AHL Realignment
Sometimes it seems like the hockey world can never agree on anything. Today the American Hockey League decided to follow in the footsteps of their parent league, the NHL, and realign their divisions to make things easier on teams. With the news many teams are not only changing divisions but conferences and new AHL conference rivalaries will now be formed as the old ones die.
The following divisions have been approved for the 2014-2015 AHL regular season.
In the Eastern Conference the following breaks down;
Atlantic Division
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles)
Providence Bruins (Boston)
Portland Pirates (Arizona)
St. John’s IceCaps (Winnipeg)
Worcester Sharks (San Jose)
Northeast Division
Albany Devils (New Jersey)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (N.Y. Islanders)
Hartford Wolf Pack (N.Y. Rangers)
Springfield Falcons (Columbus)
Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay)
East Division
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa)
Hershey Bears (Washington)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia)
Norfolk Admirals (Anaheim)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh)
In the Western Conference the following breaks down;
North Division
Adirondack Flames (Calgary)
Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal)
Rochester Americans (Buffalo)
Toronto Marlies (Toronto)
Utica Comets (Vancouver)
Midwest Division
Chicago Wolves (St. Louis)
Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit)
Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago)
West Division
Charlotte Checkers (Carolina)
Iowa Wild (Minnesota)
Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton)
San Antonio Rampage (Florida)
Texas Stars (Dallas)
Big changes;
Adirondeck Flames move to New York from BC and Valley Phantoms move to Allentown.
While the divisions got a major shake-up the AHL playoff system will remain the same going forward with 8 teams from each conference qualifying for a chance at the Calder Cup. The 3 division winners will attain the top seeds while the other 5 battle it out.
Do you like the new AHL realignment? Which move do you like the best and which do you disagree with?