FloHockey’s AHL First-Quarter Review: Western Conference

October and November are when AHL teams begin to reveal what they may have.

But it can be a messy affair. AHL rosters undergo considerable change each summer, it’s a league brimming with youth and all of its inexperience, and there is coaching turnover. This is not the NHL, where teams often bring back much of the same group, particularly core pieces, from one season to the next. Getting a system in place at the AHL level takes time. So, possessing sheer talent can mean running up a bunch of wins while opponents are still working on getting themselves in order.

Even so, the AHL standings don’t make any allowances for losses and slumps in the season’s opening two months. Fall too far behind early, and it can mean months of trying to fight for traction and getting into playoff contention. 

With the AHL season’s first quarter complete or close to arriving, it’s time to check in on where teams stand as December nears. FloHockey looked at the Eastern Conference earlier this week. Here’s a breakdown of the Western Conference.

Abbotsford Canucks (10-8-0-1)

Losing five of six games and going into an extended road trip, the Canucks had hit a crucial point in their schedule early. But now they’ve gone and taken the first four games of this six-game trip, though a tough two-game weekend at San Jose is next. From there they have a six consecutive games back home and will only play four road games until Jan. 19. After missing the start of the season, Jonathan Lekkerimäki has delivered as hoped for with six goals in 10 games. Rather steady movement of players to and from the Vancouver Canucks has been a challenge.

Bakersfield Condors (7-7-2-1)

At 2.53 goals per game (30th in the AHL) and 8.3 percent on the power play (last overall), the Condors’ lack of scoring is making it tough on themselves. Olivier Rodrigue has been strong in net, though, so this is a mid-pack team despite the production issues. Having Roby Järventie and Lane Peterson unavailable for most of the season has been difficult. Pederson, in particular, has shown that he can be a high-end scorer at this level. Newly appointed captain Seth Griffith is as offensively reliable as ever, and top prospect Matthew Savoie has fit in well.

Calgary Wranglers (13-5-1-0)

Devin Cooley. Rory Kerins. Walker Duehr. Jakob Pelletier. Clark Bishop, whose AHL career-high was 11 goals before this season already has nine in 19 games. Rookies, prospects, or veterans, just about the entire roster is playing to its…