The AHL season of 2025-2026 is fast approaching, with the opening day planned for Friday 10 October, the excitement is performed in the Flosports office.
With uncertainty around NHL schedules prior to the training camp, most of these are subject to change, but here are some things to pay attention to in the low season. If your favorite prospect does not make their NHL team this season, don’t worry, the AHL is the best place to view the next generation of NHL stars before they touch the big competitions.
We asked Flohockey Content Creator and AHL expert Lizz Child to give her opinion why people should view the AHL in 2025. This is what she had to say.
2025 Abbotsford Canucks vs Henderson Silver Knights
Lizzes AHL teams to watch in 2025-26
Of the 32 teams in the AHL, here are those who say Lizz to pay attention and why.
Bridport Islanders
The islanders enter their 25th season as a franchise, and they bring a vintage look back. After missing the play -offs in the last three seasons, the islanders made some coaching changes, whereby assistant coaches David Cunniff and Chad Kolarik hire to back up a new head coach Rocky Thomspon.
Not only will the islanders have some new faces on the couch, but they have also signed several players for a year, two -way with the New York Islanders. Matthew Highmore, Ethan Bear and Cole Mcward are all signed and join the AHL schedules of Chris Terry, Max Dorrington, Cam Berg, Ross Mitton Hunter Drew and Luke Rowe.
All players are deals for a year.
The islanders become a predominantly new-look team, and can these changes be enough to get them back to the Calder Cup play-offs?
Abbotsford Canucks
Fresh from winning their first Calder Cup trophy, the Abbotsford Canucks will have a long task if they want to repeat. In the low season, the Canucks organization Calder Cup Finals MVP -target defender Arturs Silovs traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Without silovs, how good will the canucks be and can they still run to the Calder Cup final?
Hershey Bears
After winning the Calder Cup in back-to-back seasons, 2023 and 2024, the bears lost in the second round of the play-offs of the Charlotte-Checkers. In the low season the Beren Derek King hired as their new head coach after Todd Nelson left to play an assistant coaching role at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With the legendary history of the organization of the Bears, the expectations of King are clear, bring the team back to the Calder Cup Finals and wins.
The bears have signed Andrew Cristall of the WHL, and the once second round pick that the WHL led in scoring the past three seasons, hoping to stimulate their attack.
With these new factors, the bears are a team to view this season.
Grand Rapids Griffins
After a largely successful NHL concept of the Detroit Red Wings, the Griffins will have various top perspectives available this season to play for them. The Griffins lost in the first round of the Calder Cup -Play -offs of the Texas stars, but with their likely stacked selection could be their year this year?
Texas Stars
The Texas stars are a team that has just fallen short of playing for the Calder Cup and loses Van Abbotsford in six games in 2025. Now they have a new head coach in Toby Petersen, who was part of the only winning team of the Stars in 2014.
With Peterson at the helm and various stars that are set to return, can the stars return to the Calder Cup Finals and win?
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign has a first year head coach in Andrew Lord, and despite being his first year coaching in the AHL, he has extensive experience at other levels. He was named the Echl coach of the year and led the Greenville Swamp rabbits to a general record of 155-94-39 in the Echl de Greenville.
With the winning experience of Lord, the government wants to pass the prelims after losing in 2025.
The offside is back
The AHL Outdoor Classic is back after missing the 2024-2025 season. It will contain the Iowa Wild and the Milwaukee Admirals as part of Hockey Day Minnesota, live from the United Heroes League Complex in Hastings.
The 20th year of the event, this year’s game, is expected to have 80,000 fans and will be a super popular event for all involved, and is one of Lizz’s favorite events of the year.
Teddy bear throws
Everyone’s favorite game of the year, especially that of Lizz, each team has its own Teddy bear throw. Who does not like to see teddy bears throwing on the ice for a good cause, with all the bears donated to charities for children after the game.
The Hershey Bears regularly set new records with their teddy bears every year and in 2025 they set a world record for most teddy bears ever given a teddy bear throw with 10,514. Although Flo has not yet been able to throw one Van Hershey’s teddy bears, it is on Lizz’s Bucket List with hockey matches.
CBA Age Rule Change
If the SME rule for players under the age of 19 changes, so that they can play in the AHL, this can be a game change for development. It would allow top prospect and predicted number 1 general NHL concept choice Sam Dickinson to play in the AHL and gain experience against NHL players.
Players who could make NHL grilles this season
Some of the best prospects that Lizz has dealt with in the AHL over the years could make the entire NHL grilles this year. Here is who.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki – Vancouver Canucks
Lekkerimaki was chosen in 15th place by the Vancouver Canucks in 2022, but has not yet played a full season for Vancouver.
Michael Dipietro – Boston Bruins
Dipietro was generally prepared by the Vancouver Canucks 64th, but did not play a full season with them and only appeared in three games. Now part of the Boston Bruins organization, he could play his first full NHL season this year.
Players to watch
Jacob Fowler – Laval Rocket
A goalkeeper for the Laval Rocket, Fowler played for Boston College before signing a three -year deal with the Montreal Canadiens before he was assigned to Laval. This year he could be the starting goalkeeper for the rocket in his first full professional season.
Artyom Levshunov – Rockford Icehogs
The second overall choice in the NHL design of 2024, Levshunov wants to reach the NHL this season. He played in 18 games for the Chicago Blackhawks and wants to make a full -time roster player for them this season.
AHL opening weekend schedule on Flohockey
Here every AHL game that will happen in week one is mentioned with all times in the eastern time. All games can be streamed on Flohockey and the Flosports app. Subscribe here not to miss any action.
Friday, October 10
- 19:00 – Cleveland vs Utica
- 7:05 pm – Toronto vs Rochester
- 20:00 – Laval vs Manitoba
- 20:00 – Grand Rapids vs Texas
- 9:05 pm – Calgary vs Colorado
- 10:00 pm – Tucson vs Ontario
- 22:00 – Abbotsford vs Henderson
- 10 pm – San Diego vs Coachella Valley
Saturday 11 October
- 15:00 – Cleveland vs Utica
- 16:00 – Rochester vs Toronto
- 18:00 – Bakersfield vs San Jose
- 6:05 pm Hartford vs Wilkes-Barre/SCRANTON
- 6:05 pm – Charlotte vs Springfield
- 19:00 – Providence vs Bridport
- 19:00 – Syracuse vs Hershey
- 19:00 – Chicago vs Iowa
- 7:05 pm – Belleville vs Lehigh Valley
- 20:00 – Milwaukee vs Rockford
- 20:00 – Grand Rapids vs Texas
- 21:00 – Abbotsford vs Henderson
- 9:05 pm – Calgary vs Colorado
Sunday October 12
- 15:00 – Belleville vs Bridport
- 15:00 – Laval vs Manitoba
- 3:05 pm – Charlotte vs Providence
- 15:05 hours-Wilkes-Barre/SCRANTON vs Lehigh Valley
- 17:00 – Syracuse vs Hershey
- 18:00 – Rockford vs Iowa
- 18:00 – Tucson vs Ontario
TOP AHL Proers
Although we are still waiting for NHL camps to see the last schedules, some of the best AHL prospects are entering the 2025-26 season here.
- Artyom Levshunov, Rockford
- Isaac Howard, Bakersfield
- Matt Savoie, Bakersfield
- Jacob Fowler, Laval
- Dalibor Dvorsky, Springfield
- Andrew Cristall, Hershey
- Ivan Miroshinchenko, Hershey
- Ilya Protas, Hershey
- Axel Sandin Pellikka, Grand Rapids
- Nate Danielson, Grand Rapids
- Sebastian Cossa, Grand Rapids
- Emil Hemming, Texas
- Tanner Molendyk, Milwaukee
- Danila Yurov, Iowa
- Liam Ohgren, Iowa
What were the AHL classification 2024-25?
View the full 2024-25 AHL regular season classification below. Click here to view the last rankings.
Atlantic Division
- Y – Hershey Bears – 96
- X – Charlotte Checkers – 94
- X – Providence Bruins – 90
- X – Wilkes -Barre/SCRANTON Penguins – 88
- X – Lehigh Valley Phantoms – 80
- X – Springfield Thunderbirds – 74
- Hartford Wolf Pack – 69
- Bridport Islanders – 37
Northern division
- Y – Laval Rocket – 101
- X – Rochester Americans – 92
- X – Syracuse Crunch – 86
- X – Toronto Marlies – 86
- X – Cleveland Monsters – 81
- Belleville Senators – 79
- Utica Comets – 70
Central division
- Y – Milwaukee Admirals – 91
- X – Texas Stars – 89
- X – Grand Rapids Griffins – 80
- X – Chicago Wolves – 78
- X – Rockford Icehogs – 70
- Iowa Wild – 62
- Manitoba Moose – 56
Pacific Division
- and – Colorado Eagles – 94
- X – Abbotsford Canucks – 92
- X – Ontario Reign – 90
- X – Coachella Valley Firebirds – 84
- X – Calgary Wranglers – 81
- X – San Jose Barracuda – 81
- X – Tucson Roadrunners – 74
- Bakersfield Condors – 74
- San Diego Gulls – 66
- Henderson Silver Knights – 63
X = concrete play -off position
Y = Clanked division
Who won the Playoffs from Calder Cup 2025?
The Abbotsford Canucks won the final of the 2025 Calder Cup -Play -Offs against the Charlotte Checkers in six games. It is the first Calder Cup of the franchise.
How to view AHL Hockey Live Live this season
Fans can watch every AHL game live and on-demand on flohockey from the preseason to the last game of the Calder Cup Finals.
When will the Calder Cup -Play -offs start?
The last match of the regular season of 2025-26 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19. The playoffs from Calder Cup usually start a few days after the end of the regular season.
NHL Prospect Coverage on Flohockey
The best and most complete coverage of the NHL Minor League Hockey and NHL Draft can be found on Flohockey. Don’t miss the newest new prospectgids, rankings and more of Chris Peters and the Flohockey staff.
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