2017 AHL All-Star Classic: Previewing the League’s Showcase of Stars

(Tommy Hendricks/Sports Talk Philly)

By Tommy Hendricks, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

On Monday night, PPL Center is expected to be sold out yet again this season. Only this time around, it will be the entire AHL and its brightest stars on display in the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic.

Three of the Phantoms top players will look to do what Wayne Simmonds did for the Flyers, and bring home a divisional win and perhaps an MVP award to the organization. 

Those three Phantoms are forwards Taylor Leier and Jordan Weal, along with defenseman T.J. Brennan.

Weal is having another strong year in the American league, racking up 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in just 40 games played. Those numbers are good enough for second overall among all scorers in the league heading into the break. He ranks first among all players with 24 power-play points, while ranking second in power-play assists and overall assists. 

Leier comes in having only played in 34 of the Phantoms 43 games this season due to being called up to the Flyers, but he's still having a great season. He's put up 28 points (nine goals,19 assists) in those 34 games, and has helped lead the Phantoms to one of the best records in the league. This is his first All-Star game selection at the professional level.

Brennan rounds out the Phantoms All-Star selections, and this competition is nothing new for the veteran blueliner. This is Brennan's fourth time at the event, all in consecutive years. Brennan is currently third all-time among AHL defensemen with 126 points, but he's also putting up big numbers this year. He's 14th in the league's top 20 scorers, and second among defensemen with 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 43 games played. He leads all blueliners in power play goals with eight and in overall goals with 13. 

The three Phantoms will represent the Atlantic Division, along side their rivals from Hershey, Wilkes-Barre, Providence, Bridgeport, Hartford, and Springfield. Which includes Travis Boyd of Hershey who is 8th amongst all scorers with 38 points(10G,28A) in 44 games. Tristan Jarry gets one of the goalie spots, as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton netminder leads the AHL with 19 wins. 

The North, Central and Pacific divisions also have plenty of talent, including league-leading scorer Kenny Agostino of Chicago on the Central team. Troy Grosenick boasts the league's second lowest goals against average for the Pacific team, with a 2.10 average. The North's most notable player is Matt Taormina, who leads all defensemen in points with 37 (12 goals, 25 assists), while being second in goals and assists by defensemen with those numbers.

Photo via The AHL on Twitter

The tournament style of AHL All-Star Classic was implemented last season, and got an amazing reception. The four divisional teams face off in six Round-Robin style games, each 10 minutes in length and played at 3-on-3. Afterward, the teams with the two best records play in a six-minute championship game to determine a winner of the Classic.

Divisional Rosters

Eastern Conference

Captain – Chris Bourque (HER)

Honorary Captain – Danny Briere

Atlantic Division (orange jersey)

Coach – Clark Donatello (WBS)

Players

• G Zane McIntyre (PRO)
• G Tristan Jarry (WBS)
• D David Warsofsky (WBS)
• D Devon Toews (BRI)
• D T.J. Brennan (LV)
• D Mackenzie Weegar (SPR)
• F Danton Heinin (PRO)
• F Nicklas Jensen (HRT)
• F Travis Boyd (HER)
• F Chris Bourque (HER)
• F Taylor Leier (LV)
• F Jordan Weal (LV)

North Division (white jersey)

Coach – Beniot Groulx (SYR)

Players

• G Linus Ullmark (RCH)
• G Charlie Lindgren (STJ)
• D Jordan Subban (UTI)
• D Matt Taormina (SYR)
• F Cory Conacher (SYR)
• F Cole Schneider (RCH)
• F Chris Terry (STJ)
• F Kerby Rachel (TOR)
• F Justin Bailey (RCH)
• F Casey Bailey (BNG)
• F Alexandre Grenier (UTI)
• F Yanni Gourde (SYR)

Western Conference

Captain – Ryan Craig (CLE)

Honorary Captain: Terry Murray 

Central Division (grey jersey)

Coach – Todd Nelson (GRG)

Players

• G Anton Forsberg (CLE)
• G Michael Leighton (CHAR)
• D Vince Dunn (CHI)
• D Alexandre Carrier (MIL)
• D Robbie Russo (GRG)
• F Ryan Craig (CLE)
• F Spencer Abbot (RFD)
• F Alex Tuch (Iowa)
• F Kenny Agostino (CHI)
• F Matt Lorito (GRG)
• F Oliver Bjorkstrand (CLE)
• F Jack Roslovic (MB)

Pacific Division (blue jersey)

Coach – Mike Stothers (ONT)

Players

• G Troy Grosenick (SJB)
• G Jack Campbell (ONT)
• D Kyle Wood (TUC)
• D Vincent LoVerde (ONT)
• D Brandon Montour (SD)
• D Jordan Oesterle (BAK)
• F Mark Jankowski (STK)
• F Jonny Brodzinski (ONT)
• F A.J. Greer (SA)
• F Marek Stransky (Texas)
• F Christian Fischer (TUC)
• F Daniel O'Regan (SJB)