Divine City.

Beat Writer: The Providence Journal

Fan Blog: Something’s Bruin

Twitter: @AHLBruins

Broadcaster: Nick Gagalis does home games. He’s @NickGagalis. Kevin Boryczki does road games, per the P-Bruins.

vs. WBS: 1/25, @ 3/9

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St. John’s IceCaps (Winnipeg Jets)

Last Year: (as the Manitoba Moose under affiliation with the Vancouver Canucks) 43-30-1-6 (93 pts.) 3rd place North Division. Lost in North Division Finals in 7 games to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Head Coach: Keith McCambridge

Arena: Mile One Centre

ECHL Affiliation: Colorado Eagles

Offseason Moves: Jason DeSantis, Aaron Gagnon, Jason Jaffray

The case for: First year teams (Texas Stars in 2009-2010, Charlotte Checkers in 2010-2011) have made the playoffs in their maiden AHL voyages. Going purely off of that silly statistic, the Ice Caps already have the postseason ticket punched.

The case against: Don’t let the “this team came from Manitoba” tag fool you. This is basically last years Chicago Wolves, a team that underachieved and did not even whiff playoff air.

Beat Writer: Brendan McCarthy (twitter)

Fan Blog: SJIceCaps.com (blog / twitter)

Twitter: @IceCapsAHL

Broadcaster: Brian Rogers

vs. WBS: @ 1/14, @ 1/15, 3/6, 3/24

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Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks)

Last Year: 36-31-4-9 (85 pts.) 4th place Atlantic Division and victim to the crossover rule and the East Division’s 5th place team the Binghamton Senators.

Head Coach: Roy Sommer

Arena: DCU Center

ECHL Affiliation: Stockton Thunder

Offseason Moves: Ben Guité, Matt Pelech

The case for: San Jose always makes sure that they have NHL ready players playing in The City of the Seven Hills, evidenced by the numerous callups seen on the transactions page year after year. Steady as she goes again this season and the Sharks could surprise people.

The case against: Worcester lost a lot of key guys to other NHL, AHL and European teams. Are the fill-ins up to par?

Beat Writer: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Fan Blog: SharksPage (blog / twitter)

Twitter: @WorcesterSharks

Broadcaster: Eric Lindquist (twitter)

vs. WBS: @ 11/20, 3/17

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Comments are open for discussion. Tomorrow we tour the new division called the Northeast Division.