Chirps from Center Ice
A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
AHL Previews: Central Division
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Back for Day 2 here in the Chirpos from Center Ice AHL team previews with a look at the Central Division. A division who loses a team to the Eastern Conference in the Charlotte Checkers. So it’s seven teams for four playoff spots.
The Penguins play the Grand Rapids Griffins, Milwaukee Admirals and the Rockford IceHogs in home and home action this upcoming season. Feels weird to be on Day 2 of the AHL Previews and explain to you that the games against the Penguins at home shall be featured in bold.
Here we go.
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NHL Affiliation: Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 44-19-8-5 (101 pts., 1st place Central Division)
Playoffs: Lost in Round 2 in five games to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Head Coach: Rocky Thompson
Arena: Allstate Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Quad City Mallards
Offseason Moves: Chris Casto, Paul Thompson, Alex Tuch, T.J. Tynan
The Case For: Wolves should contend this season, as they do every year.
The Case Against: How will serving as the primary affiliate of an expansion NHL franchise affect the Wolves?
Social Media: @ChicagoWolves // /ChicagoWolves // chicagowolveshockey
Broadcaster: Jason Shaver
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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NHL Affiliation: Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 39-29-4-4 (86 pts., 5th place Central Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Head Coach: John Madden
Arena: Quicken Loans Arena
ECHL Affiliation: None.
Offseason Moves: Andre Benoit, Carter Camper, Cameron Gaunce
The Case For: Solid offseason moves made by parent Columbus for a Cleveland team that won the Calder Cup two seasons ago and failed to make the playoffs last season.
The Case Against: As with so many teams, will these improvements made by this team be enough to get them back into playoff contention?
Social Media: @MonstersHockey // /MonstersHockey // monstershockey
Broadcaster: Tony Brown
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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NHL Affiliation: Detroit Red Wings
Record: 47-23-1-5 (100 pts., 2nd place Central Division)
Playoffs: Won Calder Cup. Beat Syracuse Crunch in six games.
Head Coach: Todd Nelson
Arena: Van Andel Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Toledo Walleye
Offseason Moves: Turner Elson
The Case For: Defending champs look like a lock for Central Division leaders again. Re-signed a lot of the core that led them to their second Calder Cup.
The Case Against: Defending champs rarely repeat.
Social Media: @griffinshockey // /grgriffins // griffinshockey
Broadcaster: Bob Kaser
vs. WBS: 3/2, 3/10
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NHL Affiliation: Minnesota Wild
Record: 36-31-7-2 (81 pts., 6th place Central Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Head Coach: Derek Lalonde
Arena: Wells Fargo Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Rapid City Rush
Offseason Moves: Landon Ferraro, Alex Grant, Cal O’Reilly, Ryan Murphy
The Case For: Iowa loaded up this offseason in a big, big way. These signings have got to be enough to get the WIld to the playoffs, don’t they?
The Case Against: They don’t play these games on paper.
Social Media: @IAWild // /IAWild // iowawild
Broadcaster: Joe O’Donnell
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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NHL Affiliation: Winnipeg Jets
Record: 29-37-5-5 (68 pts., 7th place Central Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Head Coach: Pascal Vincent
Arena: Bell MTS Place
ECHL Affiliation: Jacksonville IceMen
Offseason Moves: Buddy Robinson, Cameron Schilling, Mike Sgarbossa, Brody Sutter
The Case For: Manitoba is going to have to work if they want to improve on their 7th place overall showing they put up in the Central last year. These signings could nudge them to a playoff spot.
The Case Against: There are more people picking Manitoba to finish last they there are to finish first.
Social Media: @ManitobaMoose // /ManitobaMoose // manitobamoose
Broadcaster: Mitch Peacock
vs. WBS: Do not play.
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NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators
Record: 43-26-4-3 (93 pts., 3rd place Central Division)
Playoffs: Swept in Round 1 in three games by the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Head Coach: Dean Evanson
Arena: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
ECHL Affiliation: Norfolk Admirals
Offseason Moves: Bobby Butler, Matt OConnor, P-C Labrie
The Case For: Admirals alway put forth a strong hockey product and this year should be no different.
The Case Against: In a crowded pool of Chicago, Grand Rapids and Iowa, will the Admirals have enough horses to compete for a playoff spot?
Social Media: @mkeadmirals // /mkeadmirals // mkeadmirals
Broadcaster: Aaron Sims
vs. WBS: 12/1, 3/4
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NHL Affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 25-39-9-3 (62 pts., 8th place Central Division)
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Head Coach: Jeremy Colliton
Arena: BMO Harris Bank Center
ECHL Affiliation: Indy Fuel
Offseason Moves: J-F Berube, Jordan Oesterle
The Case For: Only way is up for what was a sorry season in Rockford.
The Case Against: Almost feels like they are restarting from the beginning in Rockford, and with the top heavy Central Division, it looks like the IceHogs have an uphill battle against them.
Social Media: @goicehogs // /RockfordIceHogs // rockfordicehogs
Broadcaster: Bob Mills
vs. WBS: 2/23, 3/3
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Back tomorrow for a look at the North Division.
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