Back in May, the American Hockey League’s Board of Governor’s met to confirm the divisional alignment for the following season.

There are fewer changes than of recent years as the AHL takes shape but the league shall welcome more new teams to the fold as well as saying goodbye to some familiar names.

Pacific Division:
The Pacific is the only division to remain at a status quo for 2017-18 and any future change is only likely to occur should proposed expansion come to fruition.

Central Division:
The Central loses one member and becomes a seven team divisional instead of eight. It’ll still be ultra competitive, hosting the previous two Calder Cup Champions in Cleveland and Grand Rapids.

Atlantic Division:
The Charlotte Checkers switch from the Central Division into the Atlantic. A move into the Eastern Conference also provides the league with the ability to host another team in the West.

North Division:
The North Division shall welcome three new teams, as the Belleville Senators, Binghamton Devils and Laval Rocket replace the Binghamton Senators, Albany Devils and St. John IceCaps respectively.

The format for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs will be finalised by the Board of Governors at its Annual Meeting in Hilton Head Island, S.C., July 2-6, as will any rule changes to be introduced.

The 2017-18 schedule will be announced soon after the aforementioned meeting – much earlier than the normal August release date of previous years.

Full list of AHL – NHL affiliations:
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS – EDMONTON OILERS

BELLEVILLE SENATORS – OTTAWA SENATORS

BINGHAMTON DEVILS – NEW JERSEY DEVILS

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS – NEW YORK ISLANDERS

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS – CAROLINA HURRICANES

CHICAGO WOLVES – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS/ ST. LOUIS BLUES

CLEVELAND MONSTERS – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS – DETROIT RED WINGS

HARTFORD WOLF PACK – NEW YORK RANGERS

HERSHEY BEARS – WASHINGTON CAPITALS

IOWA WILD – MINNESOTA WILD

LAVAL ROCKET – MONTREAL CANADIENS

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

MANITOBA MOOSE – WINNIPEG JETS

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS – NASHVILLE PREDATORS

ONTARIO REIGN – LOS ANGELES KINGS

PROVIDENCE BRUINS – BOSTON BRUINS

ROCHESTER AMERICANS – BUFFALO SABRES

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE – COLORADO AVALANCHE

SAN DIEGO GULLS – ANAHEIM DUCKS

SAN JOSE BARRACUDA – SAN JOSE SHARKS

SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS – FLORIDA PANTHERS

STOCKTON HEAT – CALGARY FLAMES

SYRACUSE CRUNCH – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

TEXAS STARS – DALLAS STARS

TORONTO MARLIES – TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

TUCSON ROADRUNNERS – ARIZONA COYOTES

UTICA COMETS – VANCOUVER CANUCKS

WILKES-BARRE/SCR PENS – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS