Do The Penguins Have The AHL’s Best Team? It Sure Feels That Way

The American Hockey League (AHL) season is still young. Most teams have played three or four games and the teams that stand out now will be different in a few months or even weeks. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins however have shown four games in that they might be the best team in the AHL. 

The 4-0 part is a good starting point but it’s more about how this team has looked. The affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins has looked great across the board and has dominate the competition as a result. Their first game of the season was a 2-1 victory but since then, they’ve outscored their opponents 15-6. It’s a team that checks off all the boxes for a Calder Cup contender and won’t be on the decline anytime soon either. 

Penguins Can Win in Multiple Ways

Last season, the Penguins struggled on defense. It became their undoing in the Clader Cup Playoffs, something Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Alex Bump wasn’t shy to day out loud. “They don’t like to defend,” he started after scoring twice in the first game against them in a series that became a sweep. 

That message stuck with the Penguins all offseason. They’ve started the season with great defensive play which has shut down opponents. Their blue line doesn’t move the puck to set up the offense, something it did last season, but it steps up in the defensive zone and blanks offenses. Kirk MacDonald noted how the unit and team overall is defending better and it’s a sign that they are a complete team. 

The 2-1 opening night win against the Hartford Wolf Pack showed not only that they play great defense but they have standouts in their end. The Owen Pickering and Phil Kemp duo has stepped up and created turnovers while helping move the puck out of the zone. It’s something the Penguins lacked last season but this time around. 

The offense meanwhile is picking up where it left off. They have a forward unit that can come at teams in waves. MacDonald noted after the 6-3 win over the Bridgeport Islanders that he feels confident in the four lines that he can roll out and it’s given the Penguins an advantage. That game by the way was one where the Penguins had one goal through two periods but flipped a switch, sped things up, and run up the score.

A key quality for any team that’s looking to make a deep playoff run it the ability to win in multiple ways. The Penguins are proving they can do that. The opening night win put their defense and forechecking on display. The 6-3 win put their offense front and center. The two wins in between showed off a mix off all qualities. It’s why this team is one to beat early on. 

The Elite Prospects

It’s no secret that the NHL club is rebuilding and looking for young players to ease the transition from the Sidney Crosby era into the next era. The problem is that not all of the prospects can star at the NHL level. So, until then, they’ll stand out on the AHL team. 

Ville Koivunen is the one who comes to mind. The forward has plenty of skill to be a top-six player someday. He was sent down for the Oct. 12 game against the Phantoms and has stood out since. He’s the difference maker for the top line who makes everyone better and will continue to do so until he’s back on the NHL team for good. 

Along with Koivunen are a handful of prospects who have a good shot to make the NHL roster. Avery Hayes and Tristan Broz are two of the top-six forwards who are steady contributors. Pickering is emerging as a stay-at-home defenseman. Ideally, all these players are on the NHL team by the midseason but they’ll carry the AHL team in the meantime.