Since my last post we have received further news on what the delayed 2020-2021 AHL season will look like, learning that three of the 31 teams will not take part. This is less than I thought given how many independently owned teams there are and how little they have to gain financially from a partial season with no fans.
The teams that have opted out are:
- Charlotte Checkers (Florida Panthers)
- Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
- Springield Thunderbirds (St Louis Blues)
It has been announced that the Blues have cut a deal with the Canucks to have some players loaned to Utica but it has been rough sailing for St Louis in terms of AHL affiliations and prospect development the last few years.
The Admirals will loan some of their players to the Wolves as part of a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes – while keeping some in the ECHL with their Florida Everblades affiliate.
And Charlotte will send their players to Syracuse as part of an unlikely partnership between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
For the remaining teams there have been some division reshuffles but the Pacific remains largely the same – the only difference being the inclusion of the Henderson Silverknights making their debut.
The Atlantic Division will now have just three teams with:
- Hartford (NYR)
- Providence (BOS)
- Bridgeport (NYI)
The newly created North Divsion will have seven teams
- Binghamton (NJD)
- Hershey (WSH)
- Utica (VAN/STL)
- Wilkes-Barre Scranton (PIT)
- Rochester (BUF)
- Leigh-High Valley (PHI)
- Syracuse (TBL/FLA)
The other newly created Canadian division will have four teams
- Toronto (TOR)
- Laval (MTL)
- Belville (OTT)
- Manitoba (WIN)
That wraps up the East and the West looks exactly the same but for the Admirals opting out and the Silverknights joining.
The Central – sans the Admirals.
- Rockford (CHI)
- Grand Rapids (DET)
- Texas (DAL)
- Chicago (CAR – new this season/NSH)
- Cleveland (CBJ)
- Iowa (MIN)
And finally the Pacific
- San Diego
- Henderson (VGK)
- Bakersfield (EDM)
- Tuscon (ARI)
- San Jose (SJ)
- Ontario (LAK)
- Colorado (COL)
- Stockton (CGY)
The Gulls will be playing their games at the Great Parks arena in Irvine – to save on costs and logistics but hope to return to Pechanga when the vaccine and potential herd-immunity deems it safe to do so. All games will be screened on AHL TV.
The added wrinkle of Taxi Squads may affect overall skill/competition level for the league but at the same time – as noted in my previous article – it is likely that side-lined Junior players will be able to play this season, adding a sprinkling of recent high draft picks throughout the competition.
The Ducks have made some of their first roster cuts today – placing the following on Waivers for assignment to the Taxi Squad/San Diego.
- David Backes
- Andrew Agozzino
- Sam Carrick
- Chase De Leo
- Christian Djoos
- Vinni Lettieri
- Andrew Poturalski
- Anthony Stolarz
- Andy Welinski
It is widely speculated (Jake Rudolph of sister site Crash The Pond has crunched the numbers for it) that a lot of these assignments are cap related, once the season starts and the Ducks can assign Ryan Keslers contract on LTIR – they will be able bring some of these players back and remain under the cap.
That said – it is too soon to start speculating over a Gulls roster based on these names; we still have at least another week and the NHL officially starting its season before things come into better focus.
In the mean time – we should hopefully be receiving the AHL schedule in the coming days. It has been said in circles that it was the Western teams that wanted the most amount of games they could get and the Eastern teams that preferred the flexible schedule. Given the amount of teams in the Pacific it feels like we could get perhaps a 40 game season but that is only my speculation based on reports I have heard.
We also still await word on a playoff format or if there will be one at all, I am hoping there will be but it sounds like the powers that be would prefer the seaon end at around the same time if not soon after the NHL does so it may not be possible.
I will put out more updates as they come.
ECHL Update:
Max Golod continues to lead contracted Ducks players with three points in five games. Jack Badini, Bryce Kindopp are both scoreless while Olle Eriksson Ekk has a 3.02 GAA and .894 SV%.
Also of note – the Oilers have signed former Gull/Oiler Brent Gates Jr to a contract. The Michigan native signed with Laval in the offseason – not sure what happened with that deal but I am happy to see him back.
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