FloHockey’s Lizz Child Says You Should Watch The AHL. Here’s Why

The 2025-2026 AHL season is rapidly approaching, with opening day slated for Friday, Oct 10, the excitement is ramping up in the FloSports office. 

With uncertainty around NHL rosters ahead of training camp, most of these are subject to change, but here are some things to look out for in the offseason. If your favorite prospect doesn’t make their NHL team this season, don’t worry, the AHL is the best place to watch the next generation of NHL Stars before they hit the big leagues.

We asked FloHockey content creator and AHL expert Lizz Child to give her opinion on why people should watch the AHL in 2025. Here’s what she had to say. 

Lizz’s AHL Teams To Watch In 2025-26

Of the 32 teams in the AHL, here are the ones that Lizz says to watch for and why.

Bridgeport Islanders

The Islanders are going into their 25th season as a franchise, and they’re bringing back a vintage look. After missing the playoffs in the last three seasons, the Islanders made some coaching changes, hiring assistant coaches David Cunniff and Chad Kolarik to back up new head coach Rocky Thomspon. 

Not only will the Islanders have some new faces on the bench, but they have also signed several players to one-year, two-way deals with the New York Islanders. Matthew Highmore, Ethan Bear and Cole McWard have all been signed, joining the AHL roster players of Chris Terry, Max Dorrington, Cam Berg, Ross Mitton Hunter Drew and Luke Rowe.

All players are on one year deals.

The Islanders will be a mostly new-look team, and can these changes be enough to get them back to the Calder Cup playoffs?

Abbotsford Canucks

Fresh off winning their first Calder Cup trophy, the Abbotsford Canucks will have a tall task if they want to repeat. In the offseason, the Canucks organization traded Calder Cup Finals MVP goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.  

Without Silovs, how good will the Canucks be, and can they make another run to the Calder Cup Finals?

Hershey Bears

After winning the Calder Cup in back-to-back seasons, 2023 and 2024, the Bears lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Charlotte Checkers. In the offseason, the Bears hired Derek King as their new head coach after Todd Nelson left to take an assistant coaching role with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

With the storied history of the Bears’ organization, the expectations of King are clear, get the team back to the Calder Cup finals and win. 

The Bears have signed…