| 2015–16 AHL season | |
| League: | American Hockey League |
| Sport: | Ice hockey |
| Duration: | October 9, 2015 – April 17, 2016 |
| Attendance: | 6,693,526 |
| Season: | Regular season |
| Season Champ Name: | Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy |
| Season Champs: | Toronto Marlies |
| Mvp: | Chris Bourque |
| Mvp Link: | Les Cunningham Award |
| Top Scorer: | Chris Bourque |
| Top Scorer Link: | John B. Sollenberger Trophy |
| Playoffs: | Playoffs |
| Playoffs Link: | 2016 Calder Cup playoffs |
| Finals: | Calder Cup |
| Playoffs Mvp: | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Seasonslistnames: | AHL |
The 2015–16 AHL season was the 80th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 9, 2015, and ended on April 17, 2016. The 2016 Calder Cup playoffs follow the conclusion of the regular season. An attendance record was set with a league average of 5,982 spectators per game, surpassing the record set in 2004–05.[1]
On May 12, 2015, the AHL unveiled a new, major realignment of its conferences and divisions for the 2015–16 season, a move made as a result of the relocations of seven franchises, including five teams moving to California, one to Manitoba, and one to Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] Mirroring a change the National Hockey League had taken prior to its 2013–14 season, the AHL moved back to having four divisions of seven or eight teams. The Eastern Conference consists of the Atlantic and North Divisions, while the Western Conference consists of the Central and Pacific Divisions.
On June 13, the league commissioner, David Andrews, disclosed that the five California teams would each play 68-game schedule; the other 25 teams (including the two Texas-based teams that share the Pacific division with the California teams) would play 76 games apiece. The implementation of an unbalanced format was seen as a way to ease the California teams' travel costs as well as reducing stretches of 3 games in 3 nights, which can impede player development and hamper attractive forms of play.[3]
To alleviate the 68/76-game imbalance, the AHL began using an alternative method of ranking its teams and determining playoff seeds. As before, standings points are still awarded (two points for a win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, none for a regulation loss) but rather than ranking teams by the total number of points earned, they are positioned by their points percentage, determined as the number of points earned divided by points available to them. For example, a team earning one win and one overtime loss after two games would have a .750 points percentage (3 points earned divided by 4 points available).
In support of the new division, the AHL played an outdoor game called the Golden State Hockey Rush at Raley Field in West Sacramento, California on December 18, 2015. The Stockton Heat defeated the Bakersfield Condors 3–2 in front of 9,357 fans.[4]
Under a plan approved by the league on January 29, 2015, the league established a Pacific Division, with five teams based in the state of California. All five teams are affiliated with NHL franchises based in western North America. In the season prior to the realignment, the league had no teams west of Texas (and only one western team, the Abbotsford Heat, had played in the AHL in the five seasons prior to that), causing call-up issues for western NHL teams. In return, the three ECHL franchises already based in the cities where the AHL franchises were relocated, went east and took the place of AHL teams that had left those cities.[5]
On March 12, 2015, the AHL announced that the True North Sports & Entertainment-owned franchise, the St. John's IceCaps, was relocating back to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to make it easier for their NHL team, the Winnipeg Jets, to call-up players. In order to fulfill their arena contact in St. John's, they negotiated with the Montreal Canadiens to move the Hamilton Bulldogs to St. John's and take on the IceCaps identity; in turn, the Bulldogs fulfilled their arena obligation by transferring their lease and intellectual property rights to the former Belleville Bulls, a junior hockey team.[6]
The franchise changes for the 2015–16 season are listed as follows:
During the regular season, the sudden-death overtime period is reduced to five minutes (5:00) in length but full playing strength is 3-on-3 (plus goaltenders) for the entire period. Overtime will be preceded by a "dry scrape" of the entire ice surface. Teams will change ends at the start of overtime. If the game is still tied following overtime, a winner will be determined by a three-player shootout.[15]
This change mimics the change made in the National Hockey League for the 2015–16 season. In the previous season, the AHL first experimented with 3-on-3 overtime but had three minutes of 4-on-4 play before reducing the number of players on the ice. This change caused 75 percent of games tied at the end of regulation to end in overtime in the 2014–15 season. This was reduced from just 35 percent in the 2013–14 season, decreasing the number of games decided by shootout.[16]
A team may use a "coach's challenge" to initiate an official video review; only those situations which are subject to review by rule may be challenged. A team may only request a coach's challenge if it has its timeout available, and the coach's challenge must be effectively initiated prior to the resumption of play. If the coach's challenge does not result in the original call on the ice being overturned, the team exercising such challenge will be charged with a timeout.[15] This change is identical to the rule change implemented by the NHL for its 2015–16 season.
For face-offs conducted on any of the 8 face-off dots outside center ice, the defending team's player (i.e. the player closer to his team's goal) shall place his stick on the ice first, followed immediately by the attacking team's player. For face-offs at the center ice dot, the order of stick placement shall proceed as before, with the player from the visiting team placing his stick on the ice first, followed immediately by the home team's player.[15] This rule change mirrors one the NHL also implemented for 2015–16;[17] previously in both leagues, the visiting team's player placed his stick on the ice first regardless of the face-off location.
The 2016 playoff format changed as a result of the realignment and unbalanced regular season schedules. The new playoff format was finalized at the Annual Board of Governors meeting that took place July 6–9, 2015. 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 percentage (points earned divided by points available) qualify for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, with one exception in each conference: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic or Central Division finishes with a better points percentage than the fourth-place team in the North or Pacific Division, it would cross over and compete in the other division's bracket.
The 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs will feature 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.[15]
indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
indicates team clinched a playoff spot
indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Updated as of April 17, 2016
| Atlantic Division | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 76 | 43 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 98 | .645 | 259 | 220 | |
| x–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 76 | 41 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 95 | .625 | 238 | 198 | |
| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 76 | 43 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 92 | .605 | 230 | 203 | |
| x–Portland Pirates (FLA) | 76 | 41 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 90 | .592 | 215 | 207 | |
| x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) | 76 | 40 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 87 | .572 | 209 | 220 | |
| e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 76 | 41 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 85 | .559 | 202 | 199 | |
| e–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI) | 76 | 34 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 75 | .493 | 215 | 222 | |
| e–Springfield Falcons (ARI) | 76 | 26 | 42 | 3 | 5 | 60 | .395 | 194 | 265 |
| North Division | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 76 | 54 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 114 | .750 | 294 | 191 | |
| x–Albany Devils (NJD) | 76 | 46 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 102 | .671 | 212 | 167 | |
| x–Utica Comets (VAN) | 76 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 88 | .579 | 224 | 217 | |
| e–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) | 76 | 32 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 79 | .520 | 213 | 240 | |
| e–St. John's IceCaps (MTL) | 76 | 32 | 33 | 8 | 3 | 75 | .493 | 208 | 239 | |
| e–Rochester Americans (BUF) | 76 | 34 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 72 | .474 | 199 | 249 | |
| e–Binghamton Senators (OTT) | 76 | 31 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 69 | .454 | 204 | 241 |
Updated as of April 17, 2016
| Central Division | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 76 | 48 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 101 | .664 | 224 | 193 | |
| x–Lake Erie Monsters (CBJ) | 76 | 43 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 97 | .638 | 211 | 188 | |
| x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 76 | 40 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 94 | .618 | 214 | 205 | |
| x–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 76 | 44 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 90 | .592 | 238 | 195 | |
| e–Charlotte Checkers (CAR) | 76 | 36 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 80 | .526 | 214 | 229 | |
| e–Chicago Wolves (STL) | 76 | 33 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 74 | .487 | 194 | 228 | |
| e–Manitoba Moose (WPG) | 76 | 26 | 41 | 4 | 5 | 61 | .401 | 180 | 250 | |
| e–Iowa Wild (MIN) | 76 | 24 | 41 | 5 | 6 | 59 | .388 | 169 | 225 |
| Pacific Division | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Ontario Reign (LAK) | 68 | 44 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 93 | .684 | 192 | 138 | |
| x–San Diego Gulls (ANA) | 68 | 39 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 84 | .618 | 208 | 200 | |
| x–Texas Stars (DAL) | 76 | 40 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 91 | .599 | 277 | 246 | |
| x–San Jose Barracuda (SJS) | 68 | 31 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 73 | .537 | 198 | 193 | |
| e–Bakersfield Condors (EDM) | 68 | 31 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 71 | .522 | 212 | 222 | |
| e–Stockton Heat (CGY) | 68 | 32 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 68 | .500 | 194 | 224 | |
| e–San Antonio Rampage (COL) | 76 | 33 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 74 | .487 | 213 | 240 |
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 17, 2016.[18]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Bourque | Hershey Bears | 72 | 30 | 50 | 80 | 56 | |
| Seth Griffith | Providence Bruins | 57 | 24 | 53 | 77 | 32 | |
| T. J. Brennan | Toronto Marlies | 69 | 25 | 43 | 68 | 53 | |
| Alexander Khokhlachev | Providence Bruins | 60 | 23 | 45 | 68 | 12 | |
| Dustin Jeffrey | Springfield/W-B/Scranton | 64 | 20 | 44 | 64 | 20 | |
| Andy Miele | Grand Rapids Griffins | 75 | 18 | 44 | 62 | 77 | |
| Austin Czarnik | Providence Bruins | 68 | 20 | 41 | 61 | 24 | |
| Bud Holloway | St. John's IceCaps | 70 | 19 | 42 | 61 | 14 | |
| Mikko Rantanen | San Antonio Rampage | 52 | 24 | 36 | 60 | 42 | |
| Mark Arcobello | Toronto Marlies | 49 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 22 |
The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 16, 2016.[19]
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Reign | 60 | 3574:33 | 1535 | 104 | 9 | 1.75 | .932 | 42 | 14 | 4 | ||
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 31 | 1827:16 | 932 | 64 | 4 | 2.10 | .931 | 20 | 9 | 1 | ||
| Albany Devils | 47 | 2681:16 | 1081 | 99 | 8 | 2.22 | .908 | 28 | 12 | 5 | ||
| Milwaukee Admirals | 38 | 2247:53 | 1052 | 84 | 4 | 2.24 | .920 | 29 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Hershey Bears | 43 | 2440:28 | 1051 | 97 | 4 | 2.38 | .908 | 25 | 12 | 5 |
See main article: 2016 Calder Cup playoffs.
| Calder Cup : Lake Erie Monsters | |
| Les Cunningham Award : Chris Bourque, Hershey | |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy : Chris Bourque, Hershey | |
| Willie Marshall Award : Frank Vatrano, Providence | |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award : Mikko Rantanen, San Antonio & Frank Vatrano, Providence | |
| Eddie Shore Award : T. J. Brennan, Toronto | |
| Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award : Peter Budaj, Ontario | |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award : Peter Budaj, Ontario | |
| Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award : Rick Kowalsky, Albany | |
| Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award : Tom Kostopoulos, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton[20] | |
| Yanick Dupre Memorial Award : Ryan Carpenter, San Jose | |
| Jack A. Butterfield Trophy : Oliver Bjorkstrand, Lake Erie | |
| Richard F. Canning Trophy : Hershey Bears | |
| Robert W. Clarke Trophy : Lake Erie Monsters | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | |
| Frank Mathers Trophy (Eastern Conference regular season champions): Toronto Marlies[21] | |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy (Western Conference regular season champions): Ontario Reign[22] | |
| Emile Francis Trophy (Atlantic Division regular season champions): Hershey Bears[23] | |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy (North Division regular season champions): Toronto Marlies[24] | |
| Sam Pollock Trophy (Central Division regular season champions): Milwaukee Admirals[25] | |
| John D. Chick Trophy (Pacific Division regular season champions): Ontario Reign[26] | |
| James C. Hendy Memorial Award Tera Black, Charlotte | |
| Thomas Ebright Memorial Award Jim Schoenfeld, Hartford | |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Patrick Williams, Manitoba | |
| Ken McKenzie Award Mike Peck, Rockford | |
| Michael Condon Memorial Award Joe Ross | |
| President's Awards Organization - Lake Erie; Player - Michael Leighton, Rockford |
First All-Star team[27]
Second All-Star team[27]
All-Rookie Team[28]