The 2018–19 AHL season was the 83rd season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began October 5, 2018, and ended April 15, 2019. The 2019 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season. This was the last year the Calder Cup was awarded until 2022.
League changes The league expanded by adding the Colorado Eagles to the Pacific Division and moved the two Texas-based teams to the Central Division from the Pacific. The Cleveland Monsters were moved from the Central to the North Division.
Similar to the California and Arizona teams in the Pacific Division, Colorado plays 68 games in the regular season. This gave the Pacific Division a balanced schedule for the first time since its creation in 2015 and removed the necessity for playoff qualification based on points percentage. Continuing from previous seasons, the teams in the Atlantic, North, and Central Divisions all play 76 games. The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for the regular season champion is still awarded based on points percentage.
Team and NHL affiliation changes After the National Hockey League (NHL) added the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2017–18 season, the NHL had 31 teams while the AHL still had 30. After exploring other AHL expansion options, the NHL Vegas expansion team eventually affiliated with the Chicago Wolves on a multi-year agreement. The affiliation with the Wolves left their former affiliate, the St. Louis Blues, without an affiliate and the Blues would send players to the Wolves and the San Antonio Rampage, the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.
After the 2017 Board of Governors meeting, the league confirmed 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 organization had been a member of the ECHL prior to the promotion and was the affiliate of the Avalanche. The Eagles join other recently added ECHL markets in the AHL such as Bakersfield, Charlotte, Ontario, and Stockton. The Blues then became the primary affiliate of the Rampage.
Affiliation changes AHL team New affiliate Old affiliate Colorado Eagles Colorado Avalanche Expansion team San Antonio Rampage St. Louis Blues Colorado Avalanche
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 As of April 14, 2019 Atlantic Division y–Charlotte Checkers (CAR) 76 51 17 7 1 110 .724 255 189 x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) 76 43 24 6 3 95 .625 233 228 x–Hershey Bears (WSH) 76 43 25 4 4 94 .618 211 215 x–Providence Bruins (BOS) 76 38 27 8 3 87 .572 228 212 e–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) 76 39 30 4 3 85 .559 240 244 e–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 76 36 30 7 3 82 .539 232 228 e–Springfield Thunderbirds (FLA) 76 33 29 9 5 80 .526 250 241 e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 76 29 36 7 4 69 .454 209 266 North Division y–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) 76 47 21 4 4 102 .671 264 187 x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 76 46 23 5 2 99 .651 254 218 x–Toronto Marlies (TOR) 76 39 24 9 4 91 .599 248 243 x–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) 76 37 29 8 2 84 .553 232 234 e–Belleville Senators (OTT) 76 37 31 3 5 82 .539 228 228 e–Utica Comets (VAN) 76 34 34 6 2 76 .500 224 257 e–Laval Rocket (MTL) 76 30 34 6 6 72 .474 195 231 e–Binghamton Devils (NJD) 76 28 41 7 0 63 .414 201 278
Western Conference As of April 14, 2019 Central Division y–Chicago Wolves (VGK) 76 44 22 6 4 98 .645 250 199 x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 76 36 24 14 2 88 .579 217 207 x–Iowa Wild (MIN) 76 37 26 8 5 87 .572 242 230 x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 76 38 27 7 4 87 .572 217 222 e–Manitoba Moose (WPG) 76 39 30 5 2 85 .559 197 219 e–Texas Stars (DAL) 76 37 31 4 4 82 .539 238 231 e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 76 35 31 4 6 80 .526 184 214e–San Antonio Rampage (STL) 76 31 38 6 1 69 .454 196 244
Pacific Division y–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) 68 42 21 3 2 89 .654 242 182 x–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) 68 39 22 3 4 85 .625 227 197 x–San Diego Gulls (ANA) 68 36 24 5 3 80 .588 239 221 x–Colorado Eagles (COL) 68 36 27 4 1 77 .560 191 205 e–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) 68 34 26 5 3 76 .559 206 202 e–Stockton Heat (CGY) 68 31 31 4 2 68 .500 235 252 e–Ontario Reign (LAK) 68 25 33 6 4 60 .441 213 274
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 14, 2019.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMCarter VerhaegheSyracuse Crunch 76 34 48 82 34Jeremy BraccoToronto Marlies 75 22 57 79 16Daniel CarrChicago Wolves 52 30 41 71 10T. J. TynanChicago Wolves 71 12 59 71 28Andrew PoturalskiCharlotte Checkers 72 23 47 70 34Alex Barre-BouletSyracuse Crunch 74 34 34 68 16Cal O'ReillyIowa Wild 67 16 51 67 14Tyler BensonBakersfield Condors 68 15 51 66 44Chris MuellerToronto Marlies 60 33 32 65 32Michael SgarbossaHershey Bears 75 30 35 65 91
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 14, 2019.
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 Alex Nedeljkovic Charlotte Checkers 51 2917:19 1306 110 4 2.26 .916 34 9 5 Marcus Hogberg Belleville Senators 39 2304:28 1068 89 2 2.32 .917 21 11 6 Shane Starrett Bakersfield Condors 42 2447:41 1156 95 4 2.33 .918 27 7 5 Edward Pasquale Syracuse Crunch 45 2650:11 1241 104 4 2.35 .916 27 12 6 Troy Grosenick Milwaukee Admirals 46 2633:49 1316 106 1 2.41 .919 24 14 6
Calder Cup playoffs Playoff format The 2019 Calder Cup playoffs format was retained from the divisional format of the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs. 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 qualify for the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs.
The 2019 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 Charlotte Checkers Les Cunningham Award Daniel Carr, Chicago John B. Sollenberger Trophy Carter Verhaeghe, Syracuse Willie Marshall Award Carter Verhaeghe, SyracuseAlex Barre-Boulet, Syracuse Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Alex Barre-Boulet, Syracuse Eddie Shore Award Zach Redmond, Rochester Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award Alex Nedeljkovic, Charlotte Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Edward Pasquale, Syracuse Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Mike Vellucci, Charlotte Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Brett Sutter, Ontario Yanick Dupre Memorial Award Landon Ferraro, Iowa Jack A. Butterfield Trophy Andrew Poturalski, Charlotte Richard F. Canning Trophy Charlotte Checkers Robert W. Clarke Trophy Chicago Wolves Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy Charlotte Checkers Frank Mathers Trophy(Eastern Conference regular season champions) Charlotte Checkers Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy(Western Conference regular season champions) Bakersfield Condors Emile Francis Trophy (Atlantic Division regular season champions) Charlotte Checkers F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy(North Division regular season champions) Syracuse Crunch Sam Pollock Trophy(Central Division regular season champions) Chicago Wolves John D. Chick Trophy(Pacific Division regular season champions) Bakersfield Condors James C. Hendy Memorial Award Nathan Costa, Springfield Thomas Ebright Memorial Award Todd Frederickson, Iowa James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Mike Griffith, Bakersfield Ken McKenzie Award Paul Branecky, Charlotte Michael Condon Memorial Award Fred HudyCarl Sasyn President's Awards Organization: IowaPlayer: Andrew Poturalski, Charlotte
All-Star teams First All-Star Team Alex Nedeljkovic (G) – Charlotte John Gilmour (D) – Hartford Zach Redmond (D) – Rochester Jeremy Bracco (F) – Toronto Daniel Carr (F) – Chicago Carter Verhaeghe (F) – Syracuse
Second All-Star Team Shane Starrett (G) – Bakersfield Aaron Ness (D) – Hershey Ethan Prow (D) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Tyler Benson (F) – Bakersfield Chris Mueller (F) – Toronto Andrew Poturalski (F) – Charlotte
All-Rookie Team Shane Starrett (G) – Bakersfield Jake Bean (D) – Charlotte Mitch Reinke (D) – San Antonio Drake Batherson (F) – Belleville Tyler Benson (F) – Bakersfield Alex Barre-Boulet (F) – Syracuse
See also List of AHL seasons 2018 in ice hockey 2019 in ice hockey
References
External links AHL official site