The 2025–26 AHL season was the 90th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 10, 2025, and ended on April 19, 2026. The 2026 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season and ended on June 19, 2026, with the Toronto Marlies winning their second Calder Cup and first since 2018.
League changes
Coaching changes Off–season Team NotesRockford IceHogs Anders SorensenMark Eaton (interim) Jared Nightingale On May 30, 2025, Nightingale was hired as head coach of the IceHogs, having previously served assistant coach from 2021 through 2024.Calgary Wranglers Trent CullJoe Cirella (interim) Brett Sutter On December 27, 2024, Cull was called up to serve as assistant coach for the Calgary Flames on an interim basis. He was named full-time assistant coach on May 30, 2025. Following Cull's official promotion, on June 20, Sutter was named head coach of the Wranglers. Iowa Wild Brett McLean Greg Cronin Following the 2024–25 NHL season, McLean was named to the coaching staff of Vancouver's Adam Foote. Cronin was named as head coach of the Wild on June 23, 2025. Bridgeport Islanders Rick Kowalsky Rocky Thompson Kowalsky was relieved as head coach of the Islanders on May 29, 2025. Former Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach Rocky Thompson was hired as his replacement on June 23. Colorado Eagles Aaron Schneekloth Mark Letestu On June 17, 2025, Schneekloth was hired as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken. Letestu, who had previously served as assistant coach for the Cleveland Monsters, was hired by the Eagles on July 5.Texas Stars Neil Graham Toby Petersen Following the 2024–25 season NHL season, Graham was promoted to assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. Former Texas and Dallas Star Toby Petersen was named head coach on July 7.Ontario Reign Marco Sturm Andrew Lord Sturm was hired as head coach of the Boston Bruins on June 5, 2025. Following this, on July 11, Ontario hired Andrew Lord as his replacement.Lehigh Valley Phantoms Ian Laperriere John Snowden Former Phantoms assistant coach John Snowden was named head coach on July 8, 2025, following Laperriere's transition to an advisory role within the Philadelphia Flyers' hockey operations department.Hershey Bears Todd Nelson Derek King Nelson was named as an assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 20, 2025. Derek King was named his replacement as head coach for Hershey on August 4.In–season Team NotesChicago Wolves Cam Abbott Spiros Anastas (interim) Abbott was fired as head coach of the Wolves on December 12, 2025, with Anastas being named interim head coach.Belleville SenatorsDavid BellAndrew Campbell (interim) Bell was fired as head coach of the Senators on December 17, 2025, with Campbell being named interim head coach.Springfield ThunderbirdsSteve KonowalchukSteve Ott Konowalchuk was fired as head coach of the Thunderbirds on January 19, 2026, with Ott being named head coach for the remainder of the season.
Standings
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy (regular season champion) indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team has clinched a playoff spot indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention
Standings as of games through April 19, 2026
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division z– Providence Bruins (BOS) 72 54 16 2 0 110 .764 239 162 x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 72 46 17 7 2 101 .701 243 186 x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA) 72 44 23 5 0 93 .646 238 187 x–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) 72 34 30 3 5 76 .528 219 222 x–Hershey Bears (WSH) 72 32 31 6 3 73 .507 210 230 x–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) 72 32 32 6 2 72 .500 207 240 e–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) 72 31 35 3 3 68 .472 210 247 e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 72 26 38 5 3 60 .417 190 253
North Division y–Laval Rocket (MTL) 72 41 23 3 5 90 .625 233 200 x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) 72 41 24 3 4 89 .618 237 189 x–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) 72 37 26 6 3 83 .576 217 227 x–Toronto Marlies (TOR) 72 36 26 5 5 82 .569 229 228 x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 72 31 31 6 4 72 .500 214 235 e–Utica Comets (NJD) 72 30 31 6 5 71 .493 199 220 e–Belleville Senators (OTT) 72 28 35 8 1 65 .451 223 262
Western Conference
Central Division y–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 72 51 16 4 1 107 .743 255 159 x–Chicago Wolves (CAR) 72 36 21 8 7 87 .604 225 218 x–Texas Stars (DAL) 72 37 29 4 2 80 .556 222 228 x–Manitoba Moose (WPG) 72 35 29 5 3 78 .536 185 216 x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 72 32 33 4 3 71 .493 206 221 e–Iowa Wild (MIN) 72 27 36 6 3 63 .438 179 226 e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 72 28 39 3 2 61 .424 196 245
Pacific Division y–Ontario Reign (LAK) 72 47 20 3 2 99 .688 237 187 x–Colorado Eagles (COL) 72 41 20 6 5 93 .646 237 198 x–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) 72 39 21 7 5 90 .625 263 225 x–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) 72 41 25 6 0 88 .611 235 218 x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 72 37 23 11 1 86 .597 244 236 x–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 72 40 28 2 2 84 .583 243 230 x–San Diego Gulls (ANA) 72 33 27 8 4 78Tiebreaker: Regulation Wins: San Diego 27, Tucson 21 .542 224 228 e–Tucson Roadrunners (UTA) 72 34 28 10 0 78 .542 230 239 e–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) 72 28 37 4 3 63 .438 173 234 e–Calgary Wranglers (CGY) 72 23 34 10 5 61 .424 203 269
Statistical leaders
Scoring leaders
These are the top ten skaters based on points. If there is a tie in points, goals take precedence over assists; if there is a tie in goals, players with fewer games played take precedence over those with more. Updated following games played on April 19, 2026.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMJakob PelletierSyracuse Crunch 63 28 49 77 19Alex Barré-BouletColorado Eagles 70 26 44 70 30Arthur KaliyevBelleville Senators 70 40 28 68 30Cameron HughesTexas Stars 65 17 51 68 48Seth GriffithBakersfield Condors 71 18 49 67 50Ilya ProtasHershey Bears 69 29 37 66 40Felix Unger SörumChicago Wolves 72 17 49 66 20Tanner LaczynskiHenderson Silver Knights 62 22 42 64 35Quinn HutsonBakersfield Condors 67 30 33 63 84Konsta HeleniusRochester Americans 63 21 42 63 22
Leading goaltenders
This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage with at least 1,440 minutes played. The table is initially sorted by goals against average, with the criterion for inclusion in bold. Updated following games played on April 19, 2026.
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 Michael DiPietro Providence Bruins 45 2,644:29 1,202 84 3 1.91 .930 34 8 1 Carl Lindbom Henderson Silver Knights 35 2,055:57 994 74 3 2.16 .926 24 5 5 Sergei Murashov Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 38 2,153:50 980 79 4 2.20 .919 24 9 4 Jacob Fowler Laval Rocket 27 1,617:44 717 60 3 2.23 .916 19 7 1 Sebastian Cossa Grand Rapids Griffins 39 2,292:25 1,053 89 5 2.33 .915 26 8 4 Cayden Primeau Chicago Wolves 39 2,366:53 1,127 95 4 2.41 .916 21 11 7
Calder Cup playoffs
Playoff format The AHL will continue to use the same playoff format used since 2022. 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 Source:
AHL awards Award Winner Ref Calder Cup (Playoff champions) Toronto Marlies Les Cunningham Award (Regular season MVP) Michael DiPietro, Providence Bruins John B. Sollenberger Trophy (Regular season points leader) Jakob Pelletier, Syracuse Crunch Willie Marshall Award (Regular season goalscoring leader) Arthur Kaliyev, Belleville Senators Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award (Rookie of the year) Ilya Protas, Hershey Bears Eddie Shore Award (Defenceman of the year) Zac Jones, Rochester Americans Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award (Goaltender of the year) Trent Miner, Colorado Eagles Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award (Team with fewest goals against) Sebastian Cossa & Michal Postava, Grand Rapids Griffins Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award (Coach of the year) Mark Letestu, Colorado Eagles Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award (Sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey) Patrick Brown, Providence Bruins Yanick Dupré Memorial Award (Community service) Tyrel Bauer, Manitoba Moose Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (Playoff MVP) Artur Akhtyamov, Toronto Marlies Richard F. Canning Trophy (Eastern Conference playoff champions) Toronto Marlies Robert W. Clarke Trophy (Western Conference playoff champions) Chicago Wolves Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy(Regular season champions) Providence Bruins Frank Mathers Trophy(Atlantic Division regular season champions) Providence Bruins F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy(North Division regular season champions) Laval Rocket Sam Pollock Trophy(Central Division regular season champions) Grand Rapids Griffins John D. Chick Trophy(Pacific Division regular season champions) Ontario Reign James C. Hendy Memorial Award(Executive of the year) Mike Ostrowski, Cleveland Monsters Thomas Ebright Memorial Award(Career contributions to the AHL) Jon Greenberg, Milwaukee Admirals Bruce Landon Award(Outstanding hockey operations executive) Mark Bernard, Rockford IceHogs James H. Ellery Memorial Award(Outstanding media coverage) Ken McKenzie Award(Marketing and public relations) Ryan Holt, Bakersfield Condors Michael Condon Memorial Award(On-ice official) Jarrod Ragusin David Andrews Awards of Excellence(Overall excellence by a player and a team) Logan Shaw, Toronto Marlies (player)Colorado Eagles (team)
All-Star teams First All-Star Team Michael DiPietro (G) – Providence Bruins Jack Ahcan (D) – Colorado Eagles Zac Jones (D) – Rochester Americans Alex Barré-Boulet (F) – Colorado Eagles Arthur Kaliyev (F) – Belleville Senators Jakob Pelletier (F) – Syracuse Crunch
Second All-Star Team Carl Lindbom (G) – Henderson Silver Knights Lukas Cormier (D) – Henderson Silver Knights Ryan Ufko (D) – Milwaukee Admirals Cameron Hughes (F) – Texas Stars Tanner Laczynski (F) – Henderson Silver Knights John Leonard (F) – Charlotte Checkers
All-Rookie Team Sergei Murashov (G) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Tyson Jugnauth (D) – Coachella Valley Firebirds Dmitriy Simashev (D) – Tucson Roadrunners Isaac Howard (F) – Bakersfield Condors Quinn Hutson (F) – Bakersfield Condors Ilya Protas (F) – Hershey Bears
Top Prospects Team Sergei Murashov (G) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Adam Engstrom (D) – Laval Rocket Carter Yakemchuk (D) – Belleville Senators Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (F) – Grand Rapids Griffins Konsta Helenius (F) – Rochester Americans Ilya Protas (F) – Hershey Bears
References