Wikipedia

2024–25 Coachella Valley Firebirds season

The 2024–25 Coachella Valley Firebirds season is the franchise's third season in the American Hockey League (AHL), starting on October 11, 2024. They play their home games at Acrisure Arena.

2024–25 Coachella Valley Firebirds
DivisionPacific
ConferenceWestern
2024–25 record0–0–0–0 (0 pts)
Home record0–0–0–0
Road record0–0–0–0
Goals for0
Goals against0
Team information
General managerTroy Bodie (de facto—VP of Hockey Operations)
CoachDerek Laxdal
CaptainMax McCormick
Alternate captainsGustav Olofsson
ArenaAcrisure Arena
← 2023–24
  →

This is the first season of Derek Laxdal being the Firebirds' head coach, as he replaced Dan Bylsma at the position on July 5, 2024. This is because Bylsma was heading to the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Seattle Kraken to replace Dave Hakstol as their head coach.

Background

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Main article: 2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds season
See also: 2023–24 Seattle Kraken season
 
Dan Bylsma left the Firebirds in order to become the Seattle Kraken's head coach on May 28, 2024.

The Firebirds were founded as an expansion team in the Coachella Valley as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken, and started play during the AHL's 2022–23 season. During that season, the Firebirds achieved 103 points during the regular season, and eventually climbed to the Calder Cup Finals, only to lose to the Hershey Bears. During the Firebirds' 2023–24 season, they also achieved 103 points during the regular season, climbed to the Calder Cup Finals, and lost to the Hershey Bears.[1]

On April 29, 2024, following the end of the Seattle Kraken's 2023–24 season, their head coach, Dave Hakstol, was fired.[2] The Kraken organization made the decision to replace him with Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma on May 28.[3] This was important for the Firebirds because, as previously mentioned, Bylsma had coached them all the way to the Calder Cup Finals in both of their seasons.[1] On July 5, it was announced that Derek Laxdal was going to replace Bylsma.[4]

On June 30, the Kraken prepared for the upcoming free agency by re-signing four players, all of whom had contributed to the Firebirds strong efforts the previous season—John Hayden,[5] Luke Henman,[6] Ales Stezka,[7] and Firebirds captain Max McCormick.[8]

Off-season

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See also: 2024–25 Seattle Kraken season

On July 1, the first day of free agency, the Kraken lost six players, who had spent much of their time during the 2023–24 season with the Firebirds—Devin Shore,[9] Connor Carrick,[10] Kole Lind,[11] Cameron Hughes,[12] Jimmy Schuldt,[13] and Chris Driedger.[14] Lind had been one of the driving forces in Coachella Valley—over their two seasons, he had the most games played (141), the most assists (80), and was tied with Max McCormick for the most points (127). Driedger was yet another factor in the Firebirds' success, as he led the Firebirds in both games played (53) and wins (33) by a goaltender.[15] The trend of players who had spent time with the Firebirds leaving continued on July 2, when and Peetro Seppala left the Kraken.[16]

The Kraken made history on July 3, by hiring Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach, as she became the first woman to be in a coaching position in the NHL. She had spent the previous two seasons with the Firebirds, helping them reach the Calder Cup Finals during both of them.[17] Also that day, Firebirds alternate captain Andrew Poturalski left the Kraken.[18]

To replace Campbell, the Firebirds hired Brennan Sonne to be an assistant coach for the team on July 15. The previous season, Sonne had served as the head coach of the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Saskatoon Blades, leading them to achieve the best regular season record in the WHL with 105 points.[19]

On July 16, the Kraken saw the departure of another player who had spent time with the Firebirds, Mitch Reinke.[20] On July 18, the first player who was directly under contract to the Firebirds left the team—Justin Nachbaur.[21] On August 1, the Firebirds re-signed player Ian McKinnon for one year.[22] On August 6, it was accounted that the Firebirds were going to play two games at Cable Dahmer Arena, the home of the Firebirds' ECHL affiliate Kansas City Mavericks on October 4 and 5 against the Milwaukee Admirals.[23] On August 8, the Firebirds signed their first player of free agency, Cam Morrison.[24]

Standings

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 y–  indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
 x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
 e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Standings as of June 25, 2024[25]

Eastern Conference

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Atlantic Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
Hershey Bears (WSH) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Providence Bruins (BOS) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Charlotte Checkers (FLA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
North Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rochester Americans (BUF) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Syracuse Crunch (TBL) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Belleville Senators (OTT) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Toronto Marlies (TOR) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Utica Comets (NJD) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Laval Rocket (MTL) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Western Conference

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Central Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Texas Stars (DAL) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Manitoba Moose (WPG) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iowa Wild (MIN) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chicago Wolves (CAR) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tucson Roadrunners (UTA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ontario Reign (LAK) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Colorado Eagles (COL) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 0 0
Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0 0 0
Calgary Wranglers (CGY) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
San Diego Gulls (ANA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Transactions

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The Firebirds have been involved in the following transactions during the 2024–25 season.

Trades

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Date Details Ref

References

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  1. ^ a b "Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey team statistics and history at HockeyDB.com". HockeyDB. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hakstol fired as Kraken coach, no replacement named". National Hockey League. April 29, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bylsma hired as coach of Kraken, replaces Hakstol". National Hockey League. May 28, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Seattle Kraken Hire Derek Laxdal as Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds". National Hockey League. July 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "Seattle Kraken Sign John Hayden to One-Year Contract". National Hockey League. June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Seattle Kraken Sign Forward Luke Henman to One-Year Contract". National Hockey League. June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "Seattle Kraken Sign Ales Stezka to a One-Year Contract". National Hockey League. June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "Seattle Kraken Agree to Terms with Max McCormick on Two Year Contract". National Hockey League. June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  9. ^ "Minnesota Wild sign Devin Shore to one-year, two-way contract". Sportsnet. July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Oilers sign Connor Carrick to one-year contract". National Hockey League. July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "Stars sign Kole Lind to a one-year, two-way contract". National Hockey League. July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Stars sign Cameron Hughes to a one-year, two-way contract". National Hockey League. July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Sharks sign Jimmy Schuldt to Two-Way Contract". San Jose Barracuda. July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Goaltender Chris Driedger on One-Year Contract". National Hockey League. July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Coachella Valley Firebirds all-time player list at HockeyDB.com". HockeyDB. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Kiiski, Jyrki (July 2, 2024). "Orebro gets more Finnish color from Peetro Seppälä". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  17. ^ Roarke, Shawn P. (July 3, 2024). "Campbell becomes 1st woman to coach in NHL, named Kraken assistant". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "San Jose Sharks sign Andrew Poturalski to two-year, two-way deal". Sportsnet. July 3, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Rotolo, Gina (July 15, 2024). "Sonne joins the Firebirds after an historic season with the Saskatoon Blades". Coachella Valley Firebirds. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "Eisbären sign Mitch Reinke". Eisbären Berlin (in German). July 16, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Bears Sign Six Skaters to AHL Deals For 2024–25 Season". Hershey Bears. July 18, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Ian McKinnon Returns to Coachella Valley For Third Season". Coachella Valley Firebirds. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  23. ^ "The anticipation is over, Mavs fans!". Tweet by Kansas City Mavericks on Twitter. August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Hinman, Holly (August 8, 2024). "CV Firebirds sign forward Cam Morrison for the 2024-25 season". KESQ. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  25. ^ "American Hockey League Standings". American Hockey League. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  26. ^ "Firebirds fans, meet Cam 🤝 Cam, meet the best fans in the league #LetsFly". Tweet by Coachella Valley Firebirds on Twitter. August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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