Welcome to the final day of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Previews. You can check out the five divisions discussed previously via handy drop down menu at the the top of the blog.
Yes, the East Division! Where the big boys play. For example, just yesterday the Northeast Division was previewed. That division sent one team, the division winner Springfield Falcons, to the Calder Cup Playoffs. The East Division sent FOUR, and very possibly could have sent all five. This is the best division in the American Hockey League.
The Penguins play everyone in this division multiple times (obviously) with all home games listed in bold.
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Last Year: 44-24-1-7 (96 pts., 2nd place East Division)
Playoffs: 4 seed — Lost in three games to the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in the East Division Quarterfinals.
Head Coach: Luke Richardson
Arena: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Elmira Jackals
Offseason Moves: Haven’t found any.
The case for: No one did more with less last year than this team on the Southern Tier of New York. Luke Richardson gets a lot out of his players night in and night out.
The case against: Someone forgot to tell the Sens that it’s OK to sign players in the offseason. That inactivity will doom this team in this division.
Media Coverage: Press & Sun-Bulletin — Matt Weinstein and Matt Verderame (twitter / blog)
Fan Blog: Don Reiber for examiner.com (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @BSens_Hockey
Facebook: /binghamtonsenators
Instagram: bsens_hockey
Broadcaster: Grady Whittenburg (twitter)
vs. WBS: @ 10/25, 11/29, 1/5, @ 2/14, 2/19, @ 4/6, 4/12, @4/18
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Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)
Last Year: 36-31-3-6 (81 pts., 4th place East Division)
Playoffs: 8 seed — Lost in five games to the Providence Bruins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Mike Haviland
Arena: Giant Center
ECHL Affiliation: Reading Royals
Offseason Moves: Jamie Johnson, Derek Whitmore, Josh Brittain, David Leggio, David Kolomatis, Brandon Segal
The case for: A new age in Hershey. A new coach that wins. A new captain to be named in the Fall. Watch out for the Bears this year.
The case against: No one is afraid of the Bears anymore. The moves they made this offseason you can say only caught them up to the competition.
Media Coverage: Tim Leone for PennLive.com (twitter / blog)
Fan Blog: Sweetest Hockey on Earth (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @TheHersheyBears
Facebook: /TheHersheyBears
Instagram: thehersheybears
Broadcaster: Scott Stuccio (twitter)
vs. WBS: 10/12, 11/1, @ 11/2, 11/16, @ 11/30, 12/13, @ 12/28, @ 1/26, @ 2/9, @ 2/15, 2/16, 2/25
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Norfolk Admirals (Anaheim Ducks)
Last Year: 37-34-4-1 (79 pts., 5th place East Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Head Coach: Trent Yawney
Arena: Norfolk Scope
ECHL Affiliation: Utah Grizzlies
Offseason Moves: Alex Grant, Stefan Noesen, Jakob Silfverberg, Zack Stortini, Nolan Yonkman
The case for: The Admirals were a lot like the B-Sens last year in that they did a lot with less. The results weren’t there in the win column. I have the Admirals as a playoff team this season.
The case against: Just like the Western Conference team with the same name, it can’t be that hard to name eight teams better than Norfolk in this Conference.
Media Coverage: Virginia Pilot
Fan Blog: I don’t think there is another team out there that has so many fans blogging them up. You have Shawn Dulin for AdsAftermath (twitter / blog), Ken Peacock for Vultures Row (twitter / blog), and Beneath the Scope (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @NorfolkAdmirals
Facebook: /NorfolkAdmirals
Instagram: norfolkadmirals
Broadcaster: Pete Michaud (twitter)
vs. WBS: 10/26, 12/27, @ 1/24, @ 1/25, 1/31, 3/15, @ 3/28, @ 3/29
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Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Last Year: 43-22-6-5 (97 pts., 1st place East Division)
Playoffs: 3 seed — Lost in six games to the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Calder Cup Finals.
Head Coach: Rob Zettler
Arena: Onondaga County War Memorial Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Florida Everblades and the Brampton Beast of the Central Hockey League.
Offseason Moves: Geoff Walker, Joey Mormina, Evan Rankin
The case for: The Crunch can repeat as division winners.
The case against: They will have serious company this year. Hershey and Wilkes-Barre aren’t going to play the roles of an overachieving Binghamton team like last year.
Media Coverage: The Post-Standard — Lindsay Kramer (twitter / blog)
Fan Blog: Chairman How’s Glorious Army (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @SyracuseCrunch
Facebook: /syracusecrunch
Instagram: officialsyracusecrunch
Broadcaster: Dan D’Uva (twitter)
vs. WBS: @ 10/13, 11/6, @ 11/15, 12/21, 12/31, 1/8, 1/29, @ 2/28, @ 3/21, @ 4/11
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Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Last Year: 42-30-2-2 (88 pts., 3rd place East Division)
Playoffs: 5 seed — Lost in five games to the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Head Coach: John Hynes
Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
ECHL Affiliation: Wheeling Nailers
Offseason Moves: Tom Kostopoulos, Peter Mannino, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Chris Conner, Andrew Ebbett, Nick Drazenovic, Brendan Mikkelson
The case for: Instead of signing flashy, household AHL names in seasons past, the Pens went out and signed more veteran guys who know how to win.
The case against: Goaltending. The Penguins may have the fifth best goaltending duo…..in the division. If Tomas Vokoun’s injury is more long term and Jeff Zatkoff stays up, the Pens could be in deep trouble in goal this season.
Media Coverage: The Citizens’ Voice — Jonathan Bombulie (twitter / blog) and The Times Leader — Tom Venesky
Fan Blog: I’m not bragging, but I don’t know anyone that does it any better. (twitter / blog)
Twitter: @WBSPenguins
Facebook: /WilkesBarreScrantonPenguins
Instagram: wbspenguins
Broadcaster: Mike O’Brien (twitter)
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So there you have it. If you have a team that’s playing tonight in the AHL opener, Happy New Year and good luck this season. The Penguins kick off Season Fifteen tomorrow night in Bridgeport. The Gameday setup will be up on the blog at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
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