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2023–24 AHL season

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2023–24 AHL season
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 13, 2023 – April 21, 2024
Regular season
Macgregor Kilpatrick TrophyHershey Bears
Season MVPMavrik Bourque (Texas Stars)
Top scorerMavrik Bourque (Texas Stars)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPHendrix Lapierre (Hershey)
Calder Cup
ChampionsHershey Bears
  Runners-upCoachella Valley Firebirds
AHL seasons

The 2023–24 AHL season was the 88th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 13, 2023, and ended on April 21, 2024. The 2024 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season, and ended on June 24, with the Hershey Bears winning their 13th Calder Cup in franchise history.

League changes

[edit]

For the first time since the 1994–95 season, the league featured an unaffiliated team, with the Chicago Wolves ending their affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes.[1] It only lasted one season; the two clubs announced on May 2, 2024, a new three-year agreement where the Wolves would rejoin the Hurricanes' system.[2]

Team and NHL affiliation changes

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AHL team New affiliate Previous affiliate
Chicago Wolves Independent Carolina Hurricanes

Coaching changes

[edit]
Off–season
Team 2022–23 coach 2023–24 coach Notes
Belleville Senators Troy Mann
David Bell (interim)		 David Bell On February 2, 2023, 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.[3] Ottawa removed the interim tag from Bell for the 2023–24 season on May 2, 2023.[4]
Bridgeport Islanders Brent Thompson Rick Kowalsky On July 11, 2023, Thompson was named as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.[5] Bridgeport assistant coach Rick Kowalsky was named as head coach on July 13, 2023.[6]
Calgary Wranglers Mitch Love Trent Cull The Washington Capitals hired Love as an assistant coach on June 22, 2023.[7] Cull was hired by the Wranglers on July 17, 2023.[8]
Chicago Wolves Brock Sheahan Bob Nardella On June 13, 2023, with the Wolves operation without an NHL affiliate, they hired Nardella as head coach.[9]
Colorado Eagles Greg Cronin Aaron Schneekloth On June 5, 2023, Cronin was hired as the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.[10] Schneekloth was named as head coach of the Eagles on July 6, 2023.[11]
Grand Rapids Griffins Ben Simon Dan Watson Shortly following the conclusion of the season, the Griffins parted ways with Simon.[12] Watson was named as head coach of the Griffins on June 14, 2023.[13]
Henderson Silver Knights Manny Viveiros Ryan Craig On April 19, 2023, the Golden Knights and Viveiros mutually agreed to part ways.[14] Golden Knights assistant coach Ryan Craig was named as head coach of the Silver Knights on June 26, 2023.[15]
Iowa Wild Tim Army Brett McLean On April 22, 2023, the Wild fired most of their coaching staff, including Army.[16] McLean was named as Iowa Wild head coach after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with Minnesota.[17]
San Diego Gulls Roy Sommer Matt McIlvane On April 15, 2023, Sommer had announced he intended to retire following the season.[18] On April 25, the Gulls hired McIlvane as head coach.[19]
Syracuse Crunch Benoit Groulx Joel Bouchard On June 26, 2023, Bouchard was named as head coach of the Crunch. Groulx was offered a different position in the Lightning organization.[20]
Toronto Marlies Greg Moore John Gruden On May 19, 2023, shortly after the Marlies were swept by Rochester in the division finals, the Marlies announced they would not renew the contract of Moore.[21] Gruden was named as head coach of the Marlies on July 4, 2023.[22]
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach Notes
Hartford Wolf Pack Kris Knoblauch Steve Smith (interim) After the Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Jay Woodcroft on November 12, 2023, Knoblauch was named as head coach of the Oilers. On the same day, the Wolf Pack named Smith as interim head coach.
Springfield Thunderbirds Drew Bannister Daniel Tkaczuk (interim) After the St. Louis Blues fired head coach Craig Berube on December 12, 2023, Bannister was named as head coach of the Blues and Tkaczuk was elevated to interim head coach of the Thunderbirds.

Standings

[edit]

 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 21, 2024[23]

Eastern Conference

[edit]
Atlantic Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Hershey Bears (WSH) 72 53 14 0 5 111 .771 229 151
x–Providence Bruins (BOS) 72 42 21 6 3 93 .646 239 208
x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 72 39 24 8 1 87 .604 211 194
x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA) 72 39 26 7 0 85 .590 217 203
x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 72 34 28 7 3 78 .542 204 219
x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) 72 32 31 6 3 73 .507 191 217
e–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) 72 30 37 3 2 65 .451 226 244
e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) 72 25 38 7 2 59 .410 162 222
North Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) 72 40 24 5 3 88 .611 233 238
x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 72 39 23 7 3 88 .611 234 239
x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) 72 39 24 4 5 87 .604 220 203
x–Belleville Senators (OTT) 72 38 28 3 3 82 .569 209 211
x–Toronto Marlies (TOR) 72 34 26 10 2 80 .556 249 220
e–Utica Comets (NJD) 72 32 29 5 6 75 .521 221 226
e–Laval Rocket (MTL) 72 33 31 6 2 74 .514 235 242

Western Conference

[edit]
Central Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 72 47 22 2 1 97 .674 238 193
x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 72 37 23 8 4 86 .597 208 202
x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 72 39 26 5 2 85 .590 215 208
x–Texas Stars (DAL) 72 33 33 4 2 72 .500 234 240
x–Manitoba Moose (WPG) 72 34 35 2 1 71 .493 225 243
e–Iowa Wild (MIN) 72 27 37 4 4 62 .431 184 245
e–Chicago Wolves (Ind.) 72 23 35 7 7 60 .417 192 253
Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) 72 46 15 6 5 103 .715 252 182
x–Tucson Roadrunners (UTA) 72 43 23 4 2 92 .639 222 214
x–Ontario Reign (LAK) 72 42 23 3 4 91 .632 231 198
x–Colorado Eagles (COL) 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 215 195
x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 234 210
x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 72 39 27 4 2 84 .583 223 202
x–Calgary Wranglers (CGY) 72 35 28 6 3 79 .549 203 212
e–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) 72 28 36 3 5 64 .444 190 243
e–San Diego Gulls (ANA) 72 26 35 10 1 63 .438 216 245
e–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 72 24 34 10 4 62 .431 220 260

Statistical leaders

[edit]

Leading skaters

[edit]

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. As of April 21, 2024.[24]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Mavrik Bourque Texas Stars 71 26 51 77 32
Rocco Grimaldi Chicago Wolves 72 36 37 73 38
Adam Gaudette Springfield Thunderbirds 67 44 27 71 51
T. J. Tynan Ontario Reign 71 9 57 66 68
Georgii Merkulov Providence Bruins 67 30 35 65 20
Kole Lind Coachella Valley Firebirds 69 17 48 65 65
Andrew Agozzino San Diego Gulls 72 26 38 64 44
Brett Seney Rockford IceHogs 68 23 40 63 60
Seth Griffith Bakersfield Condors 68 15 48 63 32
Samuel Fagemo Ontario Reign 50 43 19 62 26

Leading goaltenders

[edit]

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,440 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. As of April 21, 2024.[25]

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 34 2,075:41 860 61 5 1.76 .929 27 4 3
Clay Stevenson Hershey Bears 36 2,159:20 951 74 7 2.06 .922 24 10 2
Joel Blomqvist Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 45 2,636:20 1,197 95 1 2.16 .921 25 12 6
Chris Driedger Coachella Valley Firebirds 39 2,282:35 1,038 86 4 2.26 .917 24 7 7
Yaroslav Askarov Milwaukee Admirals 44 2,556:55 1,148 102 6 2.39 .911 30 13 1

Calder Cup playoffs

[edit]
Main article: 2024 Calder Cup playoffs

Playoff format

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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.

Bracket

[edit]
First Round
April 23–28 		Division Semifinals
April 26–May 12 		Division Finals
May 15–May 26 		Conference Finals
May 29–June 12 		Calder Cup Finals
June 14–24
A1 Hershey 3
A3 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 A6 Lehigh Valley 1
A6 Lehigh Valley 2 Atlantic DivisionA1 Hershey 3
A5 Hartford 0
A2 Providence 1 Eastern Conference
A4 Charlotte 1 A5 Hartford 3
A5 Hartford 2 A1 Hershey 4
N1 Cleveland 3
N1 Cleveland 3
N4 Belleville 2 N4 Belleville 1
N5 Toronto 1 North DivisionN1 Cleveland 3
N3 Syracuse 0
N2 Rochester 1
N3 Syracuse 3
A1 Hershey 4
P1 Coachella Valley 2
C1 Milwaukee 3
C4 Texas 2 C4 Texas 2
C5 Manitoba 0 Central DivisionC1 Milwaukee 3
C2 Grand Rapids 2
C2 Grand Rapids 3 Western Conference
C3 Rockford 1
P1 Coachella Valley 4
C1 Milwaukee 1
P1 Coachella Valley 3
P2 Tucson 0 P7 Calgary 1
P7 Calgary 2 Pacific DivisionP1 Coachella Valley 3
P3 Ontario 2 P3 Ontario 0
P6 Bakersfield 0 P3 Ontario 3
P4 Colorado 1 P5 Abbotsford 0
P5 Abbotsford 2

AHL awards

[edit]
Award Winner
Calder Cup Hershey Bears
Les Cunningham Award Mavrik Bourque, Texas Stars
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Mavrik Bourque, Texas Stars
Willie Marshall Award Adam Gaudette, Springfield Thunderbirds
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Logan Stankoven, Texas Stars
Eddie Shore Award Kyle Capobianco, Manitoba Moose
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award Hunter Shepard, Hershey Bears
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Clay Stevenson & Hunter Shepard, Hershey Bears
Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Todd Nelson, Hershey Bears
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Spencer Knight, Charlotte Checkers
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award Daniel Walcott, Syracuse Crunch
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy Hendrix Lapierre, Hershey Bears
Richard F. Canning Trophy Hershey Bears
Robert W. Clarke Trophy Coachella Valley Firebirds
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy Hershey Bears
Frank Mathers Trophy
(Eastern Conference regular season champions)		 Hershey Bears
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy
(Western Conference regular season champions)		 Coachella Valley Firebirds
Emile Francis Trophy
(Atlantic Division regular season champions)		 Hershey Bears
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
(North Division regular season champions)		 Cleveland Monsters
Sam Pollock Trophy
(Central Division regular season champions)		 Milwaukee Admirals
John D. Chick Trophy
(Pacific Division regular season champions)		 Coachella Valley Firebirds
James C. Hendy Memorial Award Bryan Helmer, Hershey Bears
Thomas Ebright Memorial Award Vance Lederman, Syracuse Crunch
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
Ken McKenzie Award
Michael Condon Memorial Award Shaun Davis (referee)
President's Awards Hershey Bears (team)
Mavrik Bourque (player)

All-Star Teams

[edit]

First All-Star Team[26]

Second All-Star Team[26]

All-Rookie Team[27]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Chicago Wolves To Play As An Independent AHL Team". Pro Hockey Rumors. April 5, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "TOGETHER AGAIN: WOLVES AND CANES FORGE NEW PARTNERSHIP". Chicago Wolves. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Senators announce changes to the Belleville Senators coaching staff". Ottawa Senators. February 2, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  4. ^ "Senators promote Belleville Senators' David Bell". Ottawa Senators. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  5. ^ "Ducks Name Brent Thompson Assistant Coach". Anaheim Ducks. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  6. ^ "Rick Kowalsky Named Bridgeport Islanders Head Coach". New York Islanders. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  7. ^ "Capitals Name Mitch Love Assistant Coach". Washington Capitals. June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023 – via www.nhl.com/capitals.
  8. ^ "WRANGLERS NAME TRENT CULL HEAD COACH". Calgary Wranglers. July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via calgarywranglers.com.
  9. ^ "BOB NARDELLA NAMED HEAD COACH OF CHICAGO WOLVES". Chicago Wolves. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023 – via chicagowolves.com.
  10. ^ "Ducks Name Greg Cronin Head Coach". Anaheim Ducks. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  11. ^ "SCHNEEKLOTH NAMED COLORADO EAGLES HEAD COACH". Colorado Eagles. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  12. ^ "Griffins part ways with head coach Ben Simon after 5 seasons". WOOD 8 TV. April 16, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via www.woodtv.com.
  13. ^ "DAN WATSON NAMED HEAD COACH". Grand Rapids Griffins. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via www.griffinshockey.com.
  14. ^ "Vegas Golden Knights, Manny Viveiros Mutually Agree to Part Ways". Vegas Golden Knights. April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023 – via www.nhl.com/goldenknights.
  15. ^ "RYAN CRAIG NAMED HEAD COACH OF HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS". Henderson Silver Knights. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023 – via hendersonsilverknights.com.
  16. ^ "Wild Fire Most Of AHL Coaching Staff". Pro Hockey Rumors. April 22, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023 – via www.prohockeyrumors.com/.
  17. ^ "BRETT MCLEAN NAMED IOWA WILD HEAD COACH". Iowa Wild. May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via iowawild.com.
  18. ^ "ROY SOMMER ANNOUNCES HIS INTENTION TO RETIRE FOLLOWING THE 2022-23 SEASON". San Diego Gulls. April 15, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via sandiegogulls.com.
  19. ^ "San Diego Gulls Hire Matt McIlvane". Pro Hockey Rumors. April 25, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via www.prohockeyrumors.com/.
  20. ^ "JOEL BOUCHARD NAMED SYRACUSE CRUNCH HEAD COACH". Syracuse Crunch. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023 – via syracusecrunch.com/.
  21. ^ "Toronto Marlies Announce Changes To Coaching Staff". Toronto Marlies. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via www.marlies.ca.
  22. ^ "Toronto Maple Leafs Announce John Gruden as Head Coach of the Toronto Marlies". Toronto Marlies. July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023 – via www.marlies.ca.
  23. ^ "AHL Standings". AHL. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  24. ^ "Skater Stats". American Hockey League. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  25. ^ "Goalie Stats – Top Goalies". American Hockey League. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "2023-24 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled". American Hockey League. April 18, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  27. ^ "2023-24 AHL All-Rookie Team named". American Hockey League. April 17, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
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