2018–19 AHL season

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.

2018–19 AHL season
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 5, 2018 – April 15, 2019
Regular season
Macgregor Kilpatrick TrophyCharlotte Checkers
Season MVPDaniel Carr (Chicago)
Top scorerCarter Verhaeghe (Syracuse)
Playoffs
Eastern Conference championsCharlotte Checkers
  Eastern Conference runners-upToronto Marlies
Western Conference championsChicago Wolves
  Western Conference runners-upSan Diego Gulls
Playoffs MVPAndrew Poturalski (Charlotte)
Calder Cup
ChampionsCharlotte Checkers
  Runners-upChicago Wolves

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.[1]

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.[2]

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,[3][4] the NHL Vegas expansion team eventually affiliated with the Chicago Wolves on a multi-year agreement.[5] 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[6] later revealed to be the Colorado Eagles.[7][8] 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[lower-alpha 1] Colorado Avalanche
  1. Although the Blues sent players to the Rampage the previous season, they were not the Rampage's primary NHL affiliate and only had a working agreement.

Standings

 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

Eastern Conference

As of April 14, 2019[9]

Atlantic Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Charlotte Checkers (CAR)76511771110.724255189
x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)7643246395.625233228
x–Hershey Bears (WSH)7643254494.618211215
x–Providence Bruins (BOS)7638278387.572228212
e–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)7639304385.559240244
e–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)7636307382.539232228
e–Springfield Thunderbirds (FLA)7633299580.526250241
e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)7629367469.454209266
North Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Syracuse Crunch (TB)76472144102.671264187
x–Rochester Americans (BUF)7646235299.651254218
x–Toronto Marlies (TOR)7639249491.599248243
x–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)7637298284.553232234
e–Belleville Senators (OTT)7637313582.539228228
e–Utica Comets (VAN)7634346276.500224257
e–Laval Rocket (MTL)7630346672.474195231
e–Binghamton Devils (NJ)7628417063.414201278

Western Conference

As of April 14, 2019[9]

Central Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Chicago Wolves (VGK)7644226498.645250199
x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)76362414288.579217207
x–Iowa Wild (MIN)7637268587.572242230
x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)7638277487.572217222
e–Manitoba Moose (WPG)7639305285.559197219
e–Texas Stars (DAL)7637314482.539238231
e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI)7635314680.526184214
e–San Antonio Rampage (STL)7631386169.454196244
Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Bakersfield Condors (EDM)6842213289.654242182
x–San Jose Barracuda (SJ)6839223485.625227197
x–San Diego Gulls (ANA)6836245380.588239221
x–Colorado Eagles (COL)6836274177.560191205
e–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI)6834265376.559206202
e–Stockton Heat (CGY)6831314268.500235252
e–Ontario Reign (LA)6825336460.441213274

Statistical leaders

Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 14, 2019.[10]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Carter Verhaeghe Syracuse Crunch 7634488234
Jeremy Bracco Toronto Marlies 7522577916
Daniel Carr Chicago Wolves 5230417110
T. J. Tynan Chicago Wolves 7112597128
Andrew Poturalski Charlotte Checkers 7223477034
Alex Barre-Boulet Syracuse Crunch 7434346816
Cal O'Reilly Iowa Wild 6716516714
Tyler Benson Bakersfield Condors 6815516644
Chris Mueller Toronto Marlies 6033326532
Michael Sgarbossa Hershey Bears 7530356591

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 14, 2019.[11]

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 GPTOISAGASOGAASV%WLOT
Alex NedeljkovicCharlotte Checkers 512917:19130611042.26.9163495
Marcus HogbergBelleville Senators 392304:2810688922.32.91721116
Shane StarrettBakersfield Condors 422447:4111569542.33.9182775
Edward PasqualeSyracuse Crunch 452650:11124110442.35.91627126
Troy GrosenickMilwaukee Admirals 462633:49131610612.41.91924146

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
  Division semifinals Division finals Conference finals Calder Cup final
                                     
A1 Charlotte 3  
A4 Providence 1  
  A1 Charlotte 4  
 
  A3 Hershey 0  
A2 Bridgeport 2
A3 Hershey 3  
  A1 Charlotte 4  
Eastern Conference
  N3 Toronto 2  
N1 Syracuse 1  
N4 Cleveland 3  
  N4 Cleveland 0
 
  N3 Toronto 4  
N2 Rochester 0
N3 Toronto 3  
  A1 Charlotte 4
  C1 Chicago 1
C1 Chicago 3  
C4 Grand Rapids 2  
  C1 Chicago 4
 
  C3 Iowa 2  
C2 Milwaukee 2
C3 Iowa 3  
  C1 Chicago 4
Western Conference
  P3 San Diego 2  
P1 Bakersfield 3  
P4 Colorado 1  
  P1 Bakersfield 2
 
  P3 San Diego 4  
P2 San Jose 1
P3 San Diego 3  

AHL awards
AwardWinner
Calder Cup Charlotte Checkers
Les Cunningham Award Daniel Carr, Chicago
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Carter Verhaeghe, Syracuse
Willie Marshall Award Carter Verhaeghe, Syracuse
Alex 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 TrophyCharlotte 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 AwardNathan Costa, Springfield
Thomas Ebright Memorial AwardTodd Frederickson, Iowa
James H. Ellery Memorial AwardsMike Griffith, Bakersfield
Ken McKenzie AwardPaul Branecky, Charlotte
Michael Condon Memorial AwardFred Hudy
Carl Sasyn
President's AwardsOrganization: Iowa
Player: Andrew Poturalski, Charlotte

All-Star Teams

First All-Star Team[12]

Second All-Star Team[12]

All-Rookie Team[13]

See also

References
  1. "2018-19 AHL ALIGNMENT ANNOUNCED". AHL. May 7, 2018.
  2. "AHL Team Schedules" (PDF). AHL. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  3. "Las Vegas Will Have AHL Affiliate By Christmas, Share ECHL Team". Sin Bin. August 24, 2016.
  4. "Bill Foley considers options for minor league affiliates for his NHL team". Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 23, 2016.
  5. "WOLVES, GOLDEN KNIGHTS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP". AHL. May 16, 2017.
  6. "AHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS ANNUAL MEETING CONCLUDES". AHL. July 6, 2017.
  7. "Colorado Eagles moving to AHL to become top Avalanche affiliate". Fort Collins Coloradoan. October 10, 2017.
  8. "AHL AWARDS EXPANSION MEMBERSHIP TO COLORADO EAGLES". American Hockey League. October 10, 2017.
  9. "AHL Standings". AHL. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  10. "Player Stats TheAHL.com". AHL.
  11. "Top Goalies - 2018-19 Regular Season - Goals Against Average". AHL.
  12. "2018-19 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Named". OurSports Central. April 11, 2019.
  13. "2018-19 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team Named". OurSports Central. April 10, 2019.
Preceded by
2017–18		 AHL seasons Succeeded by
2019–20
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