Welcome to the fourth annual Chirps from Center Ice AHL team previews. This exercise involves me, a Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins fan handicapping all 30 AHL teams. Even the ones that the Penguins have never played or won’t play this season.
Back this year with previous years in each capsule is NHL affiliation, record last season, Head Coach, Arena, ECHL affiliation if applicable, offseason moves, media coverage (fan blog or otherwise) team Twitter and Facebook handles, broadcaster, how many times they play the Penguins, “the case for” and “the case against” the team this season and since I like to add categories with every preview every year, the teams Instagram account can also be found in these previews.
The AHL realigned again this offseason, with the departure of the Peoria Rivermen and Houston Aeros and the genesis of the Utica Comets and the Iowa Wild. The divisions were shook up and renamed again and only affected the Western Conference. Each individual divisional realignment will address who’s new and who’s departed.
You can follow the league @theAHL on Twitter, /TheAHL on Facebook and TheAHL on Instagram.
Today, we start in the “West” division, which was last years “South” division. The Abbotsford Heat move into this division taking the place of the Houston Aeros, who reincarnated as the Iowa Wild. The Penguins don’t play anyone in this division.
Okay. Here we go….
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Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames)
Last Year: 34-32-4-6 (78 pts., 4th place North Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Troy Ward
Arena: Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
ECHL Affiliation: Alaska Aces
Offseason Moves: Chad Billins, Karri Rämö
The case for: A young team that can contend if everything falls into place.
The case against: I don’t see anything here that makes me believe this team will contend.
Media Coverage: Abbotsford News — Dan Kinvig (twitter / blog)
Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.
Twitter: @abbotsfordheat
Facebook: /AbbotsfordHeat
Instagram: abbotsfordheat
Broadcaster: Brandon Astle (twitter)
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)
Last Year: 42-26-4-4 (92 pts., 2nd place South Division)
Playoffs: 4th seed — lost in five games to the Oklahoma City Barons in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Head Coach: Jeff Daniels
Arena: Time Warner Cable Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Florida Everblades
Offseason Moves: Matt Corrente, Mike Murphy
The case for: There are four teams that can win this division. Charlotte is one of them.
The case against: There are four teams that can win the division.
Media Coverage: Charlotte Observer
Fan Blog: Chasing Checkers (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @CheckersHockey
Facebook: /charlottecheckers
Instagram: checkershockey
Broadcaster: Jason Shaya (twitter)
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)
Last Year: 43-22-5-6 (97 pts., 1st place South Division)
Playoffs: 1st seed — lost in five games to the Oklahoma City Barons in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Head Coach: Willie Desjardins
Arena: Cedar Park Center
ECHL Affiliation: Idaho Steelheads
Offseason Moves: Pat Nagle, Ryan Button, Chris Mueller
The case for: Desjardins is on many NHL GM’s radars as a candidate to coach in the NHL someday. The best coached team in the Western Conference? Look no further.
The case against: Competition is stiffer in the West than it has been in past seasons. In a division where almost any team can end up at the top, the Stars margin for error will be slim.
Media Coverage: The Statesman
Fan Blog: 100 Degree Hockey (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @TexasStars
Facebook: /TexasStars
Instagram: txstarshockey
Broadcaster: Owen Newkirk (twitter)
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton Oilers)
Last Year: 40-25-2-9 (91 pts., 3rd place South Division)
Playoffs: 5th seed — lost in seven games to the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Western Conference Finals.
Head Coach: Todd Nelson
Arena: Cox Convention Center
ECHL Affiliation: Bakersfield Condors
Offseason Moves: Derek Nesbitt, Matt Ford, Richard Bachman, Ryan Hamilton
The case for: The Barons have what it takes to win a lot of games in this division and will be at the top of the Conference all season long.
The case against: So do a lot of other teams in this conference with slightly better lineups.
Media Coverage: The Oklahoman
Fan Blog: Tend the Farm
Twitter: @okcbarons
Facebook: /OKCBarons
Instagram: okcbarons
Broadcaster: Jim Byers (twitter)
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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San Antonio Rampage (Florida Panthers)
Last Year: 29-38-2-7 (67 pts., 5th place South Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Head Coach: Peter Horacheck
Arena: AT&T Center
ECHL Affiliation: Cincinnati Cylcones
Offseason Moves: Phillippe Cornet, Jon Matsumoto
The case for: Very much improved lineup with the additions made this offseason. Looking for a sleeper team? Meet me in San Antonio.
The case against: This team may “sleep” past it’s alarm.
Media Coverage: My San Antonio
Fan Blog: Runnin’ with the Herd (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @sarampage
Facebook: /sarampagehockey
Instagram: sarampage
Broadcaster: Dan Weiss (twitter)
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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Check out the blog in about twelve hours as we cram in two divisions in the span of 24 hours! The Midwest Division is next up.
As always, feel free to share and comment.
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 
Mike Murphy is back in Charlotte… you might recall him from the season he beat the WBS Penguins in the playoffs. (I can’t help it it’s the only chirp I’ve got!)
As of right now, Corrente is still in Raleigh, and it looks like our captain of the past couple of seasons has made the Hurricanes squad, so I’m anxious to see what a Brett Sutter-less team will look like. Aaron Palushaj, an offseason addition by the Canes, might prove to be quite he offensive force, which is good since we lost Zac Dalpe yesterday.
I still can’t believe my team, as far EAST as it is, belongs to a division named “West”…. I guess it’s as bad as Raleigh being in the “metropolitan” division as if it’s a big city like NY, Philly and Washington it shares the division with!
Mike Murphy? Charlotte played WBS? Memory fading… 🙂
(edit made, thank you!)
Umm… Charlotte and Texas both lost to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference SemiFinals? I’d like to see how that is possible.
Fixed.