Chirps from Center Ice

Back for day three here for the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Previews as we complete the tour of the Western Conference in the North Division. Get caught up on the West Division here and the Midwest Division here or at anytime on the drop down menu box at the top of the blog.

This years North Division loses the Abbotsford Heat to the West Division and gains the Utica Comets. The Comets are the old Peoria Rivermen franchise and are the affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. I’ll use last years record for the Chicago Wolves (who were affiliated with Vancouver last year) as the record for the Comets. The Penguins play every team in this division except the Lake Erie Monsters. Home games are listed in bold.

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Hamilton Bulldogs (Montréal Canadiens)

Last Year: 29-41-1-5 (64 pts., 5th place North Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Sylvain Lefebvre

Arena: Copps Coliseum

ECHL Affiliation: Wheeling Nailers

Offseason Moves: Drew Schiestel, Joël Chouinard, Christian Thomas, Nick Tarnasky, Martin St. Pierre

The case for: The newcomers give fans in the Canadian version of the Steel City hope.

The case against: Hope is one thing. Results are another.

Media Coverage: The Hamilton Spectator

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @BulldogsAHL

Facebook: /hamiltonbulldogs

Instagram: bulldogsahl

Broadcaster: Derek Wills (twitter)

vs. WBS: @ 3/8, 3/14

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Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche)

Last Year: 35-31-3-7 (80 pts., 3rd place North Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Dean Chynoweth

Arena: Quicken Loans Arena

CHL Affiliation: Denver Cutthroats*

Offseason Moves: Mikaël Tam, André Benoit, Nate Guenin, Nick Holden, J.T. Wyman

The case for: Solid group of players on the shores of Lake Erie. Could surprise a few people. Especially in this division.

The case against: Don’t hold your breath waiting for this team to shock people.

Media Coverage: The Plain Dealer

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @monstershockey

Facebook: /lakeeriemonsters

Instagram: monstershockey

Broadcaster: Doug Plagens (twitter)

vs. WBS: Do not play.

* – the Lake Erie Monsters don’t have an affiliate in the ECHL, rather affiliating with the Central Hockey League’s Denver Cutthroats

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Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Last Year: 43-23-3-7 (96 pts., 1st place North Division)

Playoffs: 2 seed — Lost in six games to the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Head Coach: Steve Spott

Arena: Ricoh Coliseum

ECHL Affiliation: Orlando Solar Bears

Offseason Moves: Trevor Smith, Troy Bodie

The case for: Expect another strong season for the Marlies, who should be around playing in late May.

The case against: Carrying the target of a team to beat may wear on players as a season progresses.

Media Coverage: Kyle Cicerella — at large — (twitter / blog)

Fan Blog: MarliesHQ

Twitter: @TorontoMarlies

Facebook: /TorontoMarlies

Instagram: torontomarlies

Broadcaster: Todd Crocker (twitter)

vs. WBS: @ 3/9, 4/13

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Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

Last Year: 43-29-3-1 (90 pts., 2nd place North Division)

Playoffs: 7 seed — Lost in three games to the Toronto Marlies in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Head Coach: Chadd Cassidy

Arena: Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial

ECHL Affiliation: None

Offseason Moves: Mike Zigomanis, Drew Bagnall, Jamie Tardif

The case for: The Americans can capitalize on the fact they are a good team playing in a weak division.

The case against: One of the teams in the division is the Toronto Marlies, who own the Amerks.

Media Coverage: Democrat and Chronicle — Kevin Oklobzija (twitter / blog)

Fan Blog: Amerks Sin Bin (blog / twitter)

Twitter: @AmerksHockey

Facebook: /RochesterAmericans

Instagram: amerkshockey

Broadcaster: Don Stevens (twitter)

vs. WBS: @ 11/20, 2/1

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Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)

Last Year: (as the Chicago Wolves) — 37-30-5-4 (83 pts., 4th place Midwest Division)

Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Head Coach: Travis Green

Arena: Utica Memorial Auditorium

ECHL Affiliation: Kalamazoo Wings

Offseason Moves: Benn Ferriero, John Negrin, David Pacan, Brandon DeFazio, Zach Hamill

The case for: This is the first year Vancouver is running an AHL team on its own. Expect the unexpected.

The case against: Travel. Good players will be up and down between the Mohawk Valley and Hollywood North all season. Plus playing 6 times out in Abbotsford and being one of the more geographically Eastern teams in the Western Conference. Will there be any gas in the tank left come April?

Media Coverage: The Observer-Dispatch

Fan Blog: None — or I haven’t found it yet.

Twitter: @UticaComets

Facebook: /UticaComets

Instagram: uticacomets

Broadcaster: Brendan Burke (twitter) and Alex Faust (twitter)

vs. WBS: 12/14, @ 3/7, 3/22, @ 4/19

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Tomorrow, we come in from left field with these previews and transition into the Eastern Conference with the Atlantic Division Preview at noon. As always, like, share and comment on these Previews.