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 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. 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.
Team and NHL affiliation changes AHL team New affiliate Previous affiliate Chicago Wolves Independent Carolina Hurricanes
Coaching changes Off–season Team NotesBelleville Senators Troy MannDavid 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. Ottawa removed the interim tag from Bell for the 2023–24 season on May 2, 2023.Bridgeport Islanders Brent Thompson Rick Kowalsky On July 11, 2023, Thompson was named as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. Bridgeport assistant coach Rick Kowalsky was named as head coach on July 13, 2023.Calgary Wranglers Mitch Love Trent Cull The Washington Capitals hired Love as an assistant coach on June 22, 2023. Cull was hired by the Wranglers on July 17, 2023.Chicago Wolves Brock Sheahan Bob Nardella On June 13, 2023, with the Wolves operation without an NHL affiliate, they hired Nardella as head coach.Colorado Eagles Greg Cronin Aaron Schneekloth On June 5, 2023, Cronin was hired as the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. Schneekloth was named as head coach of the Eagles on July 6, 2023. Grand Rapids Griffins Ben Simon Dan Watson Shortly following the conclusion of the season, the Griffins parted ways with Simon. Watson was named as head coach of the Griffins on June 14, 2023.Henderson Silver Knights Manny Viveiros Ryan Craig On April 19, 2023, the Golden Knights and Viveiros mutually agreed to part ways. Golden Knights assistant coach Ryan Craig was named as head coach of the Silver Knights on June 26, 2023.Iowa Wild Tim Army Brett McLean On April 22, 2023, the Wild fired most of their coaching staff, including Army. McLean was named as Iowa Wild head coach after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with Minnesota.San Diego Gulls Roy Sommer Matt McIlvane On April 15, 2023, Sommer had announced he intended to retire following the season. On April 25, the Gulls hired McIlvane as head coach. 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.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. Gruden was named as head coach of the Marlies on July 4, 2023.In-seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coach NotesHartford 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 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 April 21, 2024
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 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 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 Central Division 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 (independent) 72 23 35 7 7 60 .417 192 253 Pacific Division 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
Leading skaters The following players are sorted by points, then goals. As of April 21, 2024.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMMavrik BourqueTexas Stars 71 26 51 77 32Rocco GrimaldiChicago Wolves 72 36 37 73 38Adam GaudetteSpringfield Thunderbirds 67 44 27 71 51T. J. TynanOntario Reign 71 9 57 66 68Georgii MerkulovProvidence Bruins 67 30 35 65 20Kole LindCoachella Valley Firebirds 69 17 48 65 65Andrew AgozzinoSan Diego Gulls 72 26 38 64 44Brett SeneyRockford IceHogs 68 23 40 63 60Seth GriffithBakersfield Condors 68 15 48 63 32Samuel FagemoOntario Reign 50 43 19 62 26
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,440 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. As of April 21, 2024.
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
Playoff format 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
AHL awards Award Winner Calder Cup (Playoff champions) Hershey Bears Les Cunningham Award (Regular season MVP) Mavrik Bourque, Texas Stars John B. Sollenberger Trophy (Regular season points leader) Mavrik Bourque, Texas Stars Willie Marshall Award (Regular season goalscoring leader) Adam Gaudette, Springfield Thunderbirds Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award (Rookie of the year) Logan Stankoven, Texas Stars Eddie Shore Award (Defenceman of the year) Kyle Capobianco, Manitoba Moose Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award (Goaltender of the year) Hunter Shepard, Hershey Bears Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award (Team with fewest goals against) Clay Stevenson & Hunter Shepard, Hershey Bears Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award (Coach of the year) Todd Nelson, Hershey Bears Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award (Sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey) Spencer Knight, Charlotte Checkers Yanick Dupre Memorial Award (Community service) Daniel Walcott, Syracuse Crunch Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (Playoff MVP) Hendrix Lapierre, Hershey Bears Richard F. Canning Trophy (Eastern Conference playoff champions) Hershey Bears Robert W. Clarke Trophy (Western Conference playoff champions) Coachella Valley Firebirds Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy(Regular season champions) 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(Executive of the year) Bryan Helmer, Hershey Bears Thomas Ebright Memorial Award(Career contributions to the AHL) Vance Lederman, Syracuse Crunch James H. Ellery Memorial Awards(Outstanding media coverage) Ken McKenzie Award(Marketing and public relations) Michael Condon Memorial Award(On-ice official) Shaun Davis (referee) President's Awards(Excellence in all areas of the ice) Hershey Bears (team)Mavrik Bourque (player)
All-Star teams First All-Star Team Hunter Shepard (G) – Hershey Bears Kyle Capobianco (D) – Manitoba Moose Brad Hunt (D) – Colorado Eagles Mavrik Bourque (F) – Texas Stars Adam Gaudette (F) – Springfield Thunderbirds Logan Stankoven (F) – Texas Stars
Second All-Star Team Joel Blomqvist (G) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Jake Christiansen (D) – Cleveland Monsters Brandt Clarke (D) – Ontario Reign Samuel Fagemo (F) – Ontario Reign Trey Fix-Wolansky (F) – Cleveland Monsters Rocco Grimaldi (F) – Chicago Wolves
All-Rookie Team Joel Blomqvist (G) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Brandt Clarke (D) – Ontario Reign Logan Mailloux (D) – Laval Rocket Josh Doan (F) – Tucson Roadrunners Brad Lambert (F) – Manitoba Moose Logan Stankoven (F) – Texas Stars
References