Two opposing coaches vanquished by Grand Rapids during the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs now find themselves bench bosses in the NHL. No stranger to such successes or changes, the AHL gets ready to drop the puck on season no. 71.

The more things stay the same, the more things change. Or something like that.

The American Hockey League rolls into its eighth decade of providing the planet’s second-best hockey, with a stable roster of franchises and an ever-fruitful relationship with the NHL. But summertime always brings change, and following a hugely successful 70th anniversary season – marked by the Hershey Bears’ ninth Calder Cup championship, 360 players who saw ice time in the NHL, and more than six million fans who stormed the gates – some adjustments will have to be made by teams, players and fans.

On the brink of season no. 71, here’s what you need to know.

Rule Changes

Safety of its athletes remains a top priority for the AHL, whose Board of Governors overwhelmingly approved the mandatory use of protective visors by all players, starting this season. The rule was adopted, in part, because of the career-ending eye injury sustained by Portland defenseman Jordan Smith last season.

In the event that a defending player (other than the goalkeeper) clears the puck over the glass from within the defensive zone – except in cases when a minor penalty for delay of game is assessed at the discretion of the referee – the offending team will not be permitted a line change prior to the ensuing faceoff.

New Place, New Names

The Cleveland Barons, erstwhile North Division rival of the Griffins, have packed up and moved to Worcester, Mass. To reflect their parent club in San Jose, they’ve adopted the nickname Sharks. Similarly, after forging a new affiliation with the New Jersey Devils, the Lowell Lock Monsters crossed over to the dark side and renamed themselves the Lowell Devils. Meanwhile, the Albany River Rats, New Jersey’s former affiliate, have joined forces with the Carolina Hurricanes, Lowell’s previous partner. Got it?

The More, the Merrier

Five AHL teams have inked partial affiliation agreements with the Edmonton Oilers for 2006-07, including Grand Rapids, Hamilton, Iowa, Milwaukee and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Edmonton last had a full affiliate during the lockout season of 2004-05, when the Edmonton Road Runners took to the ice at Rexall Place.

Playoff Format

Worcester found a home in the Atlantic Division, forcing Albany to the East Division. As a result, the six-team North Division – including the Griffins – may now be affected by a slight change in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoff format.

At the conclusion of the 2006-07 regular season, playoffs will feature the top four teams in each of the four divisions, with one possible exception (since every division except the North will have seven teams): if the fifth-place team in the West finishes with more points than the fourth-place team in the North, it would cross over and compete in the North Division playoffs.

The postseason format will again feature a divisional playoff, leading to conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup Finals. All rounds will comprise best-of-seven series.

Meet the New Boss

Eleven AHL teams will have a different face behind the bench this year, including Albany (Tom Rowe), Bridgeport (Dan Marshall), Lowell (Kurt Kleinendorst), Manchester (Mark Morris), Manitoba (Scott Arniel), Peoria (former Griffin Dave Baseggio), Philadelphia (Craig Berube), Springfield (Steve Stirling), Syracuse (Ross Yates), Toronto (Greg Gilbert) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Todd Richards).

Interestingly, the two former AHL coaches who lost to the Griffins in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs, Manitoba’s Alain Vigneault and Toronto’s Paul Maurice, now run the show for each team’s respective NHL parent club, the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Stars Come Out

On a final note, the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic will take place Jan. 28-29 at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.