2018–19 AHL season#All-Star Teams

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2018–19 AHL season

| league = American Hockey League

| sport = Ice hockey

| duration = October 5, 2018 – April 15, 2019

| attendance =

| season = Regular season

| season_champ_name = Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy

| season_champs = Charlotte Checkers

| MVP = Daniel Carr (Chicago)

| MVP_link = Les Cunningham Award

| top_scorer = Carter Verhaeghe (Syracuse)

| top_scorer_link = John B. Sollenberger Trophy

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_link = 2019 Calder Cup playoffs

| finals = Calder Cup

| finals_link =

| finals_champ = Charlotte Checkers

| finals_runner-up = Chicago Wolves

| playoffs_MVP = Andrew Poturalski (Charlotte)

| playoffs_MVP_link =

|nextseason_year = 2019–20

|prevseason_year = 2017–18

| seasonslist = List of AHL seasons

| seasonslistnames = AHL

}}

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. This was the last year the Calder Cup was awarded until 2022.

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.{{cite web |url=https://theahl.com/2018-19-ahl-alignment |title=2018-19 AHL ALIGNMENT ANNOUNCED |publisher=AHL |date=May 7, 2018}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://kmdjr15omhn2w5r191hex041-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/18-19ahl_team.pdf |title=AHL Team Schedules |publisher=AHL |access-date=July 13, 2018}}

=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,{{cite web |url=http://sinbin.vegas/las-vegas-will-have-ahl-affiliate-by-christmas-share-echl-team/ |title=Las Vegas Will Have AHL Affiliate By Christmas, Share ECHL Team |publisher=Sin Bin |date=August 24, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/hockey-vegas/bill-foley-considers-options-minor-league-affiliates-his-nhl-team |title=Bill Foley considers options for minor league affiliates for his NHL team |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=June 23, 2016}} the NHL Vegas expansion team eventually affiliated with the Chicago Wolves on a multi-year agreement.{{cite web |url=http://theahl.com/wolves-golden-knights-announce-partnership |title=WOLVES, GOLDEN KNIGHTS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP |publisher=AHL |date=May 16, 2017}} 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{{cite web |url=http://theahl.com/ahl-board-of-governors-annual-meeting-concludes |title=AHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS ANNUAL MEETING CONCLUDES |publisher=AHL |date=July 6, 2017}} later revealed to be the Colorado Eagles.{{cite web |url=http://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/hockey/eagles/2017/10/10/colorado-eagles-moving-ahl-become-top-avalanche-affiliate/749755001/ |title=Colorado Eagles moving to AHL to become top Avalanche affiliate |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |date=October 10, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://theahl.com/ahl-awards-expansion-membership-to-colorado-eagles |title=AHL AWARDS EXPANSION MEMBERSHIP TO COLORADO EAGLES |publisher=American Hockey League |date=October 10, 2017}} 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==

class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="45%" \| AHL team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" \| New affiliate ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" \| Old affiliate
Colorado Eagles \| Colorado Avalanche \| Expansion team
San Antonio Rampage \| St. Louis Blues{{efn\|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.}} \| Colorado Avalanche

class="wikitable"

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="45%" | AHL team

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | New affiliate

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Old affiliate

Colorado Eagles

| Colorado Avalanche

| Expansion team

San Antonio Rampage

| St. Louis Blues{{efn|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.}}

| Colorado Avalanche

Final standings

{{color box|#97DEFF|y–}} indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot

{{color box|#bbffbb|x–}} indicates team clinched a playoff spot

{{color box|#ffcccc|e–}} indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

= Eastern Conference =

As of April 14, 2019{{cite web |url=https://theahl.com/stats/standings |title=AHL Standings |publisher=AHL |access-date=October 7, 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" ! 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\|Pts%\|Points percentage}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Charlotte Checkers (CAR)	76	51	17	7	1	110	.724	255	189
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)	76	43	24	6	3	95	.625	233	228
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Hershey Bears (WSH)	76	43	25	4	4	94	.618	211	215
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Providence Bruins (BOS)	76	38	27	8	3	87	.572	228	212
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)	76	39	30	4	3	85	.559	240	244
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)	76	36	30	7	3	82	.539	232	228
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Springfield Thunderbirds (FLA)	76	33	29	9	5	80	.526	250	241
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)	76	29	36	7	4	69	.454	209	266

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" ! 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\|Pts%\|Points percentage}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Syracuse Crunch (TBL)	76	47	21	4	4	102	.671	264	187
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Rochester Americans (BUF)	76	46	23	5	2	99	.651	254	218
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Toronto Marlies (TOR)	76	39	24	9	4	91	.599	248	243
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)	76	37	29	8	2	84	.553	232	234
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Belleville Senators (OTT)	76	37	31	3	5	82	.539	228	228
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Utica Comets (VAN)	76	34	34	6	2	76	.500	224	257
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Laval Rocket (MTL)	76	30	34	6	6	72	.474	195	231
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Binghamton Devils (NJD)	76	28	41	7	0	63	.414	201	278

= Western Conference =

As of April 14, 2019

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" ! width="35%" \| Central 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\|Pts%\|Points percentage}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Chicago Wolves (VGK)	76	44	22	6	4	98	.645	250	199
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)	76	36	24	14	2	88	.579	217	207
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Iowa Wild (MIN)	76	37	26	8	5	87	.572	242	230
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)	76	38	27	7	4	87	.572	217	222
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Manitoba Moose (WPG)	76	39	30	5	2	85	.559	197	219
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Texas Stars (DAL)	76	37	31	4	4	82	.539	238	231
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI)	76	35	31	4	6	80	.526	184	214
bgcolor=#ffcccc \|e–San Antonio Rampage (STL)	76	31	38	6	1	69	.454	196	244

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" ! width="35%" \| Pacific 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\|Pts%\|Points percentage}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Bakersfield Condors (EDM)	68	42	21	3	2	89	.654	242	182
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–San Jose Barracuda (SJS)	68	39	22	3	4	85	.625	227	197
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–San Diego Gulls (ANA)	68	36	24	5	3	80	.588	239	221
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Colorado Eagles (COL)	68	36	27	4	1	77	.560	191	205
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Tucson Roadrunners (ARI)	68	34	26	5	3	76	.559	206	202
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Stockton Heat (CGY)	68	31	31	4	2	68	.500	235	252
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Ontario Reign (LAK)	68	25	33	6	4	60	.441	213	274

Statistical leaders

= Leading skaters =

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 14, 2019.{{cite web|title=Player Stats TheAHL.com |url=http://theahl.com/stats/player-stats |publisher=AHL}}

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

style="width:12em" \| Player ! style="width:15em" \| Team ! style="width:4em" \| GP ! style="width:4em" \| G ! style="width:4em" \| A ! style="width:4em" \| Pts ! style="width:4em" \| PIM
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
align=left\|Carter Verhaeghe \| align=left\|Syracuse Crunch \| 76	34	48	82	34
align=left\|Jeremy Bracco \| align=left\|Toronto Marlies \| 75	22	57	79	16
align=left\|Daniel Carr \| align=left\|Chicago Wolves \| 52	30	41	71	10
align=left\|T. J. Tynan \| align=left\|Chicago Wolves \| 71	12	59	71	28
align=left\|Andrew Poturalski \| align=left\|Charlotte Checkers \| 72	23	47	70	34
align=left\|Alex Barre-Boulet \| align=left\|Syracuse Crunch \| 74	34	34	68	16
align=left\|Cal O'Reilly \| align=left\|Iowa Wild \| 67	16	51	67	14
align=left\|Tyler Benson \| align=left\|Bakersfield Condors \| 68	15	51	66	44
align=left\|Chris Mueller \| align=left\|Toronto Marlies \| 60	33	32	65	32
align=left\|Michael Sgarbossa \| align=left\|Hershey Bears \| 75	30	35	65	91

= Leading goaltenders =

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 14, 2019.{{cite web |title=Top Goalies - 2018-19 Regular Season - Goals Against Average |url=https://theahl.com/stats/goalie-stats |publisher=AHL}}

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

style="width:12em" \| Player ! style="width:15em" \| Team ! GP	TOI	SA	GA	SO	GAA	SV%	W	L	OT
class="wikitable sortable"
Alex Nedeljkovic	Charlotte Checkers \| 51	2917:19	1306	110	4	2.26	.916	34	9	5
Marcus Hogberg	Belleville Senators \| 39	2304:28	1068	89	2	2.32	.917	21	11	6
Shane Starrett	Bakersfield Condors \| 42	2447:41	1156	95	4	2.33	.918	27	7	5
Edward Pasquale	Syracuse Crunch \| 45	2650:11	1241	104	4	2.35	.916	27	12	6
Troy Grosenick	Milwaukee Admirals \| 46	2633:49	1316	106	1	2.41	.919	24	14	6

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=

AHL awards

class="wikitable" ! Award !! Winner
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 Trophy	Charlotte 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 Award	Nathan Costa, Springfield
Thomas Ebright Memorial Award	Todd Frederickson, Iowa
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards	Mike Griffith, Bakersfield
Ken McKenzie Award	Paul Branecky, Charlotte
Michael Condon Memorial Award	Fred Hudy Carl Sasyn
President's Awards	Organization: Iowa Player: Andrew Poturalski, Charlotte

=All-Star Teams=

First All-Star Team{{cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/2018-19-american-hockey-league-first-and-second-all-star-teams-named/n-5470254 |title=2018-19 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Named |publisher=OurSports Central |date=April 11, 2019}}

Alex Nedeljkovic (G) – Charlotte
John Gilmour (D) – Hartford
Zach Redmond (D) – Rochester
Jeremy Bracco (F) – Toronto
Daniel Carr (F) – Chicago
Carter Verhaeghe (F) – Syracuse

Second All-Star Team

Shane Starrett (G) – Bakersfield
Aaron Ness (D) – Hershey
Ethan Prow (D) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Tyler Benson (F) – Bakersfield
Chris Mueller (F) – Toronto
Andrew Poturalski (F) – Charlotte

All-Rookie Team{{cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/2018-19-american-hockey-league-all-rookie-team-named/n-5469593 |title=2018-19 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team Named |publisher=OurSports Central |date=April 10, 2019}}

Shane Starrett (G) – Bakersfield
Jake Bean (D) – Charlotte
Mitch Reinke (D) – San Antonio
Drake Batherson (F) – Belleville
Tyler Benson (F) – Bakersfield
Alex Barre-Boulet (F) – Syracuse

References

External links

[http://www.theahl.com/ AHL official site]

{{succession box

|before = 2017–18

|after = 2019–20

|title = AHL seasons

|years =

}}

Category:American Hockey League seasons

Category:2018–19 in American ice hockey by league

Category:2018–19 in Canadian ice hockey by league