2019-20 AHL PREVIEW: North Division
2019-12-10(Header image designed and created by Doug Waite)
Loaded with outstanding teams, the North Division is shaping up to be a story of traditional powers versus emerging contenders. However things shake out, it could well be the league's most entertaining division this season.
2018-19 Regular Season: 42-29-5, 89 points, 3rd in North Division
2019 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference Semifinals
Notable Subtractions: Erik Burgdoerfer (UFA), Cameron Gaunce (UFA), Malcolm Subban (Trade-WSH), Jordan Binnington (Graduated)
Notable Additions: Max Jones (Draft-26th OV 2016), Libor Hajek (Draft-56th OV 2016), Zach Senyshyn (Trade-CGY), Brad Thiessen (UFA)
Looking Back: Had yet another low-key solid season, exceeding 40 wins and advancing to the playoffs for the fourth straight year...Got a huge performance from netminder Malcolm Subban, who led the league with a .926 save percentage...Also extended a different four-year streak—their annual postseason grudge match with the Laval Rocket...Unfortunetely fell to their divisional rival in five games, marking yet another season in which a quality B-Sens squad failed to get over the hump come playoff time.
Looking Forward: The entire Senators organization is in a holding pattern as the vetting process for a new general manager continues. Whoever takes the job will certainly be inheriting an AHL club with a solid roster and a tradition of quiet excellence.
2018-19 Regular Season: 44-25-7, 95 points, 1st in North Divison
2019 Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference Final
Notable Subtractions: N/A
Notable Additions N/A
Looking Back: Claimed a third straight North Division championship, while also moving into third place on the list of all-time wins with 205...Were something of a paper tiger, however, landing 8th overall in the league despite the division crown...Also finished with an inauspicious goal differential of +12, second-lowest of any team to qualify for the playoffs...Fell short of a return to the Calder Cup Final, but did manage to even the score with the Binghamton Senators, knocking out their arch-rival in the second round...Fittingly for such a great rivalry, the Rocket and B-Sens now have a 2-2 series record in their four consecutive postseason showdowns.
Looking Forward: Building on the legacy of one of the AHL's most successful teams won't be easy for new GM Andre Deblois, who took over near the end of last season. Making the Conference Finals was definitely a good start though, and for all the wins racked up by the previous regime, this is one franchise that might benefit from finally having a single voice calling the shots.
2017-18 Regular Season: 33-35-8, 74 points, 6th in North Division
2019 Playoffs: DNQ
Notable Subtractions: N/A
Notable Additions: N/A
Looking Back: Appeared to be on the upswing two seasons ago, but fell back into their mediocre ways in 2018-19 and missed the playoffs by a wide margin...Things could have been much worse had it not been for a sensational rookie year from goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who posted the league's third-best save percentage despite being pelted with an average of 30.9 shots per game...Instability throughout the Bruins organization has undoubtedly had an impact in Providence, with the B's now on to their fourth general manager in less than two calendar years.
Looking Forward: At first glance, the Baby Bruins don't exactly look formidable. But there's a solid nucleus of youthful up-and-comers in Providence, and not a single player on the roster over the age of 27. That's been a successful formula for other teams around the AHL, so it wouldn't be a shock to see this group come together and have a special season. With so many youngsters around, however, it would probably be best to avoid holding any team-building sessions at Chuck E. Cheese—which works out well, since GM Adam O'Blenes has been banned for life from that establishment for unknown reasons.
2018-19 Regular Season: 30-39-7, 67 points, 8th in North Division
2019 Playoffs: DNQ
Notable Subtractions: N/A
Notable Additions: N/A
Looking Back: Had already been mediocre for a while heading into last season, but were downright stinky in 2018-19, stumbling to franchise-lows in winning percentage (.441), goals against (258), and goal differential (-50)...Led the league in blocked shots with 791, suggesting either that they were defensively responsible, or that they were chasing the puck most of the time...That Calder Cup Final appearance in 2014-15 must seem like a lifetime ago for Amerks fans.
Looking Forward: The Sabres organization has steadily added young talent over the last few years, which would, in theory, result in a strong farm team at some point. For the most part, however, the kids who could have helped out in Rochester have jumped straight to the NHL, while the others have proven to be merely average at the AHL level. Don't look for that pattern to change in 2019-20.
2018-19 Regular Season: 43-27-6, 92 points, 2nd in Atlantic Division
2019 Playoffs: Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
Notable Subtractions: N/A
Notable Additions: N/A
Looking Back: Posted a franchise-best 43 wins en route to ending a two-year playoff drought which dated back to their days in Greenville...Endured a 1-9-2 start, major off-ice controversy, and a dramatic captaincy change before turning things around after Christmas...Certainly fulfilled their mandate to develop young talent for the organization, as the top four scorers in Springfield were all 22 or younger, and all surpassed 50 points on the season.
Looking Forward: Long one of the AHL's most aimless clubs, the T-Birds finally started moving in a positive direction under their last management team. Unfortunately, that group is now gone, but they did set a platform for better days in Springfield. All that remains to be seen is if rookie GM Ryan Knedel is willing and able to make use of it.
2018-19 Regular Season: 38-31-7, 83 points, 5th in North Division
2019 Playoffs: DNQ
Notable Subtractions: D Xavier Ouellet (Trade-ANH), F Brett Sutter (UFA), D Vince Dunn (Graduated), D Ryan Murphy (Overseas)
Notable Additions: F Daniel Sprong (Trade-CGY), D Cale Fleury (Draft-90th OV 2017), F Phil Varone (UFA), F Alex Belzile (UFA)
Looking Back: Had their strongest season in recent memory, posting 38 wins and 83 points, their highest totals in both categories since 2015-16...It wasn't quite enough for a return to the playoffs, however, as the Crunch were edged 37-35 by the Toronto Marlies in a regulation-wins tiebreaker...Combined with the St. Charles Chill to set an unusual league record, as forward Andrew Miller—acquired by Syracuse in late February—skated in 81 regular season games between the two clubs, the most ever for an AHL player in a single season.
Looking Forward: There's plenty of optimism around the Crunch these days, and some solid pieces in place. At the same time, they'll be counting on a lot of young and unproven players to step in and perform at crucial positions. That in mind, this team has a real boom-or-bust vibe; if nothing else, they should be one of the league's most interesting stories.
2018-19 Regular Season: 38-31-7, 83 points, 4th in North Division
2019 Playoffs: Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
Notable Subtractions: N/A
Notable Additions: N/A
Looking Back: Cruised through the first three-quarters of the season at a .590 clip before nearly exploding their playoff hopes with a 2-6-6 stretch to close out the schedule...Nevertheless snuck into a wildcard spot by the narrowest of margins, edging the Syracuse Crunch on a regulation wins tiebreaker...Close call or not, the playoff berth had to be considered mission accomplished for the Marlies, given that it was their first visit to the posteason since 2015...Will bid adieu to longtime star Josh Leivo, who graduates from the Leafs' AHL affiliate after 331 games as the career leader in goals (102), assists (130), and points (232) as well as powerplay goals (37) and game-winning goals (20).
Looking Forward: The Marlies lineup doesn't look terribly intimidating, but somehow it feels like their epic first-round loss to Laval last year was just appetizer for what's to come. Mark them down as a darkhorse for one of the division's first top three spots.
2018-19 Regular Season: 33-39-4, 70 points, 7th in North Division
2019 Playoffs: DNQ
Notable Subtractions: N/A
Notable Additions: N/A
Looking Back: Fell out of the playoff picture after appearances in both 2017 and 2018...Set new single-season franchise-worsts in 2019 with 39 losses and a .461 winning percentage...While the Comets failed to make their mark in the standings, they literally left plenty of marks on the rest of the league, finishing first in hits with 1935—over 150 more than the second-place team...If that wasn't enough, they also employed face-puncher Jimmy Oligny, who led the AHL with 246 penalty minutes and finished second with 12 total fights.
Looking Forward: The rebuild in Vancouver is certainly having a positive impact on the situation in Utica, as more and more promising young players come into their own down on the farm. This year it looks like that process will allow the Comets to ice a quality squad, particularly on defense and in goal. Much like their divisional rivals in Providence, this is a young group whose youthful energy just might propel them to a breakthrough campaign.