Allen Hiatus Update, Mountain Division Update Including NHL/AHL Affiliates Playoff Position, Historical Regular Season Rank and More

 

The Allen Americans are over halfway through their 12 day hiatus and not much new to report, but wanted to give you a brief update and cover a few other topics:

 

- I mentioned last week about coach Costello giving the team the opportunity to earn days off during the 12 day hiatus. It was based on wins and the team ended up earning six days off. The team had ice time and players were able to skate last week if they so desired and were in town, even though they were "off days." I stopped by the rink twice last week and to my surprise it looked like a regular practice day with almost everyone participating. They were working but also having fun. One day they drafted two teams for a 3-on-3 cross ice tournament that was fun to watch. It was very impressive seeing all the players showing up for optional practices during their days off.

 

- This week it will be back to regular practices as the team gets ready to play one of those grueling three games in three days with travel. The question is will the team be energized after having time off to heal the bumps and bruises or will they be rusty after so much down time? Here is the schedule for the week ahead. Another gem from the ECHL schedule after 12 days off:

• Friday, Tulsa at home
• Saturday, at Wichita
• Sunday, Wichita at home (2:10 pm start time)  

 

 - Forward Bennett MacArthur was recalled by Tampa Bay to Syracuse last week which makes sense given all of the downtime in Allen. Syracuse has a game tonight and another one on Wednesday. This move gives MacArthur a chance to practice with the AHL club and maybe get in a game. I haven't been told this but if you look at the Syracuse roster there are 16 forwards listed, so assume MacArthur might be sent back to Allen by the weekend.

 

- There has been plenty of talk about Belleville sending players to Allen given the Senators have had several players return from injury. It made no sense to send players to Allen during this long hiatus, but you could see players assigned to the Americans this week. 

 

- If Allen does get players assigned this week, combined with any injured players returning, coach Costello will have to reduce the roster through trades or releasing players. Allen can carry a maximum of 20 players on the active roster (must stay under the salary cap) and can have two on reserve. Players on IR are unlimited and don't count toward the salary cap. Right now Allen has 21 players on the active plus reserve list and five on injured reserve. That means just one player can be added from the IR or assigned by the NHL/AHL before players will have to be traded or released. It could be a very busy week roster wise for Costello if Allen gets players assigned and players return from IR. 

 

- If you haven't been paying attention to the Mountain Division standings during the Allen down time there has been some interesting dynamics.  

• Wichita appeared to be out of the playoff picture but has reeled off five straight wins including road wins in Kansas City and Indy (2). The Thunder are now just two points behind idle Allen. 
• Rapid City is headed in the other direction. From recently being in a playoff spot the Rush have lost eight straight including five straight at home and are now in last place in the division with a .392 points percentage. It has been a tough schedule for Rapid City. The last seven losses have been to Kansas City, Idaho and Greenville who are ranked #1, #3 and #4 in the league. Rapid City plays at Greenville again this afternoon.
• Tulsa took three of four points from Idaho this weekend and play the Steelheads again this afternoon. The Oilers now have a five point lead over the Americans.  
• Utah has done well playing top teams recently. The Grizzlies split with Idaho, took two of three from Wheeling and split two games in Kansas City. They play the Mavericks again this afternoon. Next week Utah plays three games in Idaho.

 

- The conventional wisdom was the top teams would help Allen out during the 12 day hiatus but thus far that has not been the case. Here are the Mountain Division standings by points and points percentage with games remaining in parenthesis:

• 77 points - .770, Kansas City (22 games)
• 71 points - .696, Idaho (21 games)
• 54 points - .529, Tulsa (21 games)
• 49 points - .480, Utah (21 games)
• 47 points - .470, Allen (22 games)
• 45 points - .433, Wichita (20 games)
• 40 points - .392, Rapid City (21 games)

 

 

- With between 18-23 games remaining in the ECHL regular season the fate of teams is partially dependent on what happens with their affiliates. Will the number of players assigned to the ECHL go up or down? Will the number of NHL/AHL contracted players help or hurt down the stretch? Here are two main factors in answering that question.

1. Will the affiliates be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? If the affiliates are net gainers at the trade deadline it could push players to the ECHL. If they are net losers, contract players in the ECHL could be recalled. Here are the trade deadlines by league. Who will be the buyers and sellers?

 

NHL: March 8

AHL: March 15

ECHL: March 21

 

2. The second factor that can make a big difference for ECHL teams is whether their NHL/AHL affiliates make the playoffs? If both are going to miss the playoffs the ECHL affiliate has hit the jackpot and can get plenty of help. If the NHL/AHL affiliates both make deep playoff runs little help can be expected. Some ECHL teams are built with little affiliate help expected while others rely on it for success. Stay tuned!

 

 

 

- Not sure if the first point above will impact Allen as it all depends if Ottawa/Belleville add players or lose players in the next couple of weeks. On the second point above, here is where the Mountain Division teams and their affiliates are in the standings. It will give you some idea how much help will be given to the ECHL teams. The middle team is the AHL affiliate and the bottom team is the NHL affiliate. Teams currently in playoff positions are marked with an asterisk. Tulsa looks to be best positioned to get help from its affiliates. Idaho and Utah have NHL and AHL affiliates that could make deep playoff runs. 

 

• Kansas City - 1st place*
• Coachella Valley - 1st place*
  
• Seattle - 6th place
  

• Idaho - 2nd place*
• Texas - 3rd place*
  
• Dallas - 1st place*
  

• Tulsa - 3rd place*
  
• San Diego - 9th place
  
• Anaheim - 7th place
  

• Utah - 4th place*
• Colorado -2nd place*
  
• Colorado - 3rd place*
  

• Allen - 5th place
• Belleville - 3rd place*
  
• Ottawa - 7th place
  

•  Wichita - 6th place
• San Jose - 10th place
  
• San Jose - 8th place
  

• Rapid City - 7th place
• Calgary - 4th place*
  
• Calgary - 5th place

 

DID YOU KNOW: Here is how Allen has ranked in the final ECHL regular season standings since joining the league in 2014-15. Playoff results are in parenthesis:

• 2023-24: 22nd (with 22 games remaining)
  
• 2022-23: 13th (lost in 2nd round)
  
• 2021-22: 10th (lost in 1st round)
  
• 2020-21: 1st (lost in 2nd round)
  
• 2019-20 - 3rd (no playoffs)
  
• 2018-19 - 27th (missed playoffs)
  
• 2017-18: 13th (lost in 1st round)
  
• 2016-17: 2nd (lost in 2nd round)
  
• 2015-16: 5th (won Kelly Cup)
• 2014-15: 2nd (won Kelly Cup)