2022–23 AHL season
The 2022–23 AHL season is the 87th and current season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 14, 2022, and will end on April 16, 2023. The 2023 Calder Cup playoffs will follow after the conclusion of the regular season.
| 2022–23 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 14, 2022 – April 16, 2023 |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Calder Cup | |
League changes
After the previous regular season where teams played an imbalanced schedule consisting of 76, 72, or 68 games, all teams will now play an equal amount of games at 72. Standings will also be in order of points rather than points percentage (points percentage was used in the previous season, due to an imbalanced amount of games played per team). This also means the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for the regular season champion will no longer be awarded based on points percentage, but rather total points.
For the first time since 2018, the league expanded, adding the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Stockton Heat moved to Calgary in order to be closer to their NHL affiliate, the Calgary Flames. The Heat became the Calgary Wranglers.
Team and NHL affiliation changes
After the National Hockey League (NHL) added the Seattle Kraken for the 2021–22 season, the Kraken took a different approach than the 2017 expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Seattle wanted to add an AHL expansion team for their first season, unlike Vegas. The Kraken had discussed the possibility of promoting the Idaho Steelheads from the ECHL, similar to what the league decided to do with the 2018 expansion team Colorado Eagles. However, Seattle chose to create their own expansion team in Palm Desert, California. The team, named the Coachella Valley Firebirds, was originally scheduled to begin play during the 2021–22 AHL season, however the debut of the Firebirds was delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the construction of their arena. With Seattle having no AHL affiliate for their debut season, they decided to affiliate with the Charlotte Checkers as the secondary affiliate to the Florida Panthers.
The Firebirds organization will be taking the spot of the Stockton Heat in the Pacific Division. The Firebirds join other successful AHL franchises in the Southern California market, such as San Diego, Bakersfield, and Ontario. The Panthers will become the sole affiliate of the Checkers.
Relocations
- The Stockton Heat franchise was relocated to Calgary beginning with the 2022–23 season. The Heat had played the entire 2020–21 season at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with cross-border travel being restricted. On August 2, 2022, the team announced its name, bringing back the "Wranglers" moniker.[1]
Affiliation changes
| AHL team | New affiliate[lower-alpha 1] | Previous affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Coachella Valley Firebirds | Seattle Kraken | Expansion team |
| Charlotte Checkers | Florida Panthers[lower-alpha 2] | Seattle Kraken |
- Or an affiliate returning as a primary affiliate after an expansion team joined the league.
- The Panthers had shared the Checkers with the Kraken during the 2021–22 season. Florida will be returning as their primary affiliate, as Seattle has their own expansion team affiliate.
Coaching changes
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2021–22 coach | 2022–23 coach | Notes |
| Abbotsford Canucks | Trent Cull | Jeremy Colliton | On July 1, 2022, the Vancouver Canucks promoted Cull to assistant coach under head coach Bruce Boudreau.[2] Colliton was named as head coach for Abbotsford on the same day. |
| Bakersfield Condors | Jay Woodcroft Colin Chaulk (interim) | Colin Chaulk | On February 10, 2022, Woodcroft was promoted to Edmonton following the firing of Oilers' head coach Dave Tippett. Condors' assistant coach Chaulk was named the interim head coach the following day.[3]Bakersfield removed the interim tag from Chaulk and named him as head coach for the 2022–23 season.[4] |
| Calgary Wranglers | Relocated from Stockton | Mitch Love | As the Calgary Flames relocated the Stockton Heat to Calgary, the Flames retained Love as their head coach for the Wranglers.[5] |
| Chicago Wolves | Ryan Warsofsky | Brock Sheahan | On July 28 2022, the San Jose Sharks hired Warsofsky as an assistant coach.[6] |
| Cleveland Monsters | Mike Eaves | Trent Vogelhuber | On April 30, 2022, Eaves would be stepping away from his position as head coach of the Monsters following the conclusion of the 2021–22 season. On June 8, 2022, the Monsters named Vogelhuber as head coach.[7] Vogelhuber had been serving as an assistant coach with the Monsters since his retirement in 2018. |
| Coachella Valley Firebirds | Expansion team | Dan Bylsma | Bylsma served as an assistant coach with then-Seattle AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, during the 2021–22 season.[8] On June 21, 2022, Bylsma was named as head coach of the Firebirds.[9] |
| Hershey Bears | Scott Allen | Todd Nelson | On July 27, 2022, Allen was named as an assistant coach with the Bears NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals.[10] |
| Ontario Reign | John Wroblewski Chris Hajt (interim) Craig Johnson (interim) | Marco Sturm | After taking time away from the Reign on a personal leave of absence, it was mutually determined on March 11, 2022 between the Reign and Wroblewski that Wroblewski would not return as head coach of the Reign.[11]Hajt and Johnson were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. On June 17, 2022, Sturm was named as head coach of the Reign, previously serving as assistant coach with the Reign's NHL affiliate, the Los Angeles Kings.[12] |
| Rockford IceHogs | Derek King Anders Sorensen (interim) | Anders Sorensen | On November 6, 2021, King was promoted to Chicago following the firing of Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton.[13]On July 12, 2022, the interim tag was removed from Sorensen as was named head coach for the 2022–23 season.[14] |
| San Diego Gulls | Joël Bouchard | Roy Sommer | On May 11, 2022, it was announced that the Anaheim Ducks had parted ways with Bouchard as the Gulls head coach.[15] Sommer was named as head coach of the Gulls on July 12, 2022 after initially being transitioned to a senior advisory role with the San Jose Barracuda.[16] |
| San Jose Barracuda | Roy Sommer | John McCarthy | On May 18, 2022, Sommer transitioned to a senior advisory role with the Barracuda. On the same day, McCarthy was named as head coach of the Barracuda. Sommer was later named as head coach of the San Diego Gulls.[17] |
| Tucson Roadrunners | Jay Varady | Steve Potvin | On July 18, 2022, Varady was named as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings.[18] |
| In-season | |||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
| Belleville Senators | Troy Mann | David Bell (interim) | On February 2, 2022, following the Senators game vs the Rochester Americans, Mann was relieved from duties as head coach. Assistant coach David Bell was named as interim head coach the same night.[19] |
Standings
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 April 6, 2023[20]
Eastern Conference
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 67 | 41 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 92 | .687 | 201 | 182 |
| x–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 67 | 41 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 91 | .679 | 199 | 167 |
| Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) | 67 | 36 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 80 | .597 | 214 | 195 |
| Charlotte Checkers (FLA) | 67 | 36 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 80 | .597 | 217 | 201 |
| Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) | 67 | 35 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 76 | .567 | 202 | 204 |
| Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 68 | 32 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 75 | .551 | 212 | 209 |
| Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) | 67 | 32 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 72 | .537 | 220 | 224 |
| e–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 67 | 25 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 63 | .470 | 178 | 206 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 68 | 41 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 88 | .647 | 217 | 205 |
| Syracuse Crunch (TB) | 67 | 34 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 77 | .575 | 234 | 218 |
| Rochester Americans (BUF) | 67 | 33 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 75 | .560 | 217 | 218 |
| Utica Comets (NJ) | 67 | 32 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 74 | .552 | 198 | 206 |
| Laval Rocket (MTL) | 67 | 29 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 68 | .507 | 235 | 233 |
| Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) | 66 | 30 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 67 | .508 | 206 | 237 |
| Belleville Senators (OTT) | 68 | 28 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 66 | .485 | 214 | 244 |
Western Conference
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x–Texas Stars (DAL) | 66 | 36 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 84 | .636 | 241 | 188 |
| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 67 | 39 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 84 | .627 | 223 | 197 |
| Manitoba Moose (WPG) | 67 | 34 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 77 | .575 | 208 | 210 |
| Iowa Wild (MIN) | 67 | 32 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 74 | .552 | 200 | 198 |
| Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 66 | 31 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 71 | .538 | 196 | 217 |
| Chicago Wolves (CAR) | 66 | 31 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 69 | .523 | 204 | 226 |
| Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 68 | 28 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 64 | .471 | 190 | 244 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x–Calgary Wranglers (CGY) | 67 | 48 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 100 | .746 | 245 | 162 |
| x–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) | 67 | 46 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 98 | .731 | 248 | 181 |
| x–Colorado Eagles (COL) | 68 | 36 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 82 | .603 | 195 | 182 |
| x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) | 67 | 37 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 81 | .604 | 216 | 194 |
| x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) | 67 | 34 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 72 | .537 | 197 | 202 |
| Ontario Reign (LA) | 67 | 33 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 71 | .530 | 196 | 194 |
| Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) | 68 | 30 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 68 | .500 | 207 | 225 |
| San Jose Barracuda (SJ) | 68 | 29 | 33 | 1 | 5 | 64 | .471 | 194 | 236 |
| e–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) | 67 | 25 | 37 | 0 | 5 | 55 | .410 | 183 | 209 |
| e–San Diego Gulls (ANA) | 68 | 20 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 43 | .316 | 174 | 267 |
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. As of April 6, 2023.[21]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carcone | Tucson Roadrunners | 61 | 31 | 49 | 80 | 97 |
| Alex Barré-Boulet | Syracuse Crunch | 64 | 23 | 56 | 79 | 58 |
| T. J. Tynan | Ontario Reign | 67 | 8 | 66 | 74 | 42 |
| Matthew Phillips | Calgary Wranglers | 61 | 34 | 39 | 73 | 12 |
| Max McCormick | Coachella Valley Firebirds | 66 | 27 | 40 | 67 | 74 |
| Trey Fix-Wolansky | Cleveland Monsters | 56 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 36 |
| Chris Terry | Bridgeport Islanders | 62 | 23 | 44 | 67 | 68 |
| Logan Shaw | Toronto Marlies | 65 | 20 | 45 | 65 | 36 |
| Martin Frk | Springfield Thunderbirds | 62 | 30 | 34 | 64 | 64 |
| Rocco Grimaldi | San Diego / Rockford | 64 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 39 |
Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,320 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. As of April 6, 2023.[22]
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | SA | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | W | L | OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Shepard | Hershey Bears | 30 | 1,753:06 | 748 | 60 | 1 | 2.05 | .920 | 18 | 7 | 5 |
| Dustin Wolf | Calgary Wranglers | 52 | 3,060:39 | 1,569 | 106 | 7 | 2.08 | .932 | 40 | 9 | 2 |
| Matt Murray | Texas Stars | 31 | 1,743:24 | 755 | 66 | 3 | 2.27 | .913 | 16 | 9 | 5 |
| Joey Daccord | Coachella Valley Firebirds | 37 | 2,212:12 | 1,065 | 87 | 3 | 2.36 | .918 | 26 | 7 | 3 |
| Jonas Johansson | Colorado Eagles | 25 | 1,485:22 | 720 | 59 | 0 | 2.38 | .918 | 13 | 9 | 2 |
Calder Cup playoffs
Playoff format
The AHL will continue to use the same playoff format used in the previous playoffs. The playoff field will include the top six finishers in the eight-team Atlantic Division, the top five finishers each in the seven-team North and Central Divisions, and the top seven teams in the 10-team Pacific Division. First Round match-ups will be best-of-three series; the two highest seeds in the Atlantic, the three highest seeds in each of the North and Central, and the first-place team in the Pacific will receive byes into the best-of-five Division Semifinals, with the First Round winners re-seeded in each division. The Division Finals will also be best-of-five series, followed by best-of-seven Conference Finals and a best-of-seven Calder Cup Finals series.
AHL awards
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Calder Cup | |
| Les Cunningham Award | |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy | |
| Willie Marshall Award | |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award | |
| Eddie Shore Award | |
| Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award | |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award | |
| Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award | |
| Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award | |
| Yanick Dupre Memorial Award | |
| Jack A. Butterfield Trophy | |
| Richard F. Canning Trophy | |
| Robert W. Clarke Trophy | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | |
| Frank Mathers Trophy (Eastern Conference regular season champions) | |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy (Western Conference regular season champions) | |
| Emile Francis Trophy (Atlantic Division regular season champions) | |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy (North Division regular season champions) | |
| Sam Pollock Trophy (Central Division regular season champions) | |
| John D. Chick Trophy (Pacific Division regular season champions) | |
| James C. Hendy Memorial Award | |
| Thomas Ebright Memorial Award | |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Awards | |
| Ken McKenzie Award | |
| Michael Condon Memorial Award | |
| President's Awards | Organization: Player: |
References
- Flames, Calgary. "flames introduce calgary wranglers". nhl.com.
- "Vancouver Canucks name Mike Yeo, Trent Cull assistant coaches; Jeremy Colliton named Abbotsford Canucks head coach". Canucks Army. July 1, 2022.
- "Report: Oilers fire coach Dave Tippett, name Jay Woodcroft interim coach". Yahoo Sports Canada. February 10, 2022.
- "Condors' Chaulk hired as permanent head coach". Bakersfield.com. June 27, 2022.
- "Calgary's new AHL team to be known as the Wranglers". CBC.ca. August 2, 2022.
- "Source: Sharks hiring Ryan Warsofsky as assistant coach". NBC Sports. July 28, 2022.
- "Cleveland Monsters Promote Trent Vogelhuber". Pro Hockey Rumors. June 8, 2022.
- "Ex-Sabres coach Dan Bylsma energized by new job as Kraken's assistant in AHL". Buffalo Hockey Beat. February 4, 2022.
- "A different Dan Bylsma becomes a head coach again with Kraken's AHL Coachella Valley". The Athletic. June 24, 2022.
- "Capitals Name Scott Allen Assistant Coach". NHL.com. July 25, 2022.
- "REIGN COACHING STAFF UPDATE". Ontario Reign. March 11, 2022.
- "MARCO STURM NAMED ONTARIO REIGN HEAD COACH". Ontario Reign. June 17, 2022.
- "IceHogs Head Coach Derek King Named Interim Head Coach Of Blackhawks". Rockford IceHogs. November 6, 2021.
- "RELEASE: Anders Sorensen Named Head Coach of Rockford IceHogs". NHL.com. July 12, 2022.
- "San Diego Gulls fire head coach Joel Bouchard, both assistants". The San Diego Union-Tribune. May 11, 2022.
- "AHL's all-time winningest coach hired to lead Gulls". The San Diego Union-Tribune. July 12, 2022.
- "Barracuda announces coaching shakeup, as AHL record-holder Sommer is replaced". The Mercury News. May 18, 2022.
- "Red Wings hire Jay Varady as assistant coach". NHL.com. July 18, 2022.
- "Senators announce changes to the Belleville Senators coaching staff". nhl.com/senators. February 2, 2023.
- "AHL Standings". AHL. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- "Player Stats TheAHL.com". AHL.
- "Top Goalies - 2022-23 Regular Season - Goals Against Average". AHL.