Three periods
A game is three 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 hockey, with intermissions in between. The team that scores more goals wins.
Canada / United States · 2026–27
AHL, explained.
Thirty-two farm clubs. One Calder Cup. Here’s the quick guide.
The American Hockey League is the NHL's primary development league: 32 affiliates in four divisions, an NHL-style points race, and a long spring playoff for the Calder Cup.
A short history
The AHL was formed in 1936 and has been the NHL's top farm circuit for decades. Every current NHL club has an AHL affiliate.
The championship trophy is the Calder Cup, named for Frank Calder, the NHL's first president. It is not the Memorial Cup (major junior) and not the Kelly Cup (ECHL).
Current teams
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Atlantic
Charlotte CheckersCLTOfficial siteSchedule
Hartford Wolf PackHFDOfficial siteSchedule
Hershey BearsHEROfficial siteSchedule
Lehigh Valley PhantomsLVOfficial siteSchedule
Providence BruinsPROOfficial siteSchedule
Springfield ThunderbirdsSPROfficial siteSchedule
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsWBSOfficial siteSchedule
North
Belleville SenatorsBELOfficial siteSchedule
Cleveland MonstersCLEOfficial siteSchedule
Hamilton HammersHAMOfficial siteSchedule
Laval RocketLAVOfficial siteSchedule
Rochester AmericansROCOfficial siteSchedule
Syracuse CrunchSYROfficial siteSchedule
Toronto MarliesTOROfficial siteSchedule
Utica CometsUTCOfficial siteSchedule
Central
Pacific
Abbotsford CanucksABBOfficial siteSchedule
Bakersfield CondorsBAKOfficial siteSchedule
Calgary WranglersCGYOfficial siteSchedule
Coachella Valley FirebirdsCVOfficial siteSchedule
Colorado EaglesCOLOfficial siteSchedule
Henderson Silver KnightsHSKOfficial siteSchedule
Ontario ReignONTOfficial siteSchedule
San Diego GullsSDOfficial siteSchedule
San Jose BarracudaSJOfficial siteSchedule
Tucson RoadrunnersTUCOfficial siteSchedule
How the league works
Same rink rules as the NHL, with call-ups and send-downs all year.
Standings points
A win is worth two points. A regulation loss is zero. If the game goes to overtime or a shootout, the loser still gets one point.
The pipeline
Players move between the NHL club and its AHL affiliate. A call-up can happen on a game day; a player sent down lands back on the Calder Cup roster.
Power play
A penalty puts the other team a skater up. That extra-man advantage is the power play; the shorthanded side is on the penalty kill.
Offside and icing
A player cannot enter the offensive zone ahead of the puck (offside). Icing is shooting the puck the length of the ice from behind centre; play stops and the faceoff comes back.
Divisions
Atlantic and North in the East; Central and Pacific in the West. Each NHL team has one primary affiliate.
The season
A long regular season into April, then the Calder Cup playoffs into June.
How the playoffs work
Most of the league qualifies. The last club standing lifts the Calder Cup.
Who gets in
Recent seasons have used a 23-team field — the top finishers in each division, with some first-round byes for division winners. Confirm the 2026–27 grid on the AHL site when it is posted.
Division brackets
Early rounds stay inside the division, then the winners meet in conference finals.
The Calder Cup
The two conference champions play a best-of-seven final for the Calder Cup.