With the NHL in full lockout mode, the Hockey Fanatic is pleased to provide some insight into other hockey leagues in North America. Many suggest that the American Hockey League (AHL) is just a step under the NHL and with the NHL lockout there are a number of NHLers who will be starting the season in the AHL.
Last season, the Norfolk Admirals ended the AHL season with a 6-1 win over Toronto Marlies that completed a 4-0 sweep of the Marlies and earned the AHL Championship the Calder Cup. With the Admirals be able to repeat this season? The Admirals had an amazing run winning 28 consecutive games to finish the regular season. Let’s take a look with our 2012 AHL predictions.
Let’s take a quick look at how the teams finished in the AHL last season.
AHL Eastern Conference
| Rank | Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | STK |
| 1 | y St. John’s IceCaps | 76 | 43 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 94 | 0.62 | 240 | 216 | 0-2-0-0 |
| 2 | x Manchester Monarchs | 76 | 39 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 83 | 0.55 | 207 | 208 | 3-0-0-0 |
| 3 | Portland Pirates | 76 | 36 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 81 | 0.53 | 223 | 254 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 4 | Providence Bruins | 76 | 35 | 34 | 3 | 4 | 77 | 0.51 | 193 | 214 | 1-0-0-0 |
| 5 | Worcester Sharks | 76 | 31 | 33 | 4 | 8 | 74 | 0.49 | 199 | 218 | 1-0-0-0 |
| Rank | Northeast Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | STK |
| 1 | y Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 76 | 41 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 91 | 0.6 | 233 | 219 | 1-0-0-0 |
| 2 | x Connecticut Whale | 76 | 36 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 86 | 0.57 | 210 | 208 | 0-1-0-2 |
| 3 | Adirondack Phantoms | 76 | 37 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 78 | 0.51 | 204 | 217 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 4 | Springfield Falcons | 76 | 36 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 78 | 0.51 | 217 | 231 | 2-0-0-0 |
| 5 | Albany Devils | 76 | 31 | 34 | 6 | 5 | 73 | 0.48 | 190 | 226 | 0-1-0-0 |
| Rank | East Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | STK |
| 1 | y Norfolk Admirals | 76 | 55 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 113 | 0.74 | 273 | 180 | 28-0-0-0 |
| 2 | x Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 76 | 44 | 25 | 2 | 5 | 95 | 0.63 | 235 | 215 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 3 | x Hershey Bears | 76 | 38 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 88 | 0.58 | 244 | 225 | 0-6-0-2 |
| 4 | x Syracuse Crunch | 76 | 37 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 84 | 0.55 | 238 | 234 | 2-0-0-0 |
| 5 | Binghamton Senators | 76 | 29 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 65 | 0.43 | 201 | 243 | 1-0-1-0 |
AHL Western Conference
| Rank | North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | STK |
| 1 | y Toronto Marlies | 76 | 44 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 96 | 0.63 | 217 | 175 | 0-1-1-0 |
| 2 | x Rochester Americans | 76 | 36 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 86 | 0.57 | 224 | 221 | 4-0-2-0 |
| 3 | Lake Erie Monsters | 76 | 37 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 84 | 0.55 | 189 | 210 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 76 | 33 | 32 | 7 | 4 | 77 | 0.51 | 245 | 249 | 0-3-0-0 |
| 5 | Hamilton Bulldogs | 76 | 34 | 35 | 2 | 5 | 75 | 0.49 | 185 | 226 | 2-0-0-0 |
| Rank | Midwest Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | STK |
| 1 | y Chicago Wolves | 76 | 42 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 91 | 0.6 | 213 | 193 | 2-0-1-0 |
| 2 | x Milwaukee Admirals | 76 | 40 | 29 | 2 | 5 | 87 | 0.57 | 210 | 190 | 2-0-0-1 |
| 3 | Charlotte Checkers | 76 | 38 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 85 | 0.56 | 209 | 214 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 4 | Peoria Rivermen | 76 | 39 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 82 | 0.54 | 217 | 207 | 0-3-0-0 |
| 5 | Rockford IceHogs | 76 | 35 | 32 | 2 | 7 | 79 | 0.52 | 207 | 228 | 1-0-0-1 |
| Rank | West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | STK |
| 1 | y Oklahoma City Barons | 76 | 45 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 99 | 0.65 | 213 | 176 | 0-1-0-0 |
| 2 | x Abbotsford Heat | 76 | 42 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 92 | 0.61 | 200 | 201 | 8-0-0-1 |
| 3 | x San Antonio Rampage | 76 | 41 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 87 | 0.57 | 197 | 204 | 1-0-0-0 |
| 4 | x Houston Aeros | 76 | 35 | 25 | 5 | 11 | 86 | 0.57 | 202 | 206 | 2-0-0-0 |
| 5 | Texas Stars | 76 | 31 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 67 | 0.44 | 224 | 251 | 0-2-1-0 |
Here’s how we think the teams will finish in the 2012-13 AHL Season.
Eastern Conference
| Rank | Atlantic Division |
| 1 | Manchester Monarchs |
| 2 | St. John’s IceCaps |
| 3 | Providence Bruins |
| 4 | Portland Pirates |
| 5 | Worcester Sharks |
| Rank | Northeast Division |
| 1 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers |
| 2 | Adirondack Phantoms |
| 3 | Connecticut Whale |
| 4 | Springfield Falcons |
| 5 | Albany Devils |
| Rank | East Division |
| 1 | Norfolk Admirals |
| 2 | Syracuse Crunch |
| 3 | Hershey Bears |
| 4 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| 5 | Binghamton Senators |
Western Conference
| Rank | North Division |
| 1 | Rochester Americans |
| 2 | Toronto Marlies |
| 3 | Grand Rapids Griffins |
| 4 | Lake Erie Monsters |
| 5 | Hamilton Bulldogs |
| Rank | Midwest Division |
| 1 | Chicago Wolves |
| 2 | Milwaukee Admirals |
| 3 | Rockford IceHogs |
| 4 | Charlotte Checkers |
| 5 | Peoria Rivermen |
| Rank | West Division |
| 1 | Oklahoma City Barons |
| 2 | San Antonio Rampage |
| 3 | Abbotsford Heat |
| 4 | Houston Aeros |
| 5 | Texas Stars |
It should be another great season in the AHL, especially if the NHL lockout is prolonged and the season is eventually cancelled. With some great talent already in the AHL, look for teams to step it up in the compete column. Our prediction as to who will win the 2013 Calder Cup? The Oklahoma City Barons look poised to make a move, and are our pick to win it all in the AHL this season. Our dark horse picks include the Chicago Wolves and the Toronto Marlies.
