2016–17 AHL season


The 2016–17 AHL season was the 81st season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 14, 2016, and ended on April 15, 2017. The 2017 Calder Cup playoffs began on April 20, 2017.

Regular season

The AHL had a slight alignment shift with the addition of the Tucson Roadrunners to the one-year-old Pacific Division, bringing the division member total up to eight. It also created an unbalanced conference alignment with the Western Conference having 16 members and the Eastern Conference containing 14 members. Similar to the season scheduling in the previous season, the five California based teams, plus the new Tucson team, continue to play a 68-game season while the rest of the AHL teams play a 76-game season.
The AHL also changed the usage of home and away jerseys for the season. Before the Christmas break, home teams wear light jerseys and after the Christmas break, home teams wear dark jerseys. For the past several seasons, the visiting team wore light jerseys and the home team wore dark jerseys. Prior to the change in 2003, it was the opposite for many years.

Rule changes

The Board of Governors implemented some changes to further curb fighting in hockey. To prevent staged fights, any players involved in a fight prior to or immediately after a faceoff would be given a game misconduct which results in the player being ejected from the game. If a player accumulates ten fighting major penalties, the player would be suspended for one game following the tenth penalty and then suspended for one game after each subsequent fighting major penalty. If a player accumulates 14 fighting majors, the number of games suspended increases to two for each subsequent fighting major. Accumulated fighting majors do not include instances where the opposing player was assessed an instigator penalty.

Team changes

Relocations

The 2017 playoff format retained a similar divisional format to the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs. The revised playoff format was finalized at the Annual Board of Governors meeting that took place July 2016. 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 qualify for the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs. The 2017 playoffs removed the divisional fifth-place qualifier exception used by the NHL and the AHL in 2015–16.
The 2017 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.

Standings

Final standings

indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot

indicates team has clinched a playoff spot

indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Eastern Conference

North Division
y–Syracuse Crunch 7638247790.592232227
x–Toronto Marlies 7642294189.586245207
x–Albany Devils 7639322383.546204206
x–St. John's IceCaps 7636308282.539216220
e–Utica Comets 7635327279.520195220
e–Rochester Americans 7632410367.441205240
e–Binghamton Senators 7628442260.395190266

Western Conference

Pacific Division
y–San Jose Barracuda 6843164595.699232176
x–San Diego Gulls 6843203291.669221178
x–Ontario Reign 68362110183.610199190
x–Stockton Heat 6834257277.566212192
e–Bakersfield Condors 6833295172.529200188
e–Tucson Roadrunners 6829318066.485187237
e–Texas Stars 7634371473.480224265
e–San Antonio Rampage 7627425261.401184240

Statistical leaders

Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 14, 2017.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Kenny AgostinoChicago Wolves6524598348
Chris TerrySt. John's IceCaps5830386836
Chris MuellerTucson Roadrunners6819486748
Wade MeganChicago Wolves7333336657
Taylor BeckBakersfield/Hartford5619476624
Cole SchneiderRochester Americans7124396345
Travis BoydHershey Bears7616476316
T. J. BrennanLehigh Valley Phantoms76213960101
Chris BourqueHershey Bears7618426046
Cory ConacherSyracuse Crunch56174360113

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 15, 2017.
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice ; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss
PlayerTeamGPTOISAGASOGAASV%WLOT
Casey DeSmithWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins291730:357875812.01.9262153
Zane McIntyreProvidence Bruins311777:138596022.03.9302162
Troy GrosenickSan Jose Barracuda492728:48125593102.04.92630105
Tristan JarryWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins452706:4913009732.15.92528152
Jaroslav HalakBridgeport Sound Tigers271535:597335522.15.9251773

Calder Cup playoffs

AHL awards

All-Star Teams

First All-Star Team
Second All-Star Team
All-Rookie Team