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. 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.
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. 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 Canucks 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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Binghamton Devils' franchise was relocated to Utica, New York, as the Utica Comets. 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. 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.
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 Previous affiliate Abbotsford Canucks St. Louis Blues Charlotte Checkers Florida PanthersSeattle Kraken Team was on hiatus Chicago Wolves Nashville Predators Milwaukee Admirals Nashville Predators Team was on hiatus Springfield Thunderbirds St. Louis Blues Team was on hiatus Syracuse Crunch Florida Panthers
Coaching changes Off–season Team 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. Hershey Bears 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. Laval Rocket Joel Bouchard Bouchard left the Rocket at the end of his contract, compiling an 83–67–24 record over three seasons, to become the head coach of the San Diego Gulls. The Rocket then hired Houle after he served six seasons working for the Edmonton Oilers as an assistant coach with the Bakersfield Condors. Ian Laperriere 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. On June 5, 2021, Flyers' assistant coach Ian Laperriere was named the head coach of the Phantoms. 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. 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. Providence Bruins Jay Leach Ryan Mougenel Leach was hired as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken on July 5, 2021. 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. San Diego Gulls Kevin Dineen Joel 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. 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. Love was named the next head coach on July 12, 2021, after most recently coaching the Saskatoon Blades. 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 and Roadrunners' assistant coach Steve Potvin was promoted as the head coach. Varady returned to his position with the Roadrunners for the 2021–22 season. 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.In-seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coach NotesBakersfield 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.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.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.
Final standings indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Final standings as of April 30, 2022
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 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 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 270e–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 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 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.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMAndrew PoturalskiChicago Wolves 71 28 73 101 36T. J. TynanOntario Reign 62 14 84 98 18Stefan NoesenChicago Wolves 70 48 37 85 112Seth GriffithBakersfield Condors 64 30 50 80 54Kiefer SherwoodColorado Eagles 57 36 39 75 34Martin FrkOntario Reign 58 40 33 73 73Dylan SikuraColorado Eagles 60 33 40 73 16Sheldon RempalAbbotsford Canucks 55 33 36 69 46Matthew PhillipsStockton Heat 65 31 37 68 16JJ PeterkaRochester 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.
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. The first round is organized so that four teams per division remain to play in the divisional semifinals.