2004–05 AHL season

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2004–05 AHL season

| league = American Hockey League

| sport = Ice hockey

| duration =

| attendance =

| season = Regular season

| season_champ_name = Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy

| season_champs = Rochester Americans

| second_place = Manchester Monarchs

| MVP = Jason Spezza

| MVP_link = Les Cunningham Award

| top_scorer = Jason Spezza

| top_scorer_link = John B. Sollenberger Trophy

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_link = 2005 Calder Cup playoffs

| no_of_teams = 28

| finals = Calder Cup

| finals_link =

| finals_champ = Philadelphia Phantoms

| finals_runner-up = Chicago Wolves

| playoffs_MVP = Antero Niittymaki

| playoffs_MVP_link = Jack A. Butterfield Trophy

|prevseason_year = 2003–04

|nextseason_year = 2005–06

| seasonslist = List of AHL seasons

| seasonslistnames = AHL

}}

The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season. The Philadelphia Phantoms won the Calder Cup, defeating the Chicago Wolves in the finals.

File:HSBC arena.jpg game at HSBC Arena (now KeyBank Center) in Buffalo, New York]]

This season featured a wealth of talent in the AHL, as the National Hockey League was in the midst of a lockout which would cause that league's 2004–05 season to be canceled on February 16, 2005. Many players who otherwise may have been called up to be members of NHL teams for the season spent the full season in the AHL instead. The lockout also provided opportunity for several NHL arenas — including those in Anaheim, Buffalo, Nashville, San Jose and Tampa — to host AHL games during the season. The Edmonton Road Runners, meanwhile, played the entire season in Rexall Place, normally the home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.

In addition, the shootout (previously used in the 1986–87 season) was reintroduced to the league, to decide a winner in games which remained tied following the overtime period. The team winning a shootout was credited with a win, and the losing team with an overtime loss. [http://www.theahl.com/theahl/history/]

The AHL also announced a series of experimental rule changes, most notably a restricted area for goaltenders. Playing the puck outside the restricted area results in an automatic two-minute delay of game penalty.

Team changes

The Toronto Roadrunners moved to Edmonton, Alberta, becoming the Edmonton Road Runners.

Final standings

{{Color box|#97DEFF|y–|border=darkgray}} indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
{{Color box|#bbffbb|x–|border=darkgray}} indicates team clinched a playoff spot
{{Color box|#ffcccc|e–|border=darkgray}} indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

=Eastern Conference=

width="35%" \| Atlantic Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#97DEFF" \| y–Manchester Monarchs (LAK)	80	51	21	4	4	110	258	176
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)	80	50	24	3	3	106	206	160
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Lowell Lock Monsters (CGY/CAR)	80	47	27	5	1	100	242	190
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Providence Bruins (BOS)	80	40	30	7	3	90	211	202
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Worcester Ice Cats (STL)	80	39	34	3	4	85	212	223
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Portland Pirates (WSH)	80	34	34	6	6	80	175	242
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Springfield Falcons (TBL)	80	24	47	3	6	57	161	255

width="35%" \| East Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#97DEFF" \| y–Binghamton Senators (OTT)	80	47	21	7	5	106	276	217
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI)	80	48	25	4	3	103	235	185
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Norfolk Admirals (CHI)	80	43	30	6	1	93	200	188
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)	80	39	27	7	7	92	227	219
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Hershey Bears (COL)	80	39	37	2	2	82	207	226
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)	80	37	38	1	4	79	192	222
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Albany River Rats (NJD)	80	29	38	6	7	71	198	248

=Western Conference=

width="35%" \| North Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#97DEFF" \| y–Rochester Americans (BUF)	80	51	19	4	6	112	243	208
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR)	80	46	28	5	1	98	244	232
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Manitoba Moose (VAN)	80	44	26	7	3	98	243	210
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Hamilton Bulldogs (DAL/MTL)	80	38	29	6	7	89	225	210
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ)	80	36	33	4	7	83	215	230
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Edmonton Road Runners (EDM)	80	32	33	11	4	79	201	223
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Cleveland Barons (SJS)	80	35	37	6	2	78	200	226

width="35%" \| West Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#97DEFF" \| y–Chicago Wolves (ATL)	80	49	24	2	5	105	245	211
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)	80	47	24	5	4	103	247	207
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA)	80	44	31	4	1	93	206	191
bgcolor="#bbffbb" \| x–Houston Aeros (MIN)	80	40	28	6	6	92	212	195
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)	80	41	35	2	2	86	200	200
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–San Antonio Rampage (FLA)	80	27	45	5	3	62	156	232
bgcolor="#ffcccc" \| e–Utah Grizzlies (PHX)	80	23	50	5	2	53	156	265

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" \| Team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" \| GP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" \| A ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" \| Pts ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" \| PIM
class="wikitable"
Jason Spezza	Binghamton Senators	80	32	85	117	50
Mike Cammalleri	Manchester Monarchs	79	46	63	109	60
David Ling	St. John's Maple Leafs	80	28	60	88	152
Kyle Wellwood	St. John's Maple Leafs	80	38	49	87	20
Simon Gamache	Milwaukee Admirals	80	29	57	86	93
Peter Sarno	Manitoba Moose	80	16	66	82	53
Chris Taylor	Rochester Americans	79	21	58	79	50
Andy Hilbert	Providence Bruins	79	37	42	79	83
Denis Hamel	Binghamton Senators	80	39	39	78	75
Eric Staal	Lowell Lock Monsters	77	26	51	77	88

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" \| Team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| GP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| Mins ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| SL ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| GA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| SO ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| GAA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| Sv%
class="wikitable"
Steve Valiquette	Hartford Wolf Pack	35	1900	19	11	1	56	7	1.77	0.935
Jason LaBarbera	Hartford Wolf Pack	53	2937	31	16	2	90	6	1.84	0.934
Adam Hauser	Manchester Monarchs	32	1867	19	11	0	60	5	1.93	0.933
Cam Ward	Lowell Lock Monsters	50	2829	27	17	3	94	6	1.99	0.937
Josh Harding	Houston Aeros	42	2388	21	16	3	80	4	2.01	0.930

Calder Cup Playoffs

{{16TeamBracket | RD1=Division Semi-finals

| RD2=Division Finals

| RD3=Conference Finals

| RD4=Calder Cup Finals

| RD2-group1=Eastern

| RD2-group2=Western

| RD1-seed01=A1

| RD1-team01=Manchester

| RD1-seed02=A4

| RD1-team02=Providence

| RD1-score01=2

| RD1-score02=4

| RD1-seed03=A2

| RD1-team03=Hartford

| RD1-seed04=A3

| RD1-team04=Lowell

| RD1-score03=2

| RD1-score04=4

| RD1-seed05=E1

| RD1-team05=Binghamton

| RD1-seed06=E4

| RD1-team06=WBS

| RD1-score05=2

| RD1-score06=4

| RD1-seed07=E2

| RD1-team07=Philadelphia

| RD1-seed08=E3

| RD1-team08=Norfolk

| RD1-score07=4

| RD1-score08=2

| RD1-seed09=N1

| RD1-team09=Rochester

| RD1-seed10=N4

| RD1-team10=Hamilton

| RD1-score09=4

| RD1-score10=0

| RD1-seed11=N2

| RD1-team11=St. John's

| RD1-seed12=N3

| RD1-team12=Manitoba

| RD1-score11=1

| RD1-score12=4

| RD1-seed13=W1

| RD1-team13=Chicago

| RD1-seed14=W4

| RD1-team14=Houston

| RD1-score13=4

| RD1-score14=1

| RD1-seed15=W2

| RD1-team15=Milwaukee

| RD1-seed16=W3

| RD1-team16=Cincinnati

| RD1-score15=3

| RD1-score16=4

| RD2-seed01=A4

| RD2-team01=Providence

| RD2-seed02=A3

| RD2-team02=Lowell

| RD2-score01=4

| RD2-score02=1

| RD2-seed03=E4

| RD2-team03=WBS

| RD2-seed04=E2

| RD2-team04=Philadelphia

| RD2-score03=1

| RD2-score04=4

| RD2-seed05=N1

| RD2-team05=Rochester

| RD2-seed06=N3

| RD2-team06=Manitoba

| RD2-score05=1

| RD2-score06=4

| RD2-seed07=W1

| RD2-team07=Chicago

| RD2-seed08=W3

| RD2-team08=Cincinnati

| RD2-score07=4

| RD2-score08=1

| RD3-seed01=A

| RD3-team01=Providence

| RD3-seed02=E

| RD3-team02=Philadelphia

| RD3-score01=2

| RD3-score02=4

| RD3-seed03=N

| RD3-team03=Manitoba

| RD3-seed04=W

| RD3-team04=Chicago

| RD3-score03=0

| RD3-score04=4

| RD4-seed01=E

| RD4-team01=Philadelphia

| RD4-seed02=W

| RD4-team02=Chicago

| RD4-score01=4

| RD4-score02=0

}}

All Star Classic

The 18th AHL All-Star Classic was played on February 14, 2005, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Team PlanetUSA defeated team Canada 5-4 in a shootout win. In the skills competition held the night before, team PlanetUSA defeated team Canada 17-13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090819073132/http://www.theahl.com/allstar/events/]

Trophy and award winners

=Team awards=

cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"
Calder Cup Playoff champions:	Philadelphia Phantoms
Richard F. Canning Trophy Eastern Conference playoff champions:	Philadelphia Phantoms
Robert W. Clarke Trophy Western Conference playoff champions:	Chicago Wolves
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy Regular season champions, League:	Rochester Americans
Frank Mathers Trophy Regular Season champions, Eastern Conference:	Manchester Monarchs
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy Regular Season champions, Western Conference:	Rochester Americans
Emile Francis Trophy Regular Season champions, Atlantic Division:	Manchester Monarchs
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division:	Binghamton Senators
Sam Pollock Trophy Regular Season champions, North Division:	Rochester Americans
John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division:	Chicago Wolves

=Individual awards=

cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"
Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player:	Jason Spezza - Binghamton Senators
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer:	Jason Spezza - Binghamton Senators
Willie Marshall Award Top goal scorer:	Mike Cammalleri - Manchester Monarchs
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year:	Rene Bourque - Norfolk Admirals
Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year:	Niklas Kronwall - Grand Rapids Griffins
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award Best Goaltender:	Ryan Miller - Rochester Americans
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average:	Jason LaBarbera - Hartford Wolf Pack Steve Valiquette - Hartford Wolf Pack
Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year:	Randy Cunneyworth - Rochester Americans
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Sportsmanship / Perseverance:	Chris Taylor - Rochester Americans
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award Community Service Award:	Duncan Milroy - Hamilton Bulldogs
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy MVP of the playoffs:	Antero Niittymaki - Philadelphia Phantoms

=Other awards=

cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"
James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive:	Mark Chipman, Manitoba Moose
Thomas Ebright Memorial Award Career contributions:	Glenn Stanford
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage:	Jonathan Bombulie, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (newspaper) Derek Wills, Hamilton (radio) Brendan O'Reilly, Binghamton (television)
Ken McKenzie Award Outstanding marketing executive:	Brian Lewis, Hamilton Bulldogs
Michael Condon Memorial Award Outstanding service, on-ice official:	Matt Dunne