AHL Notebook: Sleeper Calder Cup Teams, College Prospects & More

The Calder Cup Playoffs are around the corner and everyone is expecting the top teams in the American Hockey League to make a run at it. The Providence Bruins, Laval Rocket, Grand Rapids Griffins, and Ontario Reign are the favorites. 

That said, the Calder Cup Playoffs are always surprising, and dark horses can come out of nowhere to not only make a run but win it. Last season, for example, the Abbotsford Canucks weren’t the best team in the Pacific Division but with the help of a hot goaltender and finding chemistry at the right time, they won it all. So, this season, a few sleeper teams can do the same. 

The Bridgeport Islanders are playing their best hockey at the right time. They’ve leaned into their aggressive high-volume identity to become a tough team to play against. The Islanders were the worst team in the AHL last season but with veteran additions like Perrick Dube in the forward unit and Ethan Bear on the defense they are a more talented team. 

Related:  How The Bridgeport Islanders Turned Things Around Under Rocky Thompson

On top of that, they added two elite prospects this week who are already fitting in. Cole Eiserman was signed out of college and scored his first AHL goal on Saturday night against the Providence Bruins while Viktor Eklund joined the Islanders ahead of Friday's game and scored the shootout winner over the Laval Rocket. The Islanders have that mix of veterans playing at a high level and young players finding their footing just in time for a playoff run and it makes them a team to watch. 

The Springfield Thunderbirds made the bold move of firing Steve Konowalchuk midseason and replacing him with St. Louis Blue assistant Steve Ott. With the way they’ve turned their season around, it’s easy to see why. The Thunderbirds are another team that’s playing the right way at the right time. 

Dive Deeper:  How Steve Ott’s Move to the AHL Turned Springfield Around & Made Him an NHL Head Coach Candidate

Under Ott, the Thunderbirds play structured and look for the smart play and not the quick one. Better yet, Ott will lean on his top line when needed for goals and play them in all situations to win games, which is something he’ll turn to for the playoffs. The Thunderbirds also have the goaltender to lead them on a run, with Vadim Zherenko stepping up as their starter all season. 

If the Rochester Americans can maintain their spot in the North Division, watch out! This season is a battle for Mike Leone and the Amerks, who have lost plenty of talent to the NHL and through trades. They sit in fifth place in the division with 65 points and must fend off both the Belleville Senators and the Utica Comets, who sit at 59 points. 

That said, even as the last team in, they are the one nobody wants to face. It’s because of the talent that the Amerks have from Konsta Helenius on the top line to Zac Jones on the defense or Devon Levi in the net. They have the players to pull off an upset over any team in their division.

The Dallas Stars don’t have a great prospect pool, and Neil Graham, the steady presence behind the bench as the head coach, was promoted to the NHL staff in the offseason. Yet, first-year head coach Toby Pederson has gotten the most out of the Texas Stars, taking a team that started 0-5-1 and has gone 32-22-2-1 since and now sits in third place in the Central Division. 

The Stars made it to the Western Conference Final last season, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see them go on another run. This version of the AHL team stands out because it has a strong defense and one of the best veterans in the league, who can take over games, with Cameron Hughes scoring 16 goals and adding 50 assists to the offense. 

The team out west that has caught fire lately is the Coachella Valley Firebirds. They’ve won five games in a row and nine of their last 10, moving into fourth in the Pacific Division. The Firebirds have made this push with a handful of prospects leading the way, including rookie defenseman Tyson Jugnauth, who has seven goals and 33 assists. This team took a step back last season after back-to-back Calder Cup Final appearances but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they are back in the Final representing the Western Conference.  

It’s that time of year when prospects are joining their AHL and NHL teams fresh out of college. Michigan State lost to Wisconsin in overtime, and Porter Martone was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers the next morning. 

The two big names, at least for now, are Cole Eiserman and James Hagens. It felt fitting that they both scored their first AHL goals in the same game, a 6-4 Bruins win over the Islanders. A scout noted this weekend that both players will take time to find their footing in the AHL but this time is invaluable for them as they can enter training camp ready to play the pro game. 

Both Eiserman and Hagens are also in good spots to develop. Eiserman started on the wing of the Matthew Highmore line but recently moved to the Adam Beckman and Perrick Dube line, with both veterans playing the 200-foot game that fits his style of play. Hagens, meanwhile, is playing alongside Patrick Brown and Matej Blumel, who are two of the best AHLers this season. Moreover, both prospects are joining teams with cultures in place that will allow them to take a step forward in their development and head into next season ready to make an impact. 

The Laval Rocket have been the best team in the North Division all season. They only have a one-point cushion over the Syracuse Crunch heading into the final few weeks of the season. The Crunch have been a surprise all season but with a stout defense and great goaltending, they’ve looked dominant in plenty of games this season. 

The Grand Rapids Griffins are stumbling into the playoffs but thanks to their two wins over the weekend, they clinched the Central Division. They’ve been the best team in the division all season, and it will be interesting to see if they can rediscover that success in the playoffs.

Steve Ott was the 15th head coach I’ve interviewed this season. He made the move from the assistant role in the NHL to the head coaching position in the AHL. Many see this as a step down. He saw this as the last box to check to prove he can coach at any level. The one obstacle he might face now is being on a different timeline than the NHL coaching cycle (by the time teams are eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs, all the head coaching spots are taken). 

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins have been tasked with piecing together their forward unit without Tristan Broz, who was their top-line center. It’s forced them to move first-year players into the center spot and have them hold their own against some veterans. They’ve done so lately as the Penguins have won four games in a row and inch closer to a bye.