| 2022–23 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 14, 2022 – April 16, 2023 |
| Regular season | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | Calgary Wranglers |
| SeasonMVP | Dustin Wolf (Calgary Wranglers) |
| Top scorer | Michael Carcone (Tucson Roadrunners) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Hunter Shepard (Hershey) |
| Calder Cup | |
| Champions | Hershey Bears |
| Runners-up | Coachella Valley Firebirds |
| AHL seasons | |
← 2021–22 2023–24 → | |
The2022–23 AHL season was the 87th season of theAmerican Hockey League. The regular season began on October 14, 2022, and ended on April 16, 2023. The2023 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season, and began on April 18, 2023. They concluded on June 21 with theHershey Bears winning their 12th Calder Cup in team history, defeating theCoachella Valley Firebirds in overtime of game seven of the finals.
After the previous regular season where teams played an imbalanced schedule consisting of 76, 72, or 68 games, all teams played an equal number of games at 72. TheMacgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for the regular season champion will no longer be awarded based on points percentage, but rather total points.[1] Qualification for the2023 Calder Cup playoffs was decided by accumulation of points by team, with 23 teams making the cutoff.[2]
For the first time since2018, the league expanded, adding theCoachella Valley Firebirds. TheStockton Heat moved toCalgary in order to be closer to their NHL affiliate, theCalgary Flames. The Heat became theCalgary Wranglers. This brought the number of teams in the league to an all-time high of 32.[1]
The AHL had 11 female on-ice officials as of the 2022–23 season, includingKelly Cooke,Katie Guay,Cianna Lieffers, andKirsten Welsh.[3]
After theNational Hockey League (NHL) added theSeattle Kraken for the2021–22 season, the Kraken took a different approach than the 2017 expansion team, theVegas Golden Knights. Seattle wanted to add an AHL expansion team for their first season, unlike Vegas. The Kraken had discussed the possibility of promoting theIdaho Steelheads from theECHL, similar to what the league decided to do with the 2018 expansion teamColorado Eagles. However, Seattle chose to create their own expansion team inThousand Palms, California.[4] The team, named theCoachella Valley Firebirds, was originally scheduled to begin play during the2021–22 AHL season, however the debut of the Firebirds was delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the construction of their arena. With Seattle having no AHL affiliate for their debut season, they decided to affiliate with theCharlotte Checkers as the secondary affiliate to theFlorida Panthers.[5]
The Firebirds organization will be taking the spot of theStockton Heat in the Pacific Division. The Firebirds join other successful AHL franchises in the Southern California market, such as San Diego, Bakersfield, and Ontario. The Panthers will become the sole affiliate of the Checkers.
| AHL team | New affiliate[a] | Previous affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Coachella Valley Firebirds | Seattle Kraken | Expansion team |
| Charlotte Checkers | Florida Panthers[b] | Seattle Kraken |
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2021–22 coach | 2022–23 coach | Notes |
| Abbotsford Canucks | Trent Cull | Jeremy Colliton | On July 1, 2022, theVancouver Canucks promoted Cull to assistant coach under head coachBruce Boudreau.[7] Colliton was named as head coach for Abbotsford on the same day. |
| Bakersfield Condors | Jay Woodcroft Colin Chaulk (interim) | Colin Chaulk | On February 10, 2022, Woodcroft was promoted to Edmonton following the firing of Oilers' head coachDave Tippett. Condors' assistant coach Chaulk was named the interim head coach the following day.[8] Bakersfield removed the interim tag from Chaulk and named him as head coach for the 2022–23 season.[9] |
| Calgary Wranglers | Relocated fromStockton | Mitch Love | As theCalgary Flames relocated theStockton Heat to Calgary, the Flames retained Love as their head coach for the Wranglers.[10] |
| Chicago Wolves | Ryan Warsofsky | Brock Sheahan | On July 28, 2022, theSan Jose Sharks hired Warsofsky as an assistant coach.[11] |
| Cleveland Monsters | Mike Eaves | Trent Vogelhuber | On April 30, 2022, Eaves would be stepping away from his position as head coach of the Monsters following the conclusion of the2021–22 season. On June 8, 2022, the Monsters named Vogelhuber as head coach.[12] Vogelhuber had been serving as an assistant coach with the Monsters since his retirement in 2018. |
| Coachella Valley Firebirds | Expansion team | Dan Bylsma | Bylsma served as an assistant coach with then-Seattle AHL affiliate, theCharlotte Checkers, during the2021–22 season.[13] On June 21, 2022, Bylsma was named as head coach of the Firebirds.[14] |
| Hershey Bears | Scott Allen | Todd Nelson | On July 27, 2022, Allen was named as an assistant coach with the Bears NHL affiliate, theWashington Capitals.[15] |
| Ontario Reign | John Wroblewski Chris Hajt (interim) Craig Johnson (interim) | Marco Sturm | 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.[16] Hajt and Johnson were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. On June 17, 2022, Sturm was named as head coach of the Reign, previously serving as assistant coach with the Reign's NHL affiliate, theLos Angeles Kings.[17] |
| Rockford IceHogs | Derek King Anders Sörensen (interim) | Anders Sorensen | On November 6, 2021, King was promoted to Chicago following the firing of Blackhawks head coachJeremy Colliton.[18] On July 12, 2022, the interim tag was removed from Sorensen as was named head coach for the 2022–23 season.[19] |
| San Diego Gulls | Joël Bouchard | Roy Sommer | On May 11, 2022, it was announced that theAnaheim Ducks had parted ways with Bouchard as the Gulls head coach.[20] Sommer was named as head coach of the Gulls on July 12, 2022, after initially being transitioned to a senior advisory role with theSan Jose Barracuda.[21] |
| San Jose Barracuda | Roy Sommer | John McCarthy | On May 18, 2022, Sommer transitioned to a senior advisory role with the Barracuda. On the same day, McCarthy was named as head coach of the Barracuda. Sommer was later named as head coach of theSan Diego Gulls.[22] |
| Tucson Roadrunners | Jay Varady | Steve Potvin | On July 18, 2022, Varady was named as an assistant coach with theDetroit Red Wings.[23] |
| In-season | |||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
| Belleville Senators | Troy Mann | David Bell (interim) | On February 2, 2022, following the Senators game vs theRochester Americans, Mann was relieved from duties as head coach. Assistant coach David Bell was named as interim head coach the same night.[24] |
y– indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
x– indicates team clinched a playoff spot
e– indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Standings as of April 16, 2023[25]
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 72 | 44 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 98 | .681 | 221 | 201 |
| x–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 72 | 44 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 97 | .674 | 217 | 184 |
| x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA) | 72 | 39 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 86 | .597 | 235 | 220 |
| x–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) | 72 | 38 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 84 | .583 | 230 | 211 |
| x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 72 | 35 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 81 | .563 | 227 | 215 |
| x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) | 72 | 37 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 80 | .556 | 221 | 226 |
| e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI) | 72 | 34 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 74 | .528 | 238 | 248 |
| e–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 72 | 26 | 32 | 8 | 6 | 66 | .458 | 191 | 224 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 72 | 42 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 90 | .625 | 229 | 225 |
| x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) | 72 | 35 | 26 | 7 | 4 | 81 | .563 | 252 | 239 |
| x–Rochester Americans (BUF) | 72 | 36 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 81 | .563 | 236 | 233 |
| x–Utica Comets (NJD) | 72 | 35 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 80 | .556 | 215 | 222 |
| x–Laval Rocket (MTL) | 72 | 33 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 76 | .528 | 258 | 247 |
| e–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) | 72 | 33 | 32 | 5 | 2 | 73 | .507 | 220 | 254 |
| e–Belleville Senators (OTT) | 72 | 31 | 31 | 6 | 4 | 72 | .500 | 233 | 258 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Texas Stars (DAL) | 72 | 40 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 92 | .639 | 265 | 210 |
| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 72 | 41 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 89 | .618 | 238 | 211 |
| x–Manitoba Moose (WPG) | 72 | 37 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 84 | .583 | 227 | 226 |
| x–Iowa Wild (MIN) | 72 | 34 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 79 | .549 | 211 | 211 |
| x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 72 | 35 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 79 | .549 | 214 | 232 |
| e–Chicago Wolves (CAR) | 72 | 35 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 78 | .542 | 227 | 245 |
| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 72 | 28 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 64 | .444 | 194 | 255 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Calgary Wranglers (CGY) | 72 | 51 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 106 | .736 | 256 | 174 |
| x–Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) | 72 | 48 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 103 | .715 | 257 | 194 |
| x–Colorado Eagles (COL) | 72 | 40 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 90 | .625 | 210 | 187 |
| x–Abbotsford Canucks (VAN) | 72 | 40 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 87 | .604 | 229 | 203 |
| x–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) | 72 | 37 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 78 | .542 | 212 | 212 |
| x–Ontario Reign (LAK) | 72 | 34 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 74 | .514 | 206 | 211 |
| x–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) | 72 | 30 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 69 | .479 | 219 | 245 |
| e–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) | 72 | 31 | 34 | 2 | 5 | 69 | .479 | 205 | 249 |
| e–Henderson Silver Knights (VGK) | 72 | 29 | 38 | 0 | 5 | 63 | .438 | 201 | 221 |
| e–San Diego Gulls (ANA) | 72 | 20 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 43 | .299 | 180 | 281 |
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. As of April 16, 2023.[26]
GP = Games played; G =Goals; A =Assists; Pts =Points; +/– = PPlus–minus; PIM =Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carcone | Tucson Roadrunners | 65 | 31 | 54 | 85 | 127 |
| Alex Barré-Boulet | Syracuse Crunch | 69 | 24 | 60 | 84 | 58 |
| T. J. Tynan | Ontario Reign | 72 | 8 | 73 | 81 | 44 |
| Chris Terry | Bridgeport Islanders | 67 | 27 | 51 | 78 | 72 |
| Matthew Phillips | Calgary Wranglers | 66 | 36 | 40 | 76 | 12 |
| Rocco Grimaldi | San Diego /Rockford | 70 | 33 | 40 | 73 | 43 |
| Trey Fix-Wolansky | Cleveland Monsters | 61 | 29 | 42 | 71 | 40 |
| Logan Shaw | Toronto Marlies | 69 | 21 | 48 | 69 | 36 |
| Anthony Richard | Laval Rocket | 60 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 46 |
| Max McCormick | Coachella Valley Firebirds | 71 | 28 | 39 | 67 | 76 |
The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,440 minutes played lead the league ingoals against average. As of April 16, 2023.[27]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Wolf | Calgary Wranglers | 55 | 3,238:56 | 1,653 | 113 | 7 | 2.09 | .932 | 42 | 10 | 2 |
| Hunter Shepard | Hershey Bears | 33 | 1,930:24 | 835 | 70 | 1 | 2.18 | .916 | 20 | 8 | 5 |
| Jonas Johansson | Colorado Eagles | 26 | 1,545:22 | 747 | 60 | 0 | 2.33 | .920 | 14 | 9 | 2 |
| Matt Murray | Texas Stars | 34 | 1,925:15 | 853 | 76 | 3 | 2.37 | .911 | 18 | 10 | 5 |
| Joey Daccord | Coachella Valley Firebirds | 38 | 2,269:09 | 1,100 | 90 | 3 | 2.38 | .918 | 26 | 8 | 3 |
The AHL will continue to use the same playoff formatused 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.
| First Round April 18 – 23 | Division Semifinals April 21 – May 6 | Division Finals May 11 – May 21 | Conference Finals May 23 – June 5 | Calder Cup Finals June 8 – 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Providence | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Charlotte | 2 | A5 | Hartford | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A6 | Lehigh Valley | 1 | Atlantic Division | A5 | Hartford | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Hershey | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Hershey | 3 | Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| A4 | Springfield | 0 | A3 | Charlotte | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A5 | Hartford | 2 | A2 | Hershey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Rochester | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Toronto | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Utica | 2 | N4 | Utica | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N5 | Laval | 0 | North Division | N1 | Toronto | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Rochester | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Syracuse | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Rochester | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Hershey | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Coachella Valley | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Texas | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Iowa | 0 | C5 | Rockford | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| C5 | Rockford | 2 | Central Division | C1 | Texas | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Milwaukee | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Milwaukee | 3 | Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Manitoba | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Milwaukee | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Coachella Valley | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Calgary | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P4 | Abbotsford | 2 | P4 | Abbotsford | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P5 | Bakersfield | 0 | Pacific Division | P1 | Calgary | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Coachella Valley | 2 | P2 | Coachella Valley | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P7 | Tucson | 1 | P2 | Coachella Valley | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P3 | Colorado | 2 | P3 | Colorado | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P6 | Ontario | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
First All-Star Team[28]
Second All-Star Team[28]
All-Rookie Team[29]