The 2020–21 AHL season was the 85thseason 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,[1] 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.[2] The league had originally hoped to start play by December 4, 2020,[3] but was later pushed back to at least February 5, 2021.[1] 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.[4]
The schedule for the American divisions was released on January 22; however, the Canadian teams had not yet received provincial clearance.[9] Stockton then moved from the Pacific to the Canadian Division on January 28 causing scheduling changes to the Pacific Division.[10] On February 1, the league announced a revised schedule and that the start of the season for the Canadian Division had been postponed.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13]
Warsofsky left the Checkers for the Chicago Wolves when the Carolina Hurricanes switched affiliations. Warsofsky had coached the Checkers for one season and 34–22–5–0 record after coming from the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays.[17] After the Checkers affiliated with the Florida Panthers, Kinnear was named the new head coach on September 28, 2020, after serving in the same position with the Panthers' previous affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Kinnear had previously served as an assistant coach in Charlotte from 2010 to 2016.[18]
Thompson left the Wolves on July 18, 2020, after three seasons and a 113–71–18–11 record to join the San Jose Sharks coaching staff.[19] Warsofsky was brought to the Wolves by their new NHL affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes in September 2020.
Bannister stayed with the Blues' organization when the Rampage franchise was relocated by the Vegas Golden Knights to Henderson. Viveiros was named the Silver Knights' first head coach on August 31, 2020, after serving as the head coach of the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League with a 41–18–4–1 record.[20]
On May 30, 2020, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they would not renew Stothers' contract as head coach of the Reign.[21] Wroblewski was hired on August 17, 2020.[22]
Sommer was called up as an associate coach for the San Jose Sharks during the previous season after serving as the head coach of the Sharks' AHL affiliate since first being named to the position with the Kentucky Thoroughblades on May 28, 1998. Assistant coaches Bonneau and Chiasson were named as co-coaches of the Barracuda until the end of the season[25] when Sommer was sent back to the Barracuda.[26]
Kinnear left the Thunderbirds after their affiliate, the Florida Panthers, changed their affiliation to the Charlotte Checkers. Kinnear had led the Thunderbirds since 2016 and a 128–126–26–9 record. Bannister was brought on as the new head coach from the San Antonio Rampage, the former St. Louis Blues' affiliate that was sold and relocated as the Henderson Silver Knights.
Prior to the postponed start of the season, Roadrunners' head coach Jay Varady was brought up to the Arizona Coyotes' staff as an assistant coach[27] and Roadrunners' assistant coach Steve Potvin was promoted as the head coach.[28]
On September 2, 2020, Vellucci was promoted to an assistant coach position with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[29] On September 11, Forrest was named head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the WBS Penguins since August 2016.[30]
Final standings
y–indicates team clinched regular season division title
^ abThe March 10 game between Lehigh Valley and Binghamton was suspended after one period with the teams tied 1–1 due a player testing positive for COVID-19. The game was declared a draw with each team earning one point.[32]
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Final as of May 20, 2021.[33]
The following goaltenders with a minimum 660 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Final as of May 20, 2021.[34]
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
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.[13] 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.[35]
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.[50][51]
