2020–21 AHL season


The 2020–21 AHL season was the 85th season of the American Hockey League. Due to the ongoing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season was pushed back to February 5, 2021, and the league's playoff tournament championship Calder Cup was not awarded for the second consecutive season. The AHL's regular-season Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy would become the league's primary trophy, which was the Hershey Bears's eighth regular-season championship. This was the first season under Scott Howson as the league's president after David Andrews announced his retirement after 26 years in the position.

League changes

After the previous season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no certainty for the AHL's 2020–21 season due to continuing limitations on arena capacities and traveling during the pandemic. The league had originally hoped to start play by December 4, 2020, but was later pushed back to at least February 5, 2021. Similar to the National Hockey League, the league was reportedly exploring the option of playing with an all-Canada division due to increased border travel restrictions between the United States and Canada.
On January 4, 2021, the league announced its plans and divisional alignment for the shortened season. The four Canadian teams were placed in their own division with a season start date still pending provincial approval. Three teams opted out of the season entirely: the Charlotte Checkers, Milwaukee Admirals, and the Springfield Thunderbirds. Seven teams temporarily relocated to be closer to their parent teams or due to venue availability during the pandemic: the Belleville Senators to Ottawa; the Binghamton Devils to Newark, New Jersey; the Laval Rocket to Montreal; the Ontario Reign to El Segundo, California; the Providence Bruins to Marlborough, Massachusetts; the San Diego Gulls to Irvine, California; and the Stockton Heat to Calgary. The San Jose Barracuda also opened their season with home games in Tucson before returning to San Jose.
The schedule for the American divisions was released on January 22; however, the Canadian teams had not yet received provincial clearance. Stockton then moved from the Pacific to the Canadian Division on January 28 causing scheduling changes to the Pacific Division. On February 1, the league announced a revised schedule and that the start of the season for the Canadian Division had been postponed. The beginning of the Canadian schedule was released on February 9 with a February 12 start date, but the two Ontario teams still did not have approval to play at home.
The league allowed each division the choice to hold a divisional postseason. On April 29, it was announced that only the Pacific Division had elected to hold a postseason tournament to name a division champion, with the other four divisions awarding their champions via regular season records. Consequently, the league would not award the Calder Cup for a second consecutive season.

Team and NHL affiliation changes

Relocations

Hiatus

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three teams chose to not participate in the season.

Final standings

indicates team clinched regular season division title
Final standings as of May 20, 2021
Atlantic Division
y–Providence Bruins 251562232.6807860
Hartford Wolf Pack 241491029.6048274
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 248142018.3755981

Canadian Division
y–Laval Rocket 362393150.69411387
Manitoba Moose 3618133241.569109102
Belleville Senators 3518161037.529102111
Toronto Marlies 3516170234.486111119
Stockton Heat 3011172024.4007995

North Division
y–Hershey Bears 332472050.75811077
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 321874243.6729692
Syracuse Crunch 3219103041.64112093
Utica Comets 2816110133.5898988
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3213134232.50092107
Rochester Americans 2911152125.43189116
Binghamton Devils 357205222.31489127

Central Division
y–Chicago Wolves 332191245.68213294
Cleveland Monsters 2916101235.60310186
Grand Rapids Griffins 3216123136.5639697
Iowa Wild 3417134038.559107113
Texas Stars 3817183037.487117124
Rockford IceHogs 3212191025.39189115

Pacific Division
y–Henderson Silver Knights 3925130151.654125102
Bakersfield Condors 3924140149.628129104
San Diego Gulls 4426171053.602153142
San Jose Barracuda 3615154236.500105127
Colorado Eagles 3415153134.500101104
Ontario Reign 4017194038.475136149
Tucson Roadrunners 3613203029.403103126

Statistical leaders

Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Final as of May 20, 2021.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Andrew PoturalskiSan Diego Gulls449344310
Cooper MarodyBakersfield Condors3921153618
Danny O'ReganHenderson Silver Knights371620364
Riley DamianiTexas Stars3611253618
Tyler BensonBakersfield Condors3610263630
Chase De LeoSan Diego Gulls3715203518
T. J. TynanColorado Eagles278273512
Riley BarberGrand Rapids Griffins3220143422
Adam MascherinTexas Stars3718163414
Boris KatchoukSyracuse Crunch2911233418

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 660 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Final as of May 20, 2021.
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice ; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss
PlayerTeamGPTOISAGASOGAASV%WLOT
Zachary FucaleHershey Bears11665:362942011.80.932920
Logan ThompsonHenderson Silver Knights231349:377684421.96.9431661
Cayden PrimeauLaval Rocket16914:033503222.10.9091140
Alex D'OrioWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins11661:062812402.18.915631
Zane McIntyreLehigh Valley Phantoms191079:455054212.33.9171133

Calder Cup playoffs

For the second consecutive season, there was no Calder Cup playoffs. The teams in the Pacific Division held a postseason tournament to name a division champion. All seven Pacific teams participated, with the bottom four teams participating in a single-elimination play-in series to face the top seed in the division semifinal. The semifinals and finals were both best-of-three series.

Pacific Division playoff

Final results:

AHL awards

AwardWinner
Calder Cup Not awarded
Les Cunningham Award T. J. Tynan, Colorado Eagles
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Andrew Poturalski, San Diego Gulls
Willie Marshall Award Cooper Marody, Bakersfield Condors
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Riley Damiani, Texas Stars
Eddie Shore Award Ryan Murphy, Henderson Silver Knights
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award Logan Thompson, Henderson Silver Knights
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Pheonix Copley and Zachary Fucale, Hershey Bears
Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Spencer Carbery, Hershey Bears
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Cal O'Reilly, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award All 31 teams' athletic trainers
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy Not awarded
Richard F. Canning Trophy Not awarded
Robert W. Clarke Trophy Not awarded
Macgregor Kilpatrick TrophyHershey Bears
Frank Mathers Trophy
'		Laval Rocket
Emile Francis Trophy
'		Providence Bruins
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
'		Hershey Bears
Sam Pollock Trophy
'		Chicago Wolves
John D. Chick Trophy
'		Bakersfield Condors
Norman R. "Bud" Poile TrophyNot awarded
James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMelissa Caruso, AHL
Thomas Ebright Memorial AwardJon Gustafson, San Jose Barracuda
James H. Ellery Memorial AwardsTony Brown, Cleveland Monsters
Ken McKenzie AwardZack Fisch, Hershey Bears
Michael Condon Memorial AwardTim Mayer
President's Awards'''

All-star teams

Instead of the traditional first and second all-star teams, the league named an all-star team for each division in addition to the annual all-rookie team.

Atlantic Division

Canadian Division

Central Division

North Division

Pacific Division

All-rookie