The 2017–18 AHL season was the 82nd season of the American Hockey League. The regular season ran from October 6, 2017, to April 15, 2018. The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season. The Toronto Marlies won their first Calder Cup in seven games over the Texas Stars.
League changes The AHL's only alignment change was moving the Charlotte Checkers from the Central Division of the Western Conference to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, significantly decreasing their interdivisional travel and balancing the two conferences' members. Similar to the season scheduling in the previous season, the six California and Arizona based teams continued to have a 68-game season while the rest of the AHL teams play a 76-game season.
Team and NHL affiliation changes The National Hockey League added the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2017–18 season. The Las Vegas management confirmed that the organization would also have an AHL affiliate in their first season, although it was not stated whether the AHL team would be an expansion or relocation. The organization looked into adding an affiliate on the West Coast with the leading candidates being Salt Lake City, Reno, or Fresno. However, as the season went on, they looked into co-affiliations with a pre-existing AHL team since the new NHL team would likely not have a large amount of drafted talent to fully stock an AHL roster. In February 2017, AHL commissioner David Andrews later stated that there was a "50-50 chance" of a 31st team being established for the 2017–18 season.
Other than the Golden Knights adding a team, there were also reports in November 2016 of the St. Louis Blues adding an expansion team in Kansas City. This would later be denied by the announced potential owner in Kansas City, Lamar Hunt Jr., in a press release from his ECHL team in the area, the Missouri Mavericks, and further denied by AHL commissioner, David Andrews, after the January 2017 Board of Governors meeting. In May 2017, the 30 team alignment was confirmed and there would be no expansion for 2017–18. The Golden Knights signed a multi-year affiliation with the Chicago Wolves, replacing the Blues as their primary affiliate. The Blues also announced that they would continue to send players to the Wolves for that season, as well as to the San Antonio Rampage, the AHL team that they would affiliate with for 2018–19.
The league confirmed after the 2017 Board of Governors meeting that it had made a commitment to an expansion applicant for a 31st team for the 2018–19 season later revealed to be the Colorado Eagles. The Eagles had been a member of the ECHL prior to the promotion and the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. The Eagles join other recent ECHL markets in the AHL such as Bakersfield, Charlotte, Ontario, and Stockton.
Relocations The Albany Devils relocated to become the Binghamton Devils to replace the Binghamton Senators. The Binghamton Senators were purchased by their parent club, the Ottawa Senators, and relocated to Belleville, Ontario, as the Belleville Senators. The Montreal Canadiens' AHL franchise, then operating as the St. John's IceCaps, was relocated to the Montreal suburb of Laval, Quebec, as the Laval Rocket. Danny Williams, owner of the IceCaps team but not a franchise holder, announced on the same day his intentions to find another AHL franchise to replace the Canadiens' owned franchise. A separate ownership group bought an ECHL expansion team called the Newfoundland Growlers a season later.
Affiliation changes AHL team New affiliate Old affiliate Chicago Wolves Vegas Golden Knights St. Louis Blues
Final standings Final standings:
indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division y – Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) 76 47 19 5 5 104 .684 260 218 x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 76 45 22 6 3 99 .651 252 223 x – Charlotte Checkers (CAR) 76 46 26 1 3 96 .632 262 212 x – Providence Bruins (BOS) 76 45 26 3 2 95 .625 231 187 e – Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) 76 36 32 5 3 80 .526 206 214 e – Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 76 34 33 6 3 77 .507 208 252 e – Springfield Thunderbirds (FLA) 76 32 37 5 2 71 .467 210 233 e – Hershey Bears (WSH) 76 30 37 4 5 69 .454 201 249 North Division y – Toronto Marlies (TOR) 76 54 18 2 2 112 .737 254 170 x – Syracuse Crunch (TBL) 76 46 22 3 5 100 .658 234 189 x – Rochester Americans (BUF) 76 37 22 11 6 91 .599 234 221x – Utica Comets (VAN) 76 38 26 8 4 88 .579 211 216 e – Binghamton Devils (NJD) 76 25 38 9 4 63 .414 193 247 e – Belleville Senators (OTT) 76 29 42 2 3 63 .414 194 266 e – Laval Rocket (MTL) 76 24 42 7 3 58 .382 206 281
Western Conference Central Division y – Chicago Wolves (STL/VGK) 76 42 23 7 4 95 .625 244 208 x – Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 76 42 25 2 7 93 .612 237 210 x – Manitoba Moose (WPG) 76 42 26 4 4 92 .605 253 198 x – Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 76 40 28 4 4 88 .579 239 234 e – Iowa Wild (MIN) 76 33 27 10 6 82 .539 232 246 e – Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 76 38 32 4 2 82 .539 216 235 e – Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) 76 25 41 7 3 60 .395 190 258
Pacific Division y – Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) 68 42 20 5 1 90 .662 214 173 x – Texas Stars (DAL) 76 38 24 8 6 90 .592 223 231 x – Ontario Reign (LAK) 68 36 25 4 3 79 .581 200 194 x – San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 68 34 26 4 4 76 .559 186 198 e – San Diego Gulls (ANA) 68 36 28 3 1 76 .559 202 197 e – Stockton Heat (CGY) 68 34 28 2 4 74 .544 211 204 e – Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 68 31 27 9 1 72 .529 188 206 e – San Antonio Rampage (COL/STL) 76 35 31 10 0 80 .526 198 219
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 15, 2018.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMChris TerryLaval Rocket 62 32 39 71 45Phil VaroneLehigh Valley Phantoms 74 23 47 70 36Austin CzarnikProvidence Bruins 64 25 44 69 24Mason AppletonManitoba Moose 76 22 44 66 57Daniel SprongWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 65 32 33 65 28Teemu PulkkinenChicago Wolves 75 29 36 65 44Ben StreetGrand Rapids Griffins 73 21 44 65 22Eric TangradiGrand Rapids Griffins 74 31 33 64 51Cal O'ReillyIowa Wild 75 15 49 64 10Curtis ValkSpringfield Thunderbirds 73 20 42 62 41
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders with a minimum 1440 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 15, 2018.
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 Garret Sparks Toronto Marlies 43 2507:04 1181 75 6 1.79 .936 31 9 2 Jordan Binnington Providence Bruins 28 1605:53 744 55 1 2.05 .926 17 9 1 Michael Hutchinson Manitoba Moose 26 1560:32 831 54 2 2.08 .935 17 5 4 Edward Pasquale Bakersfield/Syracuse 31 1782:18 842 65 2 2.19 .923 16 6 7 Adin Hill Tucson Roadrunners 36 1949:57 863 74 5 2.28 .914 19 11 4
Calder Cup playoffs Playoff format The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs format was retained from the divisional format of the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs. The playoff format was finalized at the Annual Board of Governors meeting that took place July 2017. During the regular season, teams receive two points for a win and one point for an overtime or shootout loss. The top four teams in each division ranked by points percentage (points earned divided by points available) qualify for the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs.
The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs features a divisional playoff format, leading to conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup finals. The division semifinals are best-of-five series; all subsequent rounds are best-of-seven.
Bracket
AHL awards Award Winner Calder Cup : Toronto Marlies Les Cunningham Award : Phil Varone, Lehigh Valley John B. Sollenberger Trophy : Chris Terry, Laval Willie Marshall Award : Valentin Zykov, Charlotte Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award : Mason Appleton, Manitoba Eddie Shore Award : Sami Niku, Manitoba Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award : Garret Sparks, Toronto Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award : Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard, Toronto Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award : Pascal Vincent, Manitoba Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award : Bracken Kearns, Binghamton Yanick Dupre Memorial Award : Scooter Vaughan, Chicago Jack A. Butterfield Trophy : Andreas Johnsson, Toronto Richard F. Canning Trophy : Toronto Marlies Robert W. Clarke Trophy : Texas Stars Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy:(regular season champions) Toronto Marlies Frank Mathers Trophy:(Eastern Conference regular season champions) Toronto Marlies Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy:(Western Conference regular season champions) Tucson Roadrunners Emile Francis Trophy :(Atlantic Division regular season champions) Lehigh Valley Phantoms F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy:(North Division regular season champions) Toronto Marlies Sam Pollock Trophy:(Central Division regular season champions) Chicago Wolves John D. Chick Trophy:(Pacific Division regular season champions) Tucson Roadrunners James C. Hendy Memorial Award: Tim Gortsema, Grand Rapids Thomas Ebright Memorial Award: Wendell Young, Chicago James H. Ellery Memorial Awards: Ben Birnell, Utica Ken McKenzie Award: Pam Frasco, Cleveland Michael Condon Memorial Award: Frank Murphy President's Awards: Organization: TorontoPlayer: Mike McKenna
All-Star teams First All-Star Team Garret Sparks (G) – Toronto Jacob MacDonald (D) – Binghamton Sami Niku (D) – Manitoba Mason Appleton (F) – Manitoba Chris Terry (F) – Laval Phil Varone (F) – Lehigh Valley
Second All-Star Team Michael Hutchinson (G) – Manitoba T. J. Brennan (D) – Lehigh Valley Zach Redmond (D) – Rochester Austin Czarnik (F) – Providence Andreas Johnsson (F) – Toronto Ben Smith (F) – Toronto
All-Rookie Team Ville Husso (G) – San Antonio Filip Hronek (D) – Grand Rapids Sami Niku (D) – Manitoba Mason Appleton (F) – Manitoba Daniel Sprong (F) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Dylan Strome (F) – Tucson
See also List of AHL seasons 2017 in ice hockey 2018 in ice hockey
References
External links AHL official site