| 2023–24 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 13, 2023 – April 21, 2024 |
| Regular season | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | Hershey Bears |
| SeasonMVP | Mavrik Bourque (Texas Stars) |
| Top scorer | Mavrik Bourque (Texas Stars) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Hendrix Lapierre (Hershey) |
| Calder Cup | |
| Champions | Hershey Bears |
| Runners-up | Coachella Valley Firebirds |
| AHL seasons | |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The2023–24 AHL season was the 88th season of theAmerican Hockey League. The regular season began on October 13, 2023, and ended on April 21, 2024. The2024 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season, and ended on June 24, with theHershey Bears winning their 13th Calder Cup in franchise history, and their 14th league championship (including the pandemic-curtailed2020-21 AHL season where the regular season winner was the league champion).
For the first time since the1994–95 season, the league featured an unaffiliated team, with theChicago Wolves ending their affiliation with theCarolina Hurricanes.[1] 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.[2]
| AHL team | New affiliate | Previous affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Wolves | Independent | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2022–23 coach | 2023–24 coach | Notes |
| Belleville Senators | Troy Mann David Bell (interim) | David Bell | On February 2, 2023, 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.[3] Ottawa removed the interim tag from Bell for the 2023–24 season on May 2, 2023.[4] |
| Bridgeport Islanders | Brent Thompson | Rick Kowalsky | On July 11, 2023, Thompson was named as an assistant coach with theAnaheim Ducks.[5] Bridgeport assistant coach Rick Kowalsky was named as head coach on July 13, 2023.[6] |
| Calgary Wranglers | Mitch Love | Trent Cull | TheWashington Capitals hired Love as an assistant coach on June 22, 2023.[7] Cull was hired by the Wranglers on July 17, 2023.[8] |
| Chicago Wolves | Brock Sheahan | Bob Nardella | On June 13, 2023, with the Wolves operation without an NHL affiliate, they hired Nardella as head coach.[9] |
| Colorado Eagles | Greg Cronin | Aaron Schneekloth | On June 5, 2023, Cronin was hired as the head coach of theAnaheim Ducks.[10] Schneekloth was named as head coach of the Eagles on July 6, 2023.[11] |
| Grand Rapids Griffins | Ben Simon | Dan Watson | Shortly following the conclusion of the season, the Griffins parted ways with Simon.[12] Watson was named as head coach of the Griffins on June 14, 2023.[13] |
| Henderson Silver Knights | Manny Viveiros | Ryan Craig | On April 19, 2023, the Golden Knights and Viveiros mutually agreed to part ways.[14] Golden Knights assistant coach Ryan Craig was named as head coach of the Silver Knights on June 26, 2023.[15] |
| Iowa Wild | Tim Army | Brett McLean | On April 22, 2023, the Wild fired most of their coaching staff, including Army.[16] McLean was named as Iowa Wild head coach after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with Minnesota.[17] |
| San Diego Gulls | Roy Sommer | Matt McIlvane | On April 15, 2023, Sommer had announced he intended to retire followingthe season.[18] On April 25, the Gulls hired McIlvane as head coach.[19] |
| 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 theLightning organization.[20] |
| 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.[21] Gruden was named as head coach of the Marlies on July 4, 2023.[22] |
| In-season | |||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
| Hartford Wolf Pack | Kris Knoblauch | Steve Smith (interim) | After theEdmonton Oilers fired head coachJay 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 theSt. Louis Blues fired head coachCraig 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. |
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 April 21, 2024[23]
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. As of April 21, 2024.[24]
GP = Games played; G =Goals; A =Assists; Pts =Points; +/– = PPlus–minus; PIM =Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mavrik Bourque | Texas Stars | 71 | 26 | 51 | 77 | 32 |
| Rocco Grimaldi | Chicago Wolves | 72 | 36 | 37 | 73 | 38 |
| Adam Gaudette | Springfield Thunderbirds | 67 | 44 | 27 | 71 | 51 |
| T. J. Tynan | Ontario Reign | 71 | 9 | 57 | 66 | 68 |
| Georgii Merkulov | Providence Bruins | 67 | 30 | 35 | 65 | 20 |
| Kole Lind | Coachella Valley Firebirds | 69 | 17 | 48 | 65 | 65 |
| Andrew Agozzino | San Diego Gulls | 72 | 26 | 38 | 64 | 44 |
| Brett Seney | Rockford IceHogs | 68 | 23 | 40 | 63 | 60 |
| Seth Griffith | Bakersfield Condors | 68 | 15 | 48 | 63 | 32 |
| Samuel Fagemo | Ontario Reign | 50 | 43 | 19 | 62 | 26 |
The following goaltenders with a minimum 1,440 minutes played lead the league ingoals against average. As of April 21, 2024.[25]
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 |
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 23–28 | Division Semifinals April 26–May 12 | Division Finals May 15–May 26 | Conference Finals May 29–June 12 | Calder Cup Finals June 14–24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Hershey | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 0 | A6 | Lehigh Valley | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A6 | Lehigh Valley | 2 | Atlantic Division | A1 | Hershey | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| A5 | Hartford | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Providence | 1 | Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| A4 | Charlotte | 1 | A5 | Hartford | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| A5 | Hartford | 2 | A1 | Hershey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Cleveland | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Cleveland | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Belleville | 2 | N4 | Belleville | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| N5 | Toronto | 1 | North Division | N1 | Cleveland | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Syracuse | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Rochester | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Syracuse | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Hershey | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Coachella Valley | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Milwaukee | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Texas | 2 | C4 | Texas | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| C5 | Manitoba | 0 | Central Division | C1 | Milwaukee | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Grand Rapids | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Grand Rapids | 3 | Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Rockford | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Coachella Valley | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Milwaukee | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Coachella Valley | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Tucson | 0 | P7 | Calgary | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P7 | Calgary | 2 | Pacific Division | P1 | Coachella Valley | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| P3 | Ontario | 2 | P3 | Ontario | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P6 | Bakersfield | 0 | P3 | Ontario | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P4 | Colorado | 1 | P5 | Abbotsford | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| P5 | Abbotsford | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
First All-Star Team[26]
Second All-Star Team[26]
All-Rookie Team[27]