As teams jockey for position down the stretch, many already have their sights set on the 2007-08 season. New NHL affiliations are being cemented, and the AHL prepares to welcome two new teams to its fold.

The days are getting longer and the interminable West Michigan winter is finally beginning to fade. When you’re forced to switch from wearing a winter coat to a spring fleece to flip-flops, all in the span of one day, it can mean just one thing: playoff hockey!

With just over three weeks left in the regular season, the chase for the Calder Cup is about to begin for the 71st time. Teams will battle it out in best-of-seven matchups for nearly two months until one is crowned top dog of the American Hockey League, hoisting the cup with wordless exuberance.

Before the postseason clash begins, the pack of 27 AHL clubs will be trimmed to 16, which presents some great backyard brawls among the teams on the bubble.

The Norfolk Admirals were the first team to clinch a playoff spot, followed shortly by East Division rival Hershey (both teams have a league-high 96 points). Norfolk’s success is powered by an astonishing home record of 31-4-2-0, while the Bears maintain the highest winning percentage in the league at 0.706 heading into this weekend. Looking to crash the party, just four points back, are the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Along the coast in the Atlantic Division, the Manchester Monarchs reside in the top spot with 85 points, three up on Providence – despite falling in their last three – with four games in hand. The Bruins have won two in a row and will attempt to make it three on Friday in a tilt among these top two Atlantic teams.

Each game in the Atlantic is of utmost importance, as it features the closest playoff race among the four divisions. Just 15 points separate the first-place Monarchs and the sixth-place Portland Pirates. The battle for fourth, currently held by the Lowell Devils with 78 points, is up for grabs with Hartford sitting in third with 81 and Worcester in fifth with 77.

The Chicago Wolves maintain first place in the West at 87 points, thanks in large part to the outstanding scoring ability of Darren Haydar, who has racked up 104 points (35-69—104) in just 62 games. Surprisingly, the Wolves’ home record stands at 0.500 (15-15-1-3) while on the road they are a league-leading 25-7-1-2. The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights sit just two points behind Chicago with two games in hand.

The biggest playoff story in the West is the battle for fourth place between the Iowa Stars and Peoria Rivermen, who currently stand at 74 and 73 points, respectively. However, due to the crossover rule in the Western Conference this season, this battle extends to the North Division, where the Griffins currently hold fourth place with 75 points.

Ideally, the Griffins would like to bridge the six-point gap separating them from both Rochester and Hamilton, to avoid potentially falling victim to the crossover rule. But as long as they maintain a lead over the West’s fifth place team, they will be playoff bound. Otherwise, that team would cross over and play in the North Division playoffs. The crossover rule was put into affect this season since the North Division holds only six teams while the other three divisions have seven.

Atop the North, Manitoba has built an eight-point cushion. If the season ended today, the Moose and Griffins would clash in the North Division Semifinals.

New for Next Year

Cleveland will once again have an AHL team with the addition of the Lake Erie Monsters. The 2005-06 Barons packed up and moved to Worcester, changing their name to the Sharks and leaving Cleveland without a franchise for the 2006-07 season. The Monsters will be the primary affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.


The number of AHL teams set for next year now stands at 29, with the forthcoming addition of the Rockford (Ill.) IceHogs. Currently a member of the United Hockey League, Rockford has proven to be a solid hockey market, a status that will be bolstered by their affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks, less than a two-hour drive away.

Affiliation Updates

• After spreading their prospects among five AHL teams this season, including Grand Rapids, the Edmonton Oilers will have their own affiliate next season, signing a three-year agreement with the Springfield Falcons.
  
• The Albany River Rats and Carolina Hurricanes extended their affiliation agreement by two years. The River Rats will be comprised solely of Hurricane prospects next season, after sharing splitting an affilation with Colorado for the 2006-07 season.
  
• The Milwaukee Admirals and Nashville Predators signed an agreement extending their deal through 2009-2010.
  
• The Senators and “Baby Sens” will maintain their unimpeachable relationship, as Binghamton and Ottawa have struck an agreement through the 2011-2012 season.

And Speaking of Bingo…

After two consecutive years across the Northern border (Winnipeg in 2006, Toronto in 2007), the AHL All-Star Classic will return to the states in 2008 and be held at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, N.Y. Dates and ticket information are yet to be announced.