2018–19 AHL season
| 2018–19 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Calder Cup | |
The 2018–19 AHL season is the 83rd season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began October 5, 2018 and ends April 15, 2019.[1]
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.[2]
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 neccessity 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.[3]
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,[4][5] the NHL Vegas expansion team eventually affiliated with the Chicago Wolves on a multi-year agreement.[6] 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[1] 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 |
- ↑ 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 October 12, 2018[9]
| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Checkers (CAR) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.00 | 14 | 7 |
| Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .625 | 13 | 12 |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 | 6 | 2 |
| Springfield Thunderbirds (FLA) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .750 | 9 | 3 |
| Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .500 | 6 | 10 |
| Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .500 | 5 | 7 |
| Providence Bruins (BOS) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 8 | 10 |
| Hershey Bears (WSH) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 11 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Monsters (CBJ) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .750 | 14 | 9 |
| Laval Rocket (MTL) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 9 | 7 |
| Binghamton Devils (NJ) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 14 | 13 |
| Syracuse Crunch (TB) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .500 | 6 | 8 |
| Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 15 | 15 |
| Rochester Americans (BUF) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | 10 | 13 |
| Utica Comets (VAN) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 9 | 12 |
| Belleville Senators (OTT) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 2 | 5 |
Western Conference
As of October 12, 2018
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Wild (MIN) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.00 | 16 | 5 |
| Chicago Wolves (VGK) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 | 8 | 3 |
| Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 | 8 | 6 |
| Texas Stars (DAL) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .667 | 9 | 9 |
| San Antonio Rampage (STL) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 8 | 6 |
| Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 7 | 10 |
| Manitoba Moose (WPG) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 4 | 13 |
| Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 3 | 9 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | Pts% | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Barracuda (SJ) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .833 | 11 | 5 |
| Tucson Roadrunners (ARZ) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.00 | 9 | 6 |
| Bakersfield Condors (EDM) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 12 | 8 |
| Stockton Heat (CGY) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .500 | 11 | 18 |
| Ontario Reign (LA) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .500 | 11 | 14 |
| Colorado Eagles (COL) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .500 | 5 | 9 |
| San Diego Gulls (ANA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 9 |
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of October 13, 2018.[10]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reid Boucher | Utica Comets | 4 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Sheldon Rempal | Ontario Reign | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Kerby Rychel | Stockton Heat | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Andrew Poturalski | Charlotte Checkers | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| Nicolas Roy | Charlotte Checkers | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Zac Dalpe | Cleveland Monsters | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Sam Gagner | Toronto Marlies | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Francis Perron | San Jose Barracuda | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Victor Olofsson | Rochester Americans | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Lias Andersson | Hartford Wolf Pack | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders with a minimum 60 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of October 13, 2018.[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 | GP | TOI | SA | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | W | L | OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Montembeault | Springfield Thunderbirds | 1 | 60:00 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Anthony Peters | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 3 | 183:38 | 93 | 3 | 1 | 0.98 | .968 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mackenzie Blackwood | Binghamton Devils | 1 | 60:00 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | .976 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pavel Francouz | Colorado Eagles | 2 | 120:00 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 1.00 | .966 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremy Smith | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 1 | 60:00 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | .952 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
See also
- List of AHL seasons
- 2018 in ice hockey
- 2019 in ice hockey
References
- 1 2 "AHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS ANNUAL MEETING CONCLUDES". AHL. July 6, 2017.
- ↑ "2018-19 AHL ALIGNMENT ANNOUNCED". AHL. May 7, 2018.
- ↑ "AHL Team Schedules" (PDF). AHL. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Las Vegas Will Have AHL Affiliate By Christmas, Share ECHL Team". Sin Bin. August 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Bill Foley considers options for minor league affiliates for his NHL team". Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 23, 2016.
- ↑ "WOLVES, GOLDEN KNIGHTS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP". AHL. May 16, 2017.
- ↑ "Colorado Eagles moving to AHL to become top Avalanche affiliate". Fort Collins Coloradoan. October 10, 2017.
- ↑ "AHL AWARDS EXPANSION MEMBERSHIP TO COLORADO EAGLES". American Hockey League. October 10, 2017.
- ↑ "AHL Standings". AHL. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Player Stats TheAHL.com". AHL.
- ↑ "Top Goalies - 2017-18 Regular Season - Goals Against Average". AHL.
External links
| Preceded by 2017–18 |
AHL seasons | Succeeded by 2019–20 |