Not all affiliations are created equally, as some NHL teams treading water have seen massive success from their AHL counterparts.
We're a little over a week away from the NHL trade deadline, with most clubs having a pretty clear picture of the direction heading into the post-season.
While disappointment is setting in for some, there is optimism for many NHL clubs in the form of thriving AHL affiliates. We outline four such examples of struggling NHL teams with thriving counterparts in the American League:
NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets (19-29-10, 48 points, 16th in Eastern Conference
AHL: Cleveland Monsters (31-15-3-3, 68 points, 3rd in Eastern Conference)
Things just haven't gelled in Columbus this season. Beginning the 23-24 campaign on an embarrassing note with the much-publicized exodus of head coach Mike Babcock before the season puck drop, the Blue Jackets have fallen short of expectations and now reside in the Eastern Conference basement, resulting in the firing of longtime GM Jarmo Kekäläinen earlier this month.
Conversely, Columbus's AHL affiliate in Cleveland has been firing on all cylinders. The Monsters currently sit in 3rd in the East, topping the North Division with 68 points, with a 5-0-1-2 clip in their past 10 outings.
Twenty-four-year-old forward Trey Fix-Wolansky leads the club with 20 goals and 50 points in 48 games, while 22-year-old goalie Jet Greaves sits with a respectable 2.93 GAA, and .909 SP with 24 wins and one shutout on the season.
NHL: Ottawa Senators (25-29-3, 53 points, 15th in Eastern Conference)
AHL: Belleville Senators (27-20-2-3, 59 points, 6th in Eastern Conference)
Expectations were high for the Ottawa Senators entering into the 2023-24 Senators, but the train has come off the tracks in the nation's capital.
Gone are embattled GM Pierre Dorion and head coach D.J. Smith, replaced by acting GM Steve Staios and longtime coach turned interim coach Jacques Martin.
The Sens continue to struggle under new leadership, finding themselves sitting 15th in the East with two straight losses and the prospect of yet another wasted campaign before them.
Belleville, in contrast, is living up to a higher standard of play. The B-Sens are currently riding a four-game win streak, going 7-3 in their past 10 and sitting third in the North and sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The club is led by 24-year-old winger Angus Crookshank with 41 points through 45 games while receiving sturdy goaltending (a massive problem in Ottawa) from Mads Sogaard. The 23-year-old Dane has been rock-solid with a 2.45 GAA, .919 SP and two shutouts despite struggling mightily during four NHL appearances this season.
NHL: Arizona Coyotes (23-30-5, 51 points, 13th in Western Conference)
AHL: Tucson Roadrunners (29-18-2-1, 61 points, 4th in Western Conference)
Despite a promising start to the season, the Arizona Coyotes are in absolute utter freefall as the NHL creeps towards the trade deadline. The club has lost a mammoth 13 straight and has plummeted to 13th in the West, finding themselves 17 points out of the final wild-card spot.
Silver linings can be had in the AHL with Arizona's A affiliate in Tucson, where the Roadrunners sit third in the Pacific Division and fourth overall in the West.
A talented young, albeit low-scoring club, the team is anchored by the likes of prospects Josh Doan (21 goals, 36 points), Dylan Guenther (10 goals, 28 points) and Aatu Raty (11 goals, 26 points), with consistent goaltending from Matthew Villalta with a 2.61 GAA, .911 SP with 22 wins and two shutouts.
NHL: Seattle Kraken (25-22-11, 61 points, 12th in Western Conference)
AHL: Coachella Valley Firebirds, 31-13-5-2, 69 points, 2nd in Western Conference)
Reaching the Calder Cup final in your first season? Not too shabby for the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The youngest NHL club in the league, the Seattle Kraken, and their affiliate Firebirds have experienced varying levels of success.
The Kraken, by no means out to pasture, currently sit 12th in the West only seven points removed from a final wild-card berth, having gone 5-4-1 in their past 10 appearances.
The Firebirds, meanwhile, are showing no signs of playoff-induced fatigue, currently doubling down on their sophomore campaign by holding down the fort in first place in the Pacific and 2nd overall in the Western Conference.
The Firebirds are seeing production from multiple fronts from the likes of Kole Lind (11 goals, 45 points), Max McCormick (24 goals, 44 points), Cameron Hughes (16 goals, 41 points) and Shane Wright (18 goals, 32 points), with reliable goaltending from four netminders throughout the season including NHL veteran Chris Driedger (2.30 GAA, .917 SP, 4 shutouts).
Honourable Mentions:
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins (27-21-8, 62 points, 11th in Eastern Conference)
AHL: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (27-18-7-1, 61 points), 5th in Eastern Conference)
NHL: Washington Capitals (27-22-9, 63 points, 10th in Eastern Conference)
AHL: Hershey Bears (41-9-0-3, 85 points, 1st in Eastern Conference)