Game
On!
While the NHL has its doors locked, the American Hockey League is primed for
perhaps its best season ever.
10.12.04 - The upcoming 2004-05 season has presented the American Hockey League with an excellent opportunity, and the AHL intends to take full advantage of it.
While the National Hockey League's arenas will remain dark due to an economic stalemate between its suits and skaters, the AHL has become North America's best alternative for hockey fans and players alike.
Many of the up and coming stars that logged significant NHL playing time last year will be skating in AHL rinks this season. Some of the names on this list include Jason Spezza [Binghamton], Jay Bouwmeester [San Antonio], Marc-Andre Fleury [Wilkes-Barre], Joni Pitkanen [Philadelphia], Jordin Tootoo [Milwaukee] and Patrice Bergeron [Providence].
Numerous rosters loaded with remarkable, young NHL talent, coupled with relatively cheap ticket prices, should insure the AHL packed seats from St. John's to San Antonio this season.
The league expects a boost in attendance, especially in cities where the NHL franchise and its AHL affiliate are close geographically. The largest crowds could be in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Edmonton, where the Road Runners will play after relocating from Toronto during the off-season.
In addition, a new TV deal may help the many Canucks that will be yearning for their weekly fix of ‘Hockey Night'.
The league recently announced a 22-game package on Rogers Sportsnet, who will broadcast AHL contests to a nationwide audience in Canada.
Meanwhile, those fans watching in person or tuning in on TV should see more pucks going into the net this season.
In an attempt to increase scoring, the league has adopted several rule changes designed to create more space in the neutral zone and in front of the goal.
With all these modifications, one thing is certain; this AHL season will be like none you have seen before.
Below is a team-by-team preview of the 2004-05 American Hockey League season:
Eastern
Conference
Atlantic Division
Team:
Hartford Wolf Pack
NHL Affiliate: N.Y. Rangers
Head Coach: Ryan McGill (3rd yr. in AHL, 77-59-24)
Arena:
Hartford Civic Center (9,819)
2003-04
Record: 44-22-12-2, 102 pts. (lost conf. final)
Ice Breakers: F Jozef Balej had
an outstanding year in 2003-04, breaking through as one of the AHL's top players…
D's Fedor
Tyutin and Maxim Kondratiev were teammates in
Russia.
Team:
Lowell Lock Monsters
NHL Affiliates: Carolina Hurricanes/Calgary Flames
Head Coach: Tom Rowe (1st year)
Arena: Tsongas Arena (6,400)
2003-04 Record: 32-36-6-6, 76 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: F Eric Staal and
G Cam Ward are Carolina's top prospects, while F Chuck
Kobasew was a first-round pick by Calgary in 2001.
Team: Manchester Monarchs
NHL Affiliate: Los Angeles Kings
Head Coach: Bruce Boudreau (6th year, 186-173-41)
Arena: Verizon Wireless Arena (9,916)
2003-04 Record: 40-28-7-5, 92 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: Rookie F Petr Kanko
brings offensive punch to the Monarchs; '03 first-rounder F Dustin
Brown played 31 NHL games with the Kings last year.
Team: Portland Pirates
NHL Affiliate: Washington Capitals
Head Coach: Tim Army (3rd year, 65-69-26)
Arena: Cumberland County Civic Center (6,733)
2003-04 Record: 32-27-13-8, 85 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: Steve Eminger, Jakub Klepis,
Boyd Gordon and Shaone Morrisonn were all recent
1st-round draft picks; Maxime Daigneault and Tomas
Fleischmann were 2nd-rounders.
Team: Providence Bruins
NHL Affiliate: Boston Bruins
Head Coach: Scott Gordon (3rd year, 39-37-13)
Arena: Dunkin' Donuts Center (11,909)
2003-04 Record: 36-29-11-4, 87 pts. (lost qualifier)
Ice Breakers: F Brad
Boyes has 136 pts. in his first two AHL seasons… F Patrice
Bergeron was the NHL's youngest player in 2003-04, scoring 16 goals.
Team: Springfield Falcons
NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning
Head Coach: Dirk Graham (1st year)
Arena: Springfield Civic Center (5,200 – temp.)
2003-04 Record: 26-43-9-2, 63 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: Rookie F Adam Henrich
led Brampton (OHL) in scoring in 01-02 and 02-03, and finished 2nd in 03-04…
2000 first-rounder F Nikita Alexeev missed most of last year
with a shoulder injury.
Team: Worcester IceCats
NHL Affiliate: St. Louis Blues
Head Coach: Don Granato (5th year, 159-107-44)
Arena: DCU Center (12,316)
2003-04 Record: 37-27-13-3, 90 pts. (lost div. final)
Ice Breakers: Skilled F Alexei Shkotov
had 64 pts. in 43 QMJHL games last season… Mike Glumac
finished second in the AHL in rookie scoring in 2003-04.
East Division
Team: Albany River Rats
NHL Affiliate: New Jersey Devils
Head Coach: Robbie Ftorek (10th year, 299-213-71)
Arena: Pepsi Arena (6,982)
2003-04 Record: 21-39-11-9, 62 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: F Aleksander Suglobov
was having an All-Star season before injury struck last winter… 2003
1st-rounder F Zach Parise was a college standout for two
years at N. Dakota.
Team: Binghamton Senators
NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators
Co-Head Coaches: Dave Cameron (1st year); John Paddock
(14th year, 495-366-86)
Arena: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena (4,717)
2003-04 Record: 34-34-9-3, 80 pts. (lost playoff
qualifier)
Ice Breakers: F Jason Spezza, F
Antoine Vermette and G Ray
Emery were all AHL All-Rookie picks two years ago… F Brandon
Bochenski was an All-American at North Dakota in 03-04.
Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
NHL Affiliate: N.Y. Islanders
Head Coach: Greg Cronin (2nd year, 41-27-12)
Arena: Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard (8,412)
2003-04 Record: 41-23-12-4, 98 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: F Sean Bergenheim
tallied 5 pts. in 7 GP in his AHL debut during the 2004 playoffs… G
Wade Dubielewicz set AHL records with his 1.38 GAA and .946
save percentage in 03-04.
Team: Hershey Bears
NHL Affiliate: Colorado Avalanche
Head Coach: Paul Fixter (2nd year, 33-39-8)
Arena: Giant Center (10,500)
2003-04 Record: 33-34-8-5, 78 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: F Cody McCormick
skated in 44 NHL games with Colorado as a rookie in 2003-04… G
Peter Budaj was chosen to represent Slovakia at the 2004 World Cup
of Hockey.
Team: Norfolk Admirals
NHL Affiliate: Chicago Blackhawks
Head Coach: Trent Yawney (5th year, 146-133-41)
Arena: Norfolk Scope (8,865)
2003-04 Record: 35-36-4-5, 79 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: D Anton
Babchuk was a 19-year-old AHL All-Star in 2003-04… F Matt
Ellison, F Matt Keith and D Duncan Keith
had strong rookie seasons last year as well.
Team: Philadelphia Phantoms
NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia Flyers
Head Coach: John Stevens (5th year, 148-139-33)
Arena: Wachovia Spectrum (17,380)
2003-04 Record: 46-25-7-2, 101 pts. (lost div. final)
Ice Breakers: 21-year-old D Joni Pitkanen
was a top blueliner for the NHL Flyers last season… Rookie F's
Ben Eager and R.J. Umberger were also first-round
draft picks.
Team: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins
Head Coach: Michel Therrien (6th year, 149-158-32)
Arena: Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza (8,143)
2003-04 Record: 34-28-10-8, 86 pts. (lost Calder
Cup Final)
Ice Breakers: Marc-Andre Fleury
and Andy Chiodo form one of the AHL's top goaltending
duos… D Ryan Whitney made an impact in last year's
playoff run after three seasons at Boston U.
Western
Conference
North Division
Team:
Cleveland Barons
NHL Affiliate: San Jose Sharks
Head Coach: Roy Sommer (7th year, 216-216-48)
Arena: Gund Arena (10,231)
2003-04 Record: 37-28-8-7, 89 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: F
Shane Joseph was the Barons' top player late in 03-04,
with 18 pts. in 21 GP (incl. playoffs)… F Marcel Goc
and D Christian Ehrhoff skated for Germany at the '04
World Cup.
Team: Edmonton Road Runners
NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers
Head Coach: Geoff Ward (3rd year, 51-51-13)
Arena: Rexall Place (16,839)
2003-04 Record: (Toronto): 35-34-8-3, 81 pts. (lost
qualifier)
Ice Breakers: D
Jeff
Woywitka
and G Jeff Deslauriers are top Oilers prospects…
F Jarret Stoll spent all of 03-04 in the NHL after reaching
the Calder Cup Final with Hamilton in '03.
Team: Hamilton Bulldogs
NHL Affiliates: Montreal Canadiens/Dallas Stars
Head Coach: Doug Jarvis (3rd year, 52-39-13)
Arena: Copps Coliseum (8,819)
2003-04 Record: 41-25-10-4, 96 pts. (lost div. final)
Ice Breakers:
F Andrei Kostitsyn was the 10th overall pick in the 2003
NHL draft… Among the Stars prospects headed to Hamilton are 2nd-round
picks D Trevor
Daley and G Dan Ellis and former 1st-rounder
F Steve Ott.
Team: Manitoba Moose
NHL Affiliate: Vancouver Canucks
Head Coach: Randy Carlyle (1st year)
Arena: Winnipeg Arena (9,777)/MTS Centre (8,863)
2003-04 Record: 32-35-11-2, 77 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers:
F Ryan Kesler, a first-round pick in 2003, helped Team USA
to gold at the '04 WJC… F Jason King was the
NHL's Rookie of the Month last November.
Team: Rochester Americans
NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres
Head Coach: Randy Cunneyworth (5th yr., 146-126-48)
Arena: Blue Cross Arena (11,200)
2003-04 Record: 37-28-10-5, 89 pts. (lost conf.
final)
Ice Breakers: F Thomas Vanek was
MVP of the NCAA Frozen Four as a freshman in 2003… F Jason Pominville
led the AHL with 22 PPG last season.
Team: St. John's Maple Leafs
NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs
Head Coach: Doug Shedden (2nd year, 32-40-8)
Arena: Mile One Stadium (5,813)
2003-04 Record: 32-36-8-4, 76 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: F Matt Stajan had
27 points in his first pro season with the parent Leafs last year… F
Kyle Wellwood was the top rookie scorer in the AHL with 55
points in 2003-04.
Team: Syracuse Crunch
NHL Affiliate: Columbus Blue Jackets
Head Coach: Gary Agnew (5th year, 137-140-43)
Arena: Onondaga Co. War Memorial at Oncenter (6,230)
2003-04 Record: 38-25-10-7, 93 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: F Alexander Svitov
went third overall in the 2001 draft… D Aaron
Johnson had 21 pts. in 49 games as a rookie last year and scored
two goals for the Canadians at the 2004 AHL All-Star Game.
West Division
Team:
Chicago Wolves
NHL Affiliate: Atlanta Thrasher
Head Coach: John Anderson (4th year, 122-94-24)
Arena: Allstate Arena (16,692)
2003-04 Record: 42-26-9-3, 96 pts. (lost div. final)
Ice Breakers: F
Karl Stewart led the team with a +24 rating and 186 PIM as
a rookie in 2003-04… G Kari
Lehtonen was ranked among the top-five hockey prospects in the
MLN Fab50
last year.
Team: Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
NHL Affiliate: Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Head Coach: Brad Shaw (3rd year, 55-79-26)
Arena: Cincinnati Gardens (10,326)
2003-04 Record: 29-37-13-1, 72 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: F's
Alexei Smirnov (2000), Stanislav Chistov
(2001) and Joffrey Lupul (2002) were first-round picks by
Anaheim… G Ilya Bryzgalov played an AHL-high 3,748
minutes in net last season.
Team: Grand Rapids Griffins
NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings
Head Coach: Danton Cole (3rd year, 92-52-16)
Arena: Van Andel Arena (10,834)
2003-04 Record: 44-28-8-0, 96 pts. (lost div. semifinal)
Ice Breakers: F
Jiri
Hudler, 20, was third in team scoring with 49 pts. in 57 games
last year… 2000 1st-rounder D Niklas
Kronwall split his first season between the Griffins and Detroit
in 2003-04.
Team: Houston Aeros
NHL Affiliates: Minnesota Wild/Dallas Stars
Head Coach: Todd McLellan (4th year, 114-95-31)
Arena: Toyota Center (8,939)
2003-04 Record: 28-34-14-4, 74 pts. (lost playoff
qualifier)
Ice Breakers: Dallas
prospect F Junior Lessard won the Hobey Baker Award in 2004…
F Pierre-Marc Bouchard played 111 NHL games in his first
two pro seasons with Minnesota.
Team: Milwaukee Admirals
NHL Affiliate: Nashville Predators
Head Coach: Claude Noel (2nd year, 46-27-7)
Arena: Bradley Center (17,845)
2003-04 Record: 46-24-7-3, 102 pts. (Calder Cup
Champions)
Ice Breakers: F
Jordin Tootoo averaged 64 pts. and 220 PIM a year in junior
from 2000-03… D Ryan Suter, a 1st-round pick in 2003,
starred at Wisconsin as a freshman last season.
Team: San Antonio Rampage
NHL Affiliate: Florida Panthers
Head Coach: Steve Ludzik (2nd year, 8-3-1)
Arena: SBC Center (7,035)
2003-04 Record: 30-42-8-0, 68 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: F Stephen Weiss,
D Jay Bouwmeester and F Nathan Horton were
all top-4 draft picks by Florida, while F Petr
Taticek went 9th overall in 2002.
Team: Utah Grizzlies
NHL Affiliate: Phoenix Coyotes
Head Coach: Pat Conacher (1st year)
Arena: The “E” Center (10,207)
2003-04 Record: 27-42-6-5, 65 pts. (No Playoffs)
Ice Breakers: Rookie D Keith Ballard won
two NCAA titles at Minnesota… G David
LeNeveu, an AHL All-Star in 2004, was also named the team MVP
in Springfield last season.
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