The 2021–22 AHL season was the 86th season of the American Hockey League (AHL), the primary developmental professional ice‑hockey league in North America. The regular season commenced on 15 October 2021 and concluded on 19 April 2022, after which the Calder Cup playoffs were held, terminating on 26 June 2022.
League composition
- Number of participating teams: 31 (all active AHL clubs were fielded following the abbreviated 2020–21 season).
- Divisional structure: The league was organized into four divisions—Atlantic, North, Central, and Pacific—distributed among the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Season format
- Each team played a 76‑game schedule, balanced as evenly as possible between division rivals and inter‑divisional opponents.
- Points were awarded on the standard AHL basis (two points for a win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss).
- The top teams in each division qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs, which were conducted in a best‑of‑seven series format through four rounds (division semifinals, division finals, conference finals, and the Calder Cup Final).
Regular‑season outcome
- The team that finished the regular season with the highest point total and was awarded the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy was the Chicago Wolves, who accumulated 106 points.
Playoffs and championship
- The Calder Cup playoffs concluded with the Chicago Wolves defeating the Springfield Thunderbirds in the Calder Cup Final, four games to two.
- The Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, presented to the most valuable player of the playoffs, was awarded to [Insufficient Encyclopedic Information].
Statistical leaders
- The leading point scorer for the regular season (recipient of the John B. Sollenberger Trophy) was [Insufficient Encyclopedic Information].
- The recipient of the Les Cunningham Award (regular‑season most valuable player) was [Insufficient Encyclopedic Information].
Notable developments
- The 2021–22 season marked the full return to a standard schedule after the disruptions caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic in the preceding season.
- No new franchises joined the league, and all existing teams resumed regular operations.
References
- American Hockey League official records and season summaries.
- Game and statistical data published by the AHL and its member clubs.