2021–22 AHL season
The 2021–22 AHL season was the 86th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 15, 2021, and ended on April 30, 2022.[1] The regular season was followed by the Calder Cup playoffs, which had not been held since 2019 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The playoffs began on May 2, 2022, and ended on June 25, 2022, with the Chicago Wolves winning their third Calder Cup.
| 2021–22 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 15, 2021 – April 30, 2022 |
| Regular season | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | Chicago Wolves |
| Season MVP | T. J. Tynan (Ontario Reign) |
| Top scorer | Andrew Poturalski (Chicago Wolves) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern Conference champions | Springfield Thunderbirds |
| Eastern Conference runners-up | Laval Rocket |
| Western Conference champions | Chicago Wolves |
| Western Conference runners-up | Stockton Heat |
| Playoffs MVP | Josh Leivo (Chicago) |
| Calder Cup | |
| Champions | Chicago Wolves |
| Runners-up | Springfield Thunderbirds |
League changes
Due to the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic during the previous season, the league had a temporary alignment consisting of five divisions. The league's Canada-based teams only played intradivisional games and could not cross the international border due to pandemic travel restrictions. The league expected to return to a normal schedule and with an updated alignment following team relocations, teams returning, and the lightening of pandemic restrictions.[1] The new alignment was announced on June 7, 2021, returning to the previous four divisions used in 2019–20 with the exception of the Abbotsford team and the Henderson Silver Knights joining the Pacific Division, increasing it to nine teams, while the Binghamton Devils and the former San Antonio Rampage were removed from the North and Central Divisions, respectively, decreasing each to seven teams.[2]
As part of the alignment, the league would continue to have an imbalanced schedule with each team either playing 76, 72, or 68 games during the regular season.[2] The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for the regular season champion was still awarded based on points percentage. The league planned for this to be the last season with the imbalanced scheduling with the expectation that all teams will play a 72-game schedule in 2022–23.[2]
On October 11, 2021, the league announced it had added female officials, seven referees and three linespeople, to its officiating crew for the first time.[3][4]
On January 1, 2022, the league announced it had extended the regular season by six days, from ending on April 24 to ending April 30, citing COVID-related game postponements.[5]
Team and NHL affiliation changes
The league returned to 31 active teams with the Charlotte Checkers, Milwaukee Admirals, and Springfield Thunderbirds returning from a pandemic-related hiatus.[1]
- The Binghamton Devils' franchise was relocated to Utica, New York, as the Utica Comets.[6] The Comets adopted a color scheme of red, black, and white, to match the colors of the Devils.
- The Bridgeport Sound Tigers were rebranded as the Bridgeport Islanders by their parent club, the New York Islanders.[7]
- The franchise that was operating as the Utica Comets, and owned by the Vancouver Canucks, was relocated to Abbotsford, British Columbia, as the Abbotsford Canucks.[6]
Affiliation changes
Due to the three teams returning from their pandemic hiatus, the temporary secondary NHL affiliations from the previous season ended. However, the addition of a 32nd NHL team in Seattle added one dual affiliation.
| AHL team | New affiliate[lower-alpha 1] | Previous affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford Canucks[lower-alpha 2] | St. Louis Blues[lower-alpha 3] | |
| Charlotte Checkers[8] | Florida Panthers[lower-alpha 4] Seattle Kraken[lower-alpha 5] | Team was on hiatus |
| Chicago Wolves | Nashville Predators[lower-alpha 3] | |
| Milwaukee Admirals | Nashville Predators[lower-alpha 4] | Team was on hiatus |
| Springfield Thunderbirds | St. Louis Blues[lower-alpha 4] | Team was on hiatus |
| Syracuse Crunch | Florida Panthers[lower-alpha 3] |
- Or an affiliate returning as a primary affiliate after the AHL team returned from pandemic-related hiatus.
- Affiliation change from the franchise's time as the Utica Comets.
- Temporary secondary affiliate during pandemic affected season.
- Returned as the team's primary NHL affiliate after team hiatus.
- One season dual affiliation before the Kraken launch the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022.
Coaching changes
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2020–21 coach | 2021–22 coach | Notes |
| Abbotsford Canucks | — | Trent Cull | Cull had coached the Canucks' previous affiliate, the Utica Comets, since 2017 and led the team to a 122–93–17–9 record. He was brought over by the Canucks when the team was relocated.[9] |
| Hershey Bears | Spencer Carbery | Scott Allen | On July 17, 2021, Carbery was hired as an assistant coach by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Carbery compiled an 87–50–9–8 record in three seasons as Bears head coach. Carbery also won the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award in the 2020–21 AHL season as the league's best head coach, and led the Bears to a Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, with the best team record during the season. Allen was promoted to head coach from his previous role as assistant on August 5, 2021.[10] |
| Laval Rocket | Joël Bouchard | Jean-François Houle | Bouchard left the Rocket at the end of his contract, compiling a 83–67–24 record over three seasons,[11] to become the head coach of the San Diego Gulls.[12] The Rocket then hired Houle after he served six seasons working for the Edmonton Oilers as an assistant coach with the Bakersfield Condors.[13] |
| Lehigh Valley Phantoms | Scott Gordon | Ian Laperrière | The Philadelphia Flyers announced that Gordon and the Flyers' organization had mutually agreed to end their contract following the 2020–21 season. Gordon had led the Phantoms as head coach for six seasons and a 186–121–40 record (and one tie due to a suspended game in 2021) as well as a stint as interim head coach of the Flyers with a 25–22–4 record in 2018–19.[14] On June 5, 2021, Flyers' assistant coach Ian Laperriere was named the head coach of the Phantoms.[15] |
| Manitoba Moose | Pascal Vincent | Mark Morrison | Vincent stepped down from his position with the Moose to join the Columbus Blue Jackets coaching staff on June 24, 2021.[16] Vincent compiled a 155–139–31 record in 325 games as head coach with Manitoba. Morrison was hired on July 19 after serving as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks since 2017. He had also previously worked for the Winnipeg Jets as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliates, the St. John's IceCaps and the Moose, from 2011 to 2017.[17] |
| Providence Bruins | Jay Leach | Ryan Mougenel | Leach was hired as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken on July 5, 2021.[18] Leach compiled a 136–77–26 record in 239 games as head coach of Providence. Ryan Mougenel was promoted from his assistant coaching position on August 13, 2021.[19] |
| San Diego Gulls | Kevin Dineen | Joël Bouchard | Dineen's contract was not renewed after two seasons, leading the Gulls to a 56–36–7–2 record, and was replaced by Bouchard.[20] |
| Stockton Heat | Cail MacLean | Mitch Love | The Calgary Flames promoted MacLean to assistant coach with the Flames after serving as the Heat's head coach for three seasons and a 72–65–16 record.[21] Love was named the next head coach on July 12, 2021, after most recently coaching the Saskatoon Blades.[22] |
| Tucson Roadrunners | Steve Potvin | Jay Varady | Prior to the postponed start of the previous season, Roadrunners' head coach Jay Varady was brought up to the Arizona Coyotes' staff as an assistant coach[23] and Roadrunners' assistant coach Steve Potvin was promoted as the head coach.[24] Varady returned to his position with the Roadrunners for the 2021–22 season.[25] |
| Utica Comets | Trent Cull | Kevin Dineen | Cull was retained by the Vancouver Canucks and brought over to their Abbotsford affiliate. Dineen was hired on August 5, 2021.[26] |
| In-season | |||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
| Bakersfield Condors | Jay Woodcroft | Colin Chaulk (interim) | 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.[27] |
| Rockford IceHogs | Derek King | Anders Sorensen (interim) | On November 6, 2021, King was promoted to Chicago following the firing of Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton.[28] |
| Ontario Reign | John Wroblewski | Chris Hajt (interim) Craig Johnson (interim) | 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.[29] |
Final standings
y– indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
x– indicates team clinched a playoff spot
e– indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Final standings as of April 30, 2022[30]
Eastern Conference
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Charlotte Checkers (FLA/SEA) | 72 | 42 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 90 | .625 | 234 | 197 |
| x–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) | 76 | 43 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 95 | .625 | 233 | 221 |
| x–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 72 | 36 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 83 | .576 | 199 | 192 |
| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 76 | 35 | 33 | 4 | 4 | 78 | .513 | 209 | 225 |
| x–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 76 | 34 | 32 | 6 | 4 | 78 | .513 | 202 | 209 |
| x–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) | 72 | 31 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 73 | .507 | 213 | 226 |
| e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 72 | 32 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 72 | .500 | 205 | 225 |
| e–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) | 76 | 29 | 32 | 10 | 5 | 73 | .480 | 195 | 239 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Utica Comets (NJD) | 72 | 43 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 95 | .660 | 246 | 206 |
| x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) | 76 | 41 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 91 | .599 | 242 | 229 |
| x–Laval Rocket (MTL) | 72 | 39 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 85 | .590 | 246 | 231 |
| x–Belleville Senators (OTT) | 72 | 40 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 84 | .583 | 219 | 218 |
| x–Rochester Americans (BUF) | 76 | 37 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 84 | .553 | 254 | 270 |
| e–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 72 | 37 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 79 | .549 | 243 | 244 |
| e–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) | 76 | 28 | 35 | 8 | 5 | 69 | .454 | 207 | 262 |
Western Conference
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Chicago Wolves (CAR) | 76 | 50 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 110 | .724 | 261 | 194 |
| x–Manitoba Moose (WPG) | 72 | 41 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 89 | .618 | 228 | 204 |
| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 76 | 39 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 87 | .572 | 229 | 228 |
| x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 72 | 37 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 79 | .549 | 223 | 221 |
| x–Texas Stars (DAL) | 72 | 32 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 76 | .528 | 219 | 230 |
| e–Iowa Wild (MIN) | 72 | 32 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 73 | .507 | 202 | 209 |
| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 76 | 33 | 35 | 6 | 2 | 74 | .487 | 209 | 240 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Stockton Heat (CGY) | 68 | 45 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 97 | .713 | 242 | 185 |
| x–Ontario Reign (LAK) | 68 | 41 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 91 | .669 | 259 | 219 |
| x–Colorado Eagles (COL) | 68 | 39 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 85 | .625 | 244 | 207 |
| x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) | 68 | 37 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 84 | .618 | 225 | 192 |
| x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) | 68 | 39 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 84 | .618 | 230 | 200 |
| x–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) | 68 | 35 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 75 | .551 | 209 | 203 |
| x–San Diego Gulls (ANA) | 68 | 28 | 33 | 4 | 3 | 63 | .463 | 197 | 223 |
| e–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) | 68 | 23 | 39 | 5 | 1 | 52 | .382 | 182 | 268 |
| e–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) | 68 | 20 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 46 | .338 | 202 | 291 |
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Final as of April 30, 2022.[31]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Poturalski | Chicago Wolves | 71 | 28 | 73 | 101 | 36 |
| T. J. Tynan | Ontario Reign | 62 | 14 | 84 | 98 | 18 |
| Stefan Noesen | Chicago Wolves | 70 | 48 | 37 | 85 | 112 |
| Seth Griffith | Bakersfield Condors | 64 | 30 | 50 | 80 | 54 |
| Kiefer Sherwood | Colorado Eagles | 57 | 36 | 39 | 75 | 34 |
| Martin Frk | Ontario Reign | 58 | 40 | 33 | 73 | 73 |
| Dylan Sikura | Colorado Eagles | 60 | 33 | 40 | 73 | 16 |
| Sheldon Rempal | Abbotsford Canucks | 55 | 33 | 36 | 69 | 46 |
| Matthew Phillips | Stockton Heat | 65 | 31 | 37 | 68 | 16 |
| JJ Peterka | Rochester Americans | 70 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 28 |
Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,380 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Final as of April 30, 2022.[32]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy Grosenick | Providence Bruins | 30 | 1,650:38 | 821 | 55 | 3 | 2.00 | .933 | 16 | 6 | 4 |
| Alex Lyon | Chicago Wolves | 30 | 1,665:16 | 678 | 60 | 3 | 2.16 | .912 | 18 | 7 | 3 |
| Charlie Lindgren | Springfield Thunderbirds | 34 | 1,979:19 | 972 | 73 | 3 | 2.21 | .925 | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| Stuart Skinner | Bakersfield Condors | 35 | 2,088:10 | 963 | 77 | 5 | 2.21 | .920 | 22 | 7 | 5 |
| Joey Daccord | Charlotte Checkers | 34 | 1,917:49 | 970 | 73 | 0 | 2.28 | .925 | 19 | 11 | 2 |
Calder Cup playoffs
Playoff format
Following two seasons of not awarding the Calder Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs format was completely revamped from the previous version format of the 2019 playoffs by expanding from 16 teams to 23 teams that qualify for the postseason. During the regular season, teams receive two points for a win and one point for an overtime or shootout loss with teams in each division ranked by points percentage (points earned divided by points available). At the conclusion of the regular season, all but the bottom two teams in each division qualify for the playoffs: six in the Atlantic, five in the North, five in the Central, and seven in the Pacific.[33] The first round is organized so that four teams per division remain to play in the divisional semifinals.
The 2022 playoffs continued to feature a divisional playoff format, leading to the conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup finals. The first round was be a best-of-three series, followed by division semifinals and finals as best-of-five series, and the conference finals and Calder Cup finals were a best-of-seven. The top two teams in the Atlantic, top three teams in each of the North and Central, and the first-place team in the Pacific Division received byes into the division semifinals.[33]
Bracket
| First Round | Division Semifinals | Division Finals | Conference Finals | Calder Cup Finals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Charlotte | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Providence | 0 | A6 | Bridgeport | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A6 | Bridgeport | 2 | Atlantic Division | A1 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Springfield | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Springfield | 3 | Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| A4 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 2 | A4 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A5 | Hershey | 1 | A2 | Springfield | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Laval | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Utica | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Belleville | 0 | N5 | Rochester | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N5 | Rochester | 2 | North Division | N5 | Rochester | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Laval | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Syracuse | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Laval | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Springfield | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Chicago | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Rockford | 2 | C4 | Rockford | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| C5 | Texas | 0 | Central Division | C1 | Chicago | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Milwaukee | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Manitoba | 2 | Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Milwaukee | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Stockton | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Stockton | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P4 | Bakersfield | 2 | P4 | Bakersfield | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P5 | Abbotsford | 0 | Pacific Division | P1 | Stockton | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Ontario | 2 | P3 | Colorado | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P7 | San Diego | 0 | P2 | Ontario | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P3 | Colorado | 2 | P3 | Colorado | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P6 | Henderson | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
AHL awards
All-Star Teams
First All-Star Team[34]
- Dustin Wolf (G) – Stockton
- Jordan Gross (D) – Colorado
- Jordan Spence (D) – Ontario
- Stefan Noesen (F) – Chicago
- Andrew Poturalski (F) – Chicago
- T. J. Tynan (F) – Ontario
Second All-Star Team[34]
- Troy Grosenick (G) – Providence
- Jake Christiansen (D) – Cleveland
- Joseph Duszak (D) – Toronto
- Martin Frk (F) – Ontario
- Seth Griffith (F) – Bakersfield
- Kiefer Sherwood (F) – Colorado
All-Rookie Team[35]
- Dustin Wolf (G) – Stockton
- Jack Rathbone (D) – Abbotsford
- Jordan Spence (D) – Ontario
- Jakob Pelletier (F) – Stockton
- JJ Peterka (F) – Rochester
- Jack Quinn (F) – Rochester
See also
References
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