Key Returnees:
D Jimmy Sharrow
G Michael Garnett
head coach John Anderson

Key Newcomers:
RW Kyle Wanvig (Minnesota)
LW Darren Haydar (Milwaukee)
RW Alex Bourret (44 goals at Shawinigan, QMJHL)
D Boris Valabik (From Slovakia & Kitchener OHL, a monster at 6-6, 225)
C Jason Krog (Sweden/Switzerland)

Plenty of turnover in the Yankees of the AHL. Probably just as well, since last year's club finished out of the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's 11 year history. The additions of veterans such as Wanvig, Haydar, and Krog, plus promising youngsters Valabik (10th overall in 2004) and Bourret (16th overall in 2005) should do wonders for the Rosemonters. With three league championships, including the two in the now-defunct IHL, and a pair of runner up finishes, why Anderson hasn't landed an NHL gig by now remains one of hockey's great mysteries, and great injustices.

Key Returnees:
LW Roman Voloshenko
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2006 No. 8 )
D Curtis Murphy
G Josh Harding

Key Newcomers:
C Alex Leavitt (Alaska ECHL)
LW Benoit Pouliot (Sudbury OHL)

Voloshenko had 33 goals in his rookie year, last year. The Aeros lost a ton of offense from last year's club, including Patrick O'Sullivan, Erik Westrum, and Kirby Law. Not much was done to replace them, although the fact that Voloshenko is back, failing to stick with parent Minnesota is a plus for the Aeros for a while. So, too, is the arrival of Pouliot, taken fourth overall by the Wild, in 2005, although the question remains, who is going to get either winger the puck. Hmmmm......

Key Returnees:
LW Loui Eriksson
C Toby Petersen (26-47-73)
RW Junior Lessard
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2006 No. 17)
RW Vojtech Polak
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2006 No. 28)
D Mario Scalzo

Key Newcomers:
LW Marty Sertich (Colorado College)
LW John Lammers (Everett WHL)

A ton of interesting young players make the Iowa Stars one of the hottest AHL clubs in 2006-2007. Players to watch include Sertich, the former Hobey Baker winner, and Lammers who had 38 goals last year, perhaps a third round steal by Dallas in '04. Lessard and Eriksson should be just about NHL ready, and Scalzo is a small, but slick puck moving defenseman who got plenty of outlet passes up to Sidney Crosby when the two were in Rimouski. With all that youth, it's a good thing that they have Petersen back to provide some veteran glue.

Key Returnees:
D Kevin Klein
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2006 No. 47)
Head Coach Claude Noel

Key Newcomers:
LW Pat Leahy (Boston)
D Nolan Yonkman (Washington)

The Milwaukee Admirals have a new logo (See: "Sinking to New Deppths," MAJOR BLOGS) and a new look on the ice. Last year they lost out to Hershey in the Calder Cup finals. This season they began by losing their top four scorers. Leahy and Yonkman are very good free agent pickups who could fill roles with the parent Preds. Klein, now in his third pro year, is expected to develop into a top-flight NHL defenseman. It is just a matter of time before Noel, who directed the Admirals to the Calder Cup in '04 and to the finals last year, gets the call to the NHL. That destination could ultimately be Pittsburgh, if combustable Michel Therrien should fail to get the Pens going.

Key Returnees:
RW Carsen Germyn (24 goals)
RW David Moss (21)
G Brent Krahn
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2006 No. 48)
G Curtis McEhinny

Key Newcomers:
L Kris Chucko (University of Minnesota)
RW David Van Der Gulik (Boston University)

The Omaha Ak-Sar-BenKnights don't have many new faces on this club, which just failed to make the playoffs last year. Van Der Gulik, taken 206th overall in '03 is the ultimate "character player" who will somehow, someway, someday make his mark in the NHL. Hopes have been high for Krahn ever since 2000, when he was taken 9th overall by the Flames. As long as "The Kipper" stays put in Calgary, though, the best that either Krahn or McElhinny, a pleasant surprise last year, can hope for is to attract attention from elsewhere. P.S. The lengthy Ak-Sar-Ben is "Nebraska" spelled backwards.

Key Returnees:
LW Jon DiSalvatore
C Trent Whitfield
LW Peter Sejna
RW Mike Glumac
D Jeff Woywitka

Key Newcomers:
D Stephen Wood (Philadelphia Phantoms)
G Marek Swarz (Czech Repub.),
Head Coach Dave Basseggio (Bridgeport)

The Peoria Rivermen's four top scorers all return. The problem is that none of them are regarded as rising NHL prospects, although Sejna still has a chance to swivel some heads. Swarz, one of two goalie prospects drafted high by the Blues in recent years, UMaine's Ben Bishop being the other, will get the bulk of the work. If all goes well, he could easily take over the goalie chores in St. Louis before the year is out.

Key Returnees:
D Matt Jones
C Yanick Lehoux
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2005 No. 14)
G David LeNeveu
(MLN FAB50 Hockey 2005 No. 20)

Key Newcomers:
C Donald MacLean (Grand Rapids)
C Daniel Winnik (U New Hampshire)
D Keith Yandle (Moncton QMJHL)
D Travis Roche (Chicago Wolves)

Rampage have some proven AHL point getters, beginning with MacLean, who exploded for 56 goals last year and earned league MVP honors. Winnik was a slick playmaker in college and Yandle had a breakout year in Moncton under former coach Ted Nolan, now bench boss of the Islanders. LeNeveu is still a top goaltending prospect. San Antonio could challenge for the West Division title.