2024 Calder Cup Playoffs: Picks & Predictions

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The best time of the year!

The 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs are underway this week with opening round best-of-three action, and the pace and intensity of playoff hockey in the AHL will only increase with every passing game and series as 23 teams in this expanded playoff format are vying for the 2024 Calder Cup Championship.

Players returning from NHL clubs out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and new arrivals from junior, college and overseas pro leagues alter the landscape of AHL rosters entering the postseason. Some will play a pivotal role in their teams' respective playoff runs toward a championship with hopes of playing hockey into the middle of June.

Always love showing how wrong my assumptions about AHL teams are, so take these following predictions lightly!

The stage is set.

23 teams.

One goal.

The Calder Cup.

OPENING ROUND (best-of-three)

Atlantic Division

Opening Round Byes: Hershey (1) and Providence (2)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (3) vs Lehigh Valley (6)

A best-of-three series among bitter Atlantic Division rivals just doesn't seem fair, as this matchup has the potential to showcase a little bit of everything.

My pick: Penguins in 3.

Charlotte (4) vs Hartford (5)

Charlotte has seemingly hit their stride down the stretch and roll into the opening round facing a Hartford team that had trouble down the stretch in securing home-ice advantage.

My pick: Checkers in 2.

North Division

Opening Round Byes: Cleveland, Rochester and Syracuse

Belleville (4) vs Toronto (5)

A battle between the two Ontario-based AHL rivals features the Senators and Leafs in what should be an exciting fast-paced best-of-three.

My pick: Senators in 3.

Central Division

Opening Round Byes: Milwaukee, Grand Rapids and Rockford

Texas (4) vs. Manitoba (5)

Texas Stars will lean on their stars and dispose of the Moose in my only sweep pick in the Western Conference.

My Pick: Texas in 2. (I made this pick public on Twitter/X -> @TonyAndrock prior to Tuesday night's Game 1.)

Pacific Division

Opening Round Byes: Coachella Valley

Tucson (2) vs Calgary (7)

Tucson got loaded up by their NHL affiliate, and look to make a serious run this spring.

My Pick: Roadrunners in 3.

Ontario (3) vs. Bakersfield (6)

Reign and Condors is probably more evenly matched than the 3-v-6 matchup might indicate, but still think the Reign are going to be tough to beat in a best-of-three.

My pick: Reign in 3.

Colorado (4) vs. Abbotsford (5)

Maybe overreacting on the recent goalie roster move by the Avalanche, but not seeing these teams regularly (or at all in-person) leaves me picking a full three-game series.

My pick: Canucks in 3.

DIVISIONAL SEMIFINALS (best-of-five)

Atlantic Division

Hershey (1) vs. Charlotte (4) My pick: Bears in 4

Providence (2) vs. W-B/Scranton (3) My pick: Penguins in 5.

North Division

Cleveland (1) vs. Belleville (4) My pick: Monsters in 4

Rochester (2) vs. Syracuse (3) My pick: Americans in 5.

Central Division

Milwaukee (1) vs. Texas (4) My pick: Admirals in 5.

Grand Rapids (2) vs. Rockford (3) My pick: Griffins in 4.

Pacific Division

Coachella Valley (1) vs. Abbotsford (5) My pick: Firebirds in 4.

Tucson (2) vs. Ontario (3) My pick: Roadrunners in 4.

DIVISIONAL FINALS (best-of-five)

Atlantic Division

Hershey (1) vs. W-B/Scranton (3) My pick: Bears in 5.

North Division

Cleveland (1) vs. Rochester (2) My pick: Monsters in 5.

Central Division

Milwaukee (1) vs. Grand Rapids (2) My pick: Griffins in 5.

Pacific Division

Coachella Valley (1) vs. Tucson (2) My pick: Firebirds in 5.

CONFERENCE FINALS (best-of-seven)

Eastern Conference

Hershey (1-Atlantic) vs. Cleveland (1-North) My pick: Bears in 6.

Western Conference

Coachella Valley (1-Pacific) vs. Grand Rapids (2-Central) My pick: Firebirds in 5.

2024 CALDER CUP FINALS (best-of-seven)

Coachella Valley (1-Pacific) vs. Hershey (1-Atlantic)

The rematch!

This June, in a Game 7 overtime at Giant Center, Andrew Poturalski will score the golden goal and lift the Firebirds to a Calder Cup championship in their second year as an AHL franchise.

My Pick: Firebirds in seven games.