2019 AHL All-Star Classic - Western Conference Capsules
On Thursday afternoon, the American Hockey League announced the 48 players that will compete in the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic - the annual three-on-three, round-robin exhibition tournament between the league's four divisions.
The All-Star Classic is slated for January 28, with the AHL All-Star Skills Competition taking place on January 27. Both events will be hosted in Springfield, Massachusetts at the MassMutual Center - the home of the Springfield Thunderbirds.
The 12-man rosters were selected by committees of AHL coaches, and all 31 teams in the premier minor hockey league are represented by at least one player. 35 of the 48 players selected have been named to their first All-Star team, and 26 of the 48 have spent time in the National Hockey League this season.
Today, we will be looking at the All-Star cases for every player that was picked to slip on a jersey with their division's name on. Without further ado, here is a rundown of the Western Conference All-Stars of the AHL.
CENTRAL DIVISION
FORWARDS
Daniel Carr, Chicago Wolves
Alongside fellow All-Star and Wolves linemate Brandon Pirri, Carr has energized the top line of the hottest team in the league and has headmanned them to a fight for first in the Central Divsion after falling as far down as sixth place in the division standings just a month ago. Carr sits second to only Pirri among the league's point leaders with 40 (17G-23A) in 29 games.
Brandon Pirri, Chicago Wolves
The aforementioned Pirri has been a scoring threat everywhere he's gone in his rollercoaster of a career, and the Wolves, who boast a 10-2-1-0 record in their last 13 games, are reaping the benefits of a high-profile scorer. As the AHL's leading point scorer (17 goals, 24 assists, 41 points in 28 games), Pirri's All-Star case is unquestioned, especially given that he has six goals in seven NHL games with the Vegas Golden Knights since his recall.
Chris Terry, Grand Rapids Griffins
Terry has eight more points and eight more goals than the next closest skater on the Grand Rapids roster, with 38 and 21, respectively. Given his clear superiority over the rest of the Griffins' roster, Terry is a shoo-in for the Central Division All-Star team, but I guess it helps when you're the leading goal-scorer in the AHL, too.
Cal O'Reilly, Iowa Wild
With the top team in the division, Cal O'Reilly has been the preeminent player, and is more than deserving of an All-Star spot considering how ridiculous his stat line is. 20 of O'Reilly's team-leading 25 points are assists, meaning the team captain is getting everyone involved as the top-line centerman.
Mason Appleton, Manitoba Moose
For a struggling Moose team, Appleton has been a superb bright spot, showing that his performance from last season was not a fluke. Appleton has followed up his 2017-18 season, where he finished fourth in league scoring, with the best points-per-game rate on the team at 0.95. The Michigan State alum has eight goals and 10 assists in 19 AHL games this year.
Jordan Kyrou, San Antonio Rampage
Just like Appleton, Kyrou has been the best of a bad situation with a team deep down in the division standings. With 10 goals and 13 assists in 22 contests, the star St. Louis Blues prospect has been far and away the best player in the Alamo City this season, and has looked like the 100-point scorer the St. Louis brass took out of Sarnia.
Denis Gurianov, Texas Stars
2018-19 has been the season wherein Denis Gurianov, the 12th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, finally pans out. Gurianov has been a big cog in a lethal Texas Stars lineup, with nine goals and 19 assists in just 23 games. Before a well-deserved recall to Dallas, the Russian winger had been in the top ten in league scoring all season.
DEFENSEMEN
Erik Brannstrom, Chicago Wolves
Fans in Chicago have been treated to a defenseman that has all the makings of an NHL steal, and if you watched any of Team Sweden's games in the World Junior Championships, you might have seen the same. Brannstrom, the 15th pick in 2017's draft to Vegas, has four goals and 16 assists this season, all as a 19-year-old rookie.
Matt Donovan, Milwaukee Admirals
The polar opposite of Brannstrom would be Donovan, but the Admirals' alternate captain has been just as solid on the backend. Donovan sits 12th in scoring by defensemen in the AHL, with 10 goals and 11 assists in 35 appearances. The veteran blueliner is versatile, tough, and fast for a youthful Nashville Predators farm team.
Andrew Campbell, Rockford IceHogs
Campbell has not had a good season on the scoresheet (one point in 30 games), but was named the AHL's Western Conference All-Star captain back in mid-December, and as a veteran with a lot to offer the prospects developing under his wing in Rockford, he deserves it.
GOALTENDERS
Kaapo Kahkonen, Iowa Wild
The goalie of the future for the Minnesota Wild has been arguably the best player on their primary affiliate this season. Kahkonen sits at 9-4-4 with a 2.42 GAA and .918 save percentage for the Central's top-ranked team.
Collin Delia, Rockford IceHogs
The best save percentage among qualified goalies in the AHL belongs to... that's right, AHL All-Star Collin Delia, who has been like a rock for the Chicago Blackhawks' affiliate in Winnebago County, Illinois. Delia is 7-5-4 with a 2.34 GAA and an otherworldly .933 Sv%.
PACIFIC DIVISION
**FORWARDS
Joe Gambardella, Bakersfield Condors
As the leading goal-scorer on a Bakersfield team that has been fighting to stay afloat in the Pacific Division since the outset of the season, Gambardella (12G-9A-21P) is an easy call as the Condors' All-Star. He's even making his mark in Edmonton as a midseason recall.
Andrew Agozzino, Colorado Eagles
Agozzino has been here before as an AHL veteran, and has been carrying the water for the Colorado Eagles in their first season in the AHL. The 29-year-old leads the Eagles in goals (12), assists (18), and points (30).
Sheldon Rempal, Ontario Reign
For a Reign team in the cellar in the division, Sheldon Rempal has been as far from at fault as possible. As one of the Los Angeles Kings' top prospects, Rempal paces the Reign in points with 24 (8G-16A) in 22 games. As a weapon in all three zones and especially on the power play, Rempal can impact the game in a multitude of ways.
Troy Terry, San Diego Gulls
What a steal Troy Terry has become for the Anaheim Ducks as a fifth-round draft pick marinating in the AHL. With the Gulls this season, Terry has the team-lead in points (12G-19A-31P) and assists in his 27 appearances on the top line with San Diego. Now, Terry isn't just American World Junior hero, he's an AHL All-Star.
Francis Perron, San Jose Barracuda
If you're a part of a package that features Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, you must have game. San Jose got Perron in the same trade with Ottawa, and the 22-year-old QMJHL alum has been electric for their AHL club. With 13 goals and 14 assists in 28 games, Perron leads the Barracuda in goals and points.
Curtis Lazar, Stockton Heat
Curtis Lazar is not quite done yet. Written off as a bust after flaming out with the Flames, the Canadian has made somewhat of a resurgence with the AHL club this season. On the Heat top line, Lazar has 25 points (11G-14A) in 31 games, including a team-high three game-winning tallies.
Conor Garland, Tucson Roadrunners
Though he has spent a large amount of time (deservedly so) with the Arizona Coyotes, Conor Garland's AHL marks are All-Star worthy. He is the only point-per-game player on the Roadrunners roster, with eight goals and 11 assists in 18 games. Twice the leading scorer in the Canadian major junior ranks, Garland has finally hacked it in the pros.
DEFENSEMEN
Sean Walker, Ontario Reign
Not only has Walker been one of the Pacific Division's top blueliners, the undersized defenseman has been an elite defensive presence in a league with a lot of them. Walker has become the two-way force his NCAA game suggested he could become, with six goals and 11 assists in 20 AHL games this season.
Jacob Middleton, San Jose Barracuda
An unsung hero on the Barracuda over the last two years finally gets his due with an All-Star Game selection. The leader of the San Jose defense has tallied a pair of goals in addition to his 10 assists, while also posting an eye-popping +15 rating.
Kyle Capobianco, Tucson Roadrunners
A smooth, agile skater whose skill set can take over any game, Capobianco leads a Roadrunners team stacked with youthful offensive talent in points (4G-21A-25P in 30 games) and shots despite manning the blueline. Yeah, he's got game.
GOALIES
Pavel Francouz, Colorado Eagles
A 28-year-old rookie, Pavel Francouz was contracted by the Avalanche after an impressive performance in the 2018 Olympics and has not disappointed in his foray into North American hockey. In backstopping the Colorado Eagles, Francouz is 13-7-1-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .919 Sv%, and has been impressive with the Avs as a recall (1.96 GAA, .943 Sv%).
Josef Korenar, San Jose Barracuda
San Jose's electric rookie goaltender is defying the odds of a 20-year-old netminder in the AHL. The youthful, athletic netminder is 13-2-1-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .914 Sv% for the top team in the division this season, and one of three Barracuda regulars to get the nod for the All-Star Game.
