East teams have reason to be thankful | Geahl.com

Patrick WilliamsTheahl.com features a writer

Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States. It makes for an endless day based on the AHL schedule, although there are plenty of Thanksgiving Eve, Black Friday and Saturday games to keep fans filling buildings around the league.

Other teams will be on the road, and the team dinner is a long-standing tradition that players from any country will welcome. And with the teams remaining at home, the players are sure to get to meet and fill in a busy weekend of hockey.

What do AHL teams have to be thankful for as they dig into their food Thursday? Let’s take a look at the Eastern Conference teams, with a Western Conference Rundown to follow.

Belleville Senators
With the Ottawa Senators doing well and staying healthy, the B’s have had better luck with a more stable roster than has plagued them in the past. Wyatt bongiovanniacquired from the Winnipeg Jets for future consideration in 2024, had 22 goals last season and is solid again. Now that’s what a rookie gookie does Jackson parsons Who helped to fill and deliver the first encouraging results. The Ottawa organization has a knack for finding overlooked talent.

BROLDEPORTERS
Following the 2024-25-25 season, the Islanders had a busy offseason that included bringing Rocky Thompson As their new head coach he also added a number of key veterans through free agency. This new combination still needs time to fully integrate, but the Islanders are off to a good start to stay in the middle of the Atlantic Division race.

CHARLTE CHECH
Charlotte walked past the cup cakes and gave the Abbotsford Canucks a concerted fight until the end. Then came Charlotte’s most recent summer of talent. Instead of their involvement with the Panthers of Stanley Couff Champion of StAnley to Stanley Jack nine was one of the AHL’s leading scorers.

Cleveland Monsters
The monsters found their leader back when the blue coats were found Brendan GAUNT From wild Minnesota this past June. Now Gaunce is the top scorer for Columbus after a good start with the Monsters, and the leading scorer Luca Pinelli he was remembered by the blue jackets on tuesday. The Monsters also released their tapback cleveland barons jerseys last week and they looked sharp doing so. Cleveland also draws nearly 11,400 fans per game over seven home days, and could challenge the AHL’s single-season attendance records.

Hartford Wolf Pack
The home Icece got a new look of the wolf pack as it was recently called the PeopleBBank Arena and renovated for $ 145 million. The building itself turned 50 this year, but it doesn’t look like it. A new seat, new subites, loode boxes and a concour makeover – in addition to the renewal of the Locker room – have the wolf pack live in style.

Hey bears
So much for a rebuilding year: Most of the veterans from the Caller teams went back to back, moving rookies to take their spots on the Hershey roster, but the growing pains have been minor. New head coach Derek King Did his Bears look as dangerous as the Atlantic Division’s Top Rookie, with 19 Ilya Protas Leads the team with 15 points in 16 games.

Laval rocket
After finishing the first season of the regular season, the rocket gave their fans a memorable trip all the way to the Eastern Conference. Jacob FowlerLast year’s brilliant shot at playoff glory continued into his rookie season. Expectations are one thing, but no one really knows how a prospect will pan out until he takes the competition one step below the NHL level; Fowler has a 2.10 GAA, a .918 save percentage and three shutouts in his first 11 appearances.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms
As the Philadelphia Flyers continue to live up to expectations, there is renewed enthusiasm surrounding the organization reaching out to phantoms. Rookie forward Denver Barekey and Alex Bump they match their hopes – temporarily, while the colleting pair Carson Bjarnason and Aleksei kolosov it showed well. In the end he hurt someone Oliver Bonkthe first pick, should go to the Lehigh Valley LineUp, too. With a new head coach John Snowdendevelopment is progressing well on phantoms.

Providence Bruins
The Boston Bruins always make sure to maintain their performance in Providence, a very long-standing relationship. The Boston Offseason program has been delivered Matěj Blümel and Alex Steeves in the organization, and both have earned recalls in the NHL. The former Eddie Shore award winner Christian WOLANIN added to the p-bruins list last week, too Simon Zajicek Joins Resianing Baz Bastien Award Winner Michael Disiembo in forming a powerful tandem in the net.

ROCHESTER AMERICANS
While the Amerks were able to unleash a parade of top picks on the Buffalo Sabers, they still managed to win games. Konsta Helenius continues to improve in the AHL after going in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and in this first lady Isak Rosén and Noah Östlund have seen significant time in Buffalo this season. A new person Zac Jones Leads all AHL defensemen in scoring with 16 points – all assists.

The Springfield Thunderbirds
Dalibor dvorský very happy in St. Louis again Colten Ellis It has already moved on to Buffalo, leaving the Wildcats without two key pieces from last year’s club. Nikita Alexandrov He leads Springfield in scoring following a 21-goal season last year, and is a rookie Juraj Pekarcik has nine points through his first 16 games as a pro. Theo Lindsteinone of the three first round options for the blues in 2023, it is a promising defense that begins his North American career at Skyfield.

Syracuse crunch
The crunch that just sent their 100th player to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the milestone of One of hockey’s most enduring and productive. It takes a lot of work, a lot of give and take, to make a relationship flourish on both sides. Tampa Bay has been a great contender for years, and the crunch has been a key part of that success while having its own edge. Additional to Jakob Peltier and Nick sighed gave them a crunch that added a disgusting punch this season, while Dylan Duke and Conor Geekie Continue to improve as second year benefits.

The Toronto Marlies
Artur Akhytamov He arrived in Toronto in 2024 as a 4th Round Pick with just 21 games of experience in the CONDINTUNTLENTH HOCKEY League. If no one knew exactly what to expect from Akhykamov when he made his debut, he certainly did at the end of last season. He carried that trend and was built this fall for the Marlies, providing some form of stability while Toronto underwent several roster changes.

The Utica Comets
Let’s not sugarcoat an unattainable 13-game streak to open last year all but lost its playinff hopefully in November. But Ryan’s parentageThe S Club never let up and instead became a formidable opponent. This year’s Comets Squad is facing the same difficulty, but it’s a rookie defenseman Ethan Edward be a bright place; The University of Michigan product has a goal and five assists through 14 games and was remembered for a new jersey last week.

Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
The Penguins in Pittsburgh were supposed to be an aging team in decline, but the big club emerged as one of the NHL’s good news of the first quarter and Wilkes-Barre / Screen / Screen / Scranton has many moments to look forward to. Sergey Murashov It was Ahl’s idea for the month of October, and he was remembered and prominent in Pittsburgh. The depth needs to be at the NHL and AHL levels, and with Pittsburgh the organization has made sure to scout.

In the American Hockey League Beat twenty and twenty, Theahl.com Features Writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and flosports and is a regular contributor to the network. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding coverage in the league in 2016.