Offseason Notebook #6

The latest from the Notebook:

-The Captain is back!  Rod Pelley will be back for a fourth season as the leader of the A-Devs, signing a 1 year AHL deal.  He appeared in 65 games last season, picking up 8 goals and 5 assists.  During his three seasons wearing the C (just the third in Albany’s franchise history), he has only missed a total of 19 games, and the Devils have a combined record of 123-71-18-16, along with their only two playoff appearances.  With Pelley’s signing, there are only seven unrestricted free agent Devils remaining who need a home for 2016-17.

-Mark your calendars for 99 days from now…or October 15th.  Albany’s home opener!

-On Thursday, the American Hockey League announced at their Board of Governors meeting this year’s division/playoff alignment and a few rules changes:

The only divisions seeing any changes are in the Atlantic and Pacific, leaving the conferences unbalanced…14 Eastern teams, 16 Western teams.  Gone from the Atlantic is Portland (due to the move to Springfield), leaving that division with seven teams.  Tucson (via the previous Springfield franchise) will join the Pacific, and just like last season, all but the California Five and Tucson will play 76 games, while the remaining 6 play 68.  (Again, I ask…WHY? Oh…I mean, yay, more fun with math and percentages.)  The playoff format is slightly different this year, as just the top 4 teams in each division–no crossovers–will make the postseason.  First round is best of 5, with best of 7 for the remaining three rounds.

-As for the other rules changes?

From October-Christmas break, home teams will wear light colored jerseys.  After that, dark colors.  Okay.

No more dry scrape before teams start overtime.  Goodbye #dryscrape hashtag, one of my favorites to use.

So you want to fight in an AHL game?  Well, that could cost you:

If you drop the gloves with an opponent right after a faceoff, you’re done for the day…automatic game misconduct.

During the course of the regular season, get 10 fighting majors?  You’re suspended for one game.  Get fighting majors 11, 12, and 13?  Another game each.  14 majors?  That’s two games you miss.  Continue to get fighting majors after that?  Another two games each.

Last rule change involves icing…if you’re the offending team, no time out can be taken.