For players who were rookies in the AHL last year, this season really is their first real, full, AHL season.
With no NHL taxi squads to deplete AHL rosters, the AHL is much more competitive this season. Unlike last season, teams are now playing outside of their division and going on real road trips. There will once again be a postseason for teams to compete for the Calder Cup.
So while players like Penguins right-handed defense prospect Will Reilly did make their AHL debuts last season, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach J.D. Forrest says that it's still as if players like Reilly are "almost a rookie this year.