Post by columbusgm on Aug 1, 2011 6:26:47 GMT -7
So with the commish's announcement that the Calder Cup will return, I figured it'd be a good time to look at the playoff race in the AHL - and boy is it interesting.
In the East (using NHL team names, as the AHL names depend on your EHM):
Flo - 6 GR, 103 pts (max 115) clinched
Ott - 8 GR, 95 pts (max 111) clinched
Phi - 9 GR, 91 pts (max 109)
Atl - 8 GR, 90 pts (max 106)
NYI - 8 GR, 82 pts (max 98)
NYR - 8 GR, 82 pts (max 98)
Car - 8 GR, 82 pts (max 98)
Pit - 8 GR, 78 pts (max 94)
---------------------
Mtl - 8 GR, 77 pts (max 93)
Was - 8 GR, 75 pts (max 91)
Tor - 9 GR, 71 pts (max 89)
NJ - 8 GR, 65 pts (max 81)
TB - 9 GR, 62 pts (max 80)
Buf - 7 GR, 62 pts (max 76) eliminated
Bos - 9 GR, 60 pts (max 78)
So at this point, only 2 teams in the east have clinched a spot, and only 1 has been eliminated (Boston would end up with more wins than Pittsburgh, so they are not mathematically out).
How's that for parity? Having said that, there's really only 2 teams (Mtl and Was) that look likely to challenge for 8th or higher. Toronto has an outside chance, but is unlikely. NJ, TB and Bos are basically out, just not officially.
The west race? Now this is bloody interesting.
Edm - 8 GR, 95 pts (max 111) clinched
Dal - 7 GR, 94 pts (max 108) clinched
Pho - 9 GR, 91 pts (max 109) clinched
Stl - 8 GR, 91 pts (max 107) clinched
Det - 7 GR, 84 pts (max 98) clinched
Ana - 7 GR, 82 pts (max 96) clinched
Col - 9 GR, 75 pts (max 93)
Van - 7 GR, 63 pts (max 77)
----------------------
Nas - 6 GR, 63 pts (max 75)
Cbs - 9 GR, 62 pts (max 80)
Cgy - 8 GR, 62 pts (max 78)
Chi - 9 GR, 61 pts (max 79)
SJ - 8 GR, 61 pts (max 77)
LA - 8 GR, 59 pts (max 75)
Min - 7 GR, 49 pts (max 63) eliminated
So again only 1 team, Minnesota, is out. But 8th place is so wide open, with only 4 pts separating 7 teams, and only 2 pts separating 6 teams. Colorado is almost certain to make it, while 6 other teams have clinched. But the race for 8th is so amazingly close.
It is, however, worth noting that if the 8th place team in the West had that record in the East, they'd be in 13th. So while the race is close, it's also a bunch of crap teams.
(note: if division leaders are used in the AHL, it changes things very little. The east would remain the same, while the west would see 4th become 3rd - they're tied on points, but one has a game in hand).
In the East (using NHL team names, as the AHL names depend on your EHM):
Flo - 6 GR, 103 pts (max 115) clinched
Ott - 8 GR, 95 pts (max 111) clinched
Phi - 9 GR, 91 pts (max 109)
Atl - 8 GR, 90 pts (max 106)
NYI - 8 GR, 82 pts (max 98)
NYR - 8 GR, 82 pts (max 98)
Car - 8 GR, 82 pts (max 98)
Pit - 8 GR, 78 pts (max 94)
---------------------
Mtl - 8 GR, 77 pts (max 93)
Was - 8 GR, 75 pts (max 91)
Tor - 9 GR, 71 pts (max 89)
NJ - 8 GR, 65 pts (max 81)
TB - 9 GR, 62 pts (max 80)
Buf - 7 GR, 62 pts (max 76) eliminated
Bos - 9 GR, 60 pts (max 78)
So at this point, only 2 teams in the east have clinched a spot, and only 1 has been eliminated (Boston would end up with more wins than Pittsburgh, so they are not mathematically out).
How's that for parity? Having said that, there's really only 2 teams (Mtl and Was) that look likely to challenge for 8th or higher. Toronto has an outside chance, but is unlikely. NJ, TB and Bos are basically out, just not officially.
The west race? Now this is bloody interesting.
Edm - 8 GR, 95 pts (max 111) clinched
Dal - 7 GR, 94 pts (max 108) clinched
Pho - 9 GR, 91 pts (max 109) clinched
Stl - 8 GR, 91 pts (max 107) clinched
Det - 7 GR, 84 pts (max 98) clinched
Ana - 7 GR, 82 pts (max 96) clinched
Col - 9 GR, 75 pts (max 93)
Van - 7 GR, 63 pts (max 77)
----------------------
Nas - 6 GR, 63 pts (max 75)
Cbs - 9 GR, 62 pts (max 80)
Cgy - 8 GR, 62 pts (max 78)
Chi - 9 GR, 61 pts (max 79)
SJ - 8 GR, 61 pts (max 77)
LA - 8 GR, 59 pts (max 75)
Min - 7 GR, 49 pts (max 63) eliminated
So again only 1 team, Minnesota, is out. But 8th place is so wide open, with only 4 pts separating 7 teams, and only 2 pts separating 6 teams. Colorado is almost certain to make it, while 6 other teams have clinched. But the race for 8th is so amazingly close.
It is, however, worth noting that if the 8th place team in the West had that record in the East, they'd be in 13th. So while the race is close, it's also a bunch of crap teams.
(note: if division leaders are used in the AHL, it changes things very little. The east would remain the same, while the west would see 4th become 3rd - they're tied on points, but one has a game in hand).