2024–25 AHL season
Sports season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2024–25 AHL season was the 89th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 11, 2024, and ended on April 20, 2025. The 2025 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season, and ended on June 23, with the Abbotsford Canucks winning their first Calder Cup since 1991. With the deactivation of the Arizona Coyotes, the Tucson Roadrunners became the new AHL affiliate of the Utah Hockey Club, with all assets and contracts going to Utah.[1]
| 2024–25 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 11, 2024 – April 20, 2025 |
| Regular season | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | Laval Rocket |
| Season MVP | Andrew Poturalski (San Jose Barracuda) |
| Top scorer | Andrew Poturalski (San Jose Barracuda) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Arturs Silovs (Abbotsford) |
| Calder Cup | |
| Champions | Abbotsford Canucks |
| Runners-up | Charlotte Checkers |
League changes
Team and NHL affiliation changes
| AHL team | New affiliate | Previous affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Wolves | Carolina Hurricanes | Independent |
| Tucson Roadrunners | Utah Hockey Club | Arizona Coyotes |
Coaching changes
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2023–24 coach | 2024–25 coach | Notes |
| Abbotsford Canucks | Jeremy Colliton | Manny Malhotra | On May 24, 2024, Malhotra was named as head coach of Abbotsford, succeeding Colliton, who would later become an associate coach of the New Jersey Devils for the 2024–25 season. |
| Coachella Valley Firebirds | Dan Bylsma | Derek Laxdal | Following the 2023–24 season, Bylsma was promoted head coach of the Seattle Kraken, but remained as head coach of the Firebirds throughout the rest of their playoff run. Once the off-season started and Bylsma was officially promoted, Laxdal was named as head coach of the Firebirds. |
| Chicago Wolves | Bob Nardella | Cam Abbott | On June 13, 2023, with the Wolves operation without an NHL affiliate, they hired Nardella as head coach.[2] With the Wolves once again becoming the affiliate of the Hurricanes, the Hurricanes opted to hire Abbott as head coach. |
| Hartford Wolf Pack | Kris Knoblauch Steve Smith (interim) | Grant Potulny | 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. For the 2024–25 season, Potulny was named as head coach of the Wolf Pack. |
| Laval Rocket | Jean-Francois Houle | Pascal Vincent | On June 21, 2024, the Rocket and Houle mutually agreed to part ways for Houle to accept the head coaching position at Clarkson of the NCAA. Laval native and former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent was named as head coach of the Rocket on July 16. |
| Rochester Americans | Seth Appert | Michael Leone | Following the 2023–24 season, Appert was named to the coaching staff of Buffalo's Lindy Ruff. Leone was named as head coach of the Amerks' on June 6, 2024. |
| Springfield Thunderbirds | Drew Bannister Daniel Tkaczuk (interim) | Steve Konowalchuk | 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. The interim tag had initially been removed from Tkaczuk for the 2024–25 season, but Konowalchuk was named as head coach of the Thunderbirds in May 2024. |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | J.D. Forrest | Kirk MacDonald | Following the 2023–24 season, Forrest's contract was not renewed. MacDonald was named as head coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on June 19, 2024. |
| In–season | |||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
| Rockford IceHogs | Anders Sorensen | Mark Eaton (interim) | After the Chicago Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson on December 5, 2024, Sorensen was named as head coach of the Blackhawks. On the same day, the IceHogs named Eaton as interim head coach. |
| Utica Comets | Kevin Dineen | Ryan Parent (interim) | After the Comets started winless in their first nine games to begin the season, Dineen was relieved of his duties on November 6, 2024. Parent was named as interim head coach on the same day. |
Standings
z– Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy (regular season) champion
y– indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
x– indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
e– indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention
Standings as of games through April 20, 2025[3]
Eastern Conference
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 72 | 44 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 96 | .667 | 234 | 211 |
| x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA) | 72 | 44 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 94 | .653 | 234 | 185 |
| x–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 72 | 41 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 90 | .625 | 240 | 188 |
| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 72 | 40 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 88 | .611 | 244 | 215 |
| x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) | 72 | 36 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 80 | .556 | 215 | 221 |
| x–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) | 72 | 34 | 32 | 2 | 4 | 74 | .514 | 218 | 236 |
| e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 72 | 30 | 33 | 7 | 2 | 69 | .479 | 199 | 234 |
| e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) | 72 | 15 | 50 | 4 | 3 | 37 | .257 | 181 | 294 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z–Laval Rocket (MTL) | 72 | 48 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 101 | .701 | 229 | 178 |
| x–Rochester Americans (BUF) | 72 | 42 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 92 | .639 | 238 | 191 |
| x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) | 72 | 37 | 23 | 8 | 4 | 86 | .597 | 206 | 178 |
| x–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 72 | 37 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 86 | .597 | 209 | 197 |
| x–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) | 72 | 35 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 81 | .563 | 206 | 225 |
| e–Belleville Senators (OTT) | 72 | 34 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 79 | .549 | 206 | 223 |
| e–Utica Comets (NJD) | 72 | 31 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 70 | .486 | 196 | 223 |
Western Conference
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 72 | 40 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 91 | .632 | 218 | 184 |
| x–Texas Stars (DAL) | 72 | 43 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 89 | .618 | 240 | 210 |
| x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 72 | 37 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 80 | .556 | 202 | 203 |
| x–Chicago Wolves (CAR) | 72 | 37 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 78 | .542 | 205 | 223 |
| x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 72 | 31 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 70 | .486 | 206 | 220 |
| e–Iowa Wild (MIN) | 72 | 27 | 37 | 6 | 2 | 62 | .431 | 201 | 251 |
| e–Manitoba Moose (WPG) | 72 | 25 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 56 | .389 | 169 | 248 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Colorado Eagles (COL) | 72 | 43 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 94 | .653 | 250 | 185 |
| x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) | 72 | 44 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 92 | .639 | 241 | 204 |
| x–Ontario Reign (LAK) | 72 | 43 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 90 | .625 | 225 | 207 |
| x–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) | 72 | 37 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 84 | .583 | 225 | 205 |
| x-Calgary Wranglers (CGY) | 72 | 37 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 81 | .563 | 230 | 239 |
| x–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) | 72 | 36 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 81 | .563 | 244 | 231 |
| x–Tucson Roadrunners (UTA) | 72 | 34 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 74 | .514 | 228 | 237 |
| e–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) | 72 | 32 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 74 | .514 | 224 | 233 |
| e–San Diego Gulls (ANA) | 72 | 29 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 66 | .458 | 216 | 251 |
| e–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) | 72 | 29 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 63 | .438 | 202 | 251 |
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. As of April 20, 2025.[4]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Poturalski | San Jose Barracuda | 59 | 30 | 43 | 73 | 34 |
| Matej Blumel | Texas Stars | 67 | 39 | 33 | 72 | 26 |
| Seth Griffith | Bakersfield Condors | 65 | 21 | 51 | 72 | 46 |
| Chris Terry | Bridgeport Islanders | 68 | 19 | 47 | 66 | 57 |
| Charles Hudon | Ontario Reign | 67 | 20 | 44 | 64 | 57 |
| Matthew Peca | Springfield Thunderbirds | 68 | 31 | 32 | 63 | 16 |
| Alex Barre-Boulet | Laval Rocket | 64 | 22 | 41 | 63 | 42 |
| Alex Steeves | Toronto Marlies | 59 | 36 | 26 | 62 | 50 |
| Glenn Gawdin | Ontario Reign | 72 | 26 | 36 | 62 | 57 |
| John Leonard | Charlotte Checkers | 72 | 36 | 25 | 61 | 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 20, 2025.[5]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Appleby | Charlotte Checkers | 24 | 1,440:20 | 525 | 47 | 6 | 1.96 | .910 | 15 | 8 | 1 |
| Cayden Primeau | Laval Rocket | 26 | 1,528:07 | 686 | 50 | 2 | 1.96 | .927 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| Michael DiPietro | Providence Bruins | 40 | 2,373:20 | 1,117 | 81 | 4 | 2.05 | .927 | 26 | 8 | 5 |
| Matt Murray | Milwaukee Admirals | 43 | 2,576:52 | 1,307 | 89 | 4 | 2.07 | .932 | 28 | 10 | 5 |
| Trent Miner | Colorado Eagles | 38 | 2,259:04 | 981 | 80 | 3 | 2.12 | .918 | 22 | 10 | 6 |
| Colten Ellis | Springfield Thunderbirds | 42 | 2,420:20 | 1,359 | 106 | 3 | 2.63 | .922 | 22 | 14 | 3 |
| Jet Greaves | Cleveland Monsters | 40 | 2,340:20 | 1,269 | 102 | 3 | 2.62 | .920 | 21 | 11 | 6 |
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
| First Round April 22–27 | Division Semifinals April 25 – May 11 | Division Finals May 14–26 | Conference Finals May 28 – June 8 | Calder Cup Finals June 13–23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Hershey | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Providence | 2 | A5 | Lehigh Valley | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A6 | Springfield | 1 | Atlantic Division | A1 | Hershey | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Charlotte | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Charlotte | 3 | Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| A4 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 0 | A3 | Providence | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A5 | Lehigh Valley | 2 | A2 | Charlotte | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Laval | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Laval | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Toronto | 0 | N5 | Cleveland | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N5 | Cleveland | 2 | North Division | N1 | Laval | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Rochester | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Rochester | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Syracuse | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Charlotte | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Abbotsford | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Milwaukee | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Chicago | 0 | C5 | Rockford | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| C5 | Rockford | 2 | Central Division | C1 | Milwaukee | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Texas | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Texas | 3 | Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Grand Rapids | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Texas | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Abbotsford | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Colorado | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Abbotsford | 2 | P6 | San Jose | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P7 | Tucson | 1 | Pacific Division | P1 | Colorado | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| P3 | Ontario | 0 | P2 | Abbotsford | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P6 | San Jose | 2 | P2 | Abbotsford | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P4 | Coachella Valley | 2 | P4 | Coachella Valley | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P5 | Calgary | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
AHL awards
All-Star teams
First All-Star Team[17]
- Michael DiPietro (G) – Providence Bruins
- Jacob MacDonald (D) – Colorado Eagles
- Derrick Pouliot (D) – Syracuse Crunch
- Matej Blumel (F) – Texas Stars
- Matthew Peca (F) – Springfield Thunderbirds
- Andrew Poturalski (F) – San Jose Barracuda
Second All-Star Team[17]
- Matt Murray (G) – Milwaukee Admirals
- Ethan Bear (D) – Hershey Bears
- Trevor Carrick (D) – Charlotte Checkers
- Seth Griffith (F) – Bakersfield Condors
- John Leonard (F) – Charlotte Checkers
- Alex Steeves (F) – Toronto Marlies
All-Rookie Team[18]
- Niklas Kokko (G) – Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Luca Cagnoni (D) – San Jose Barracuda
- Tristan Luneau (D) – San Diego Gulls
- Justin Hryckowian (F) – Texas Stars
- Ville Koivunen (F) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bradly Nadeau (F) – Chicago Wolves
Top Prospects Team[19]
- Jet Greaves (G) – Cleveland Monsters
- Logan Mailloux (D) – Laval Rocket
- Scott Morrow (D) – Chicago Wolves
- Dalibor Dvorský (F) – Springfield Thunderbirds
- Konsta Helenius (F) – Rochester Americans
- Bradly Nadeau (F) – Chicago Wolves