2020-21 AHL season

This is the 2020-21 American Hockey League season. This is the league's 85th season.

Suspension of Play
The league released the following statement on March 12, 2020: With the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans of primary importance, the American Hockey League has announced the suspension of play until further notice, effective immediately, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AHL will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates on the 2019-20 season at the appropriate time.

On May 11, 2020 the league officially announced that the balance of the season would be cancelled.

No official word has been given as to the start date for the season as the National Hockey League delayed its' playoffs from early April to August with AHL players being used as replacement players for injured players.

The league would later announce a February 5th start date.

Calder Cup Playoffs Cancelled
On April 29th the league announced the cancellation of the 2021 Calder Cup Playoffs. Each team will have the chance to have their division conduct a playoff tournament.


 * Atlantic Division:No playoff; regular season champion awarded Emile Francis Trophy.
 * Canadian Division:No playoff; regular season champion awarded Frank Mathers Trophy.
 * Central Division:No playoff; regular season champion awarded Sam Pollock Trophy.
 * North Division:No playoff; regular season champion awarded F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy.
 * Pacific Division:All teams will compete in a tournament with the champion being awarded John D. Chick Trophy as playoff champion (usually awarded to regular season champion).

Membership Changes

 * In February of 2020 the owners of the Vegas Golden Knights purchased the San Antonio Rampage and announced the team would be relocated to the Las Vegas area for 2020-21. On May 28th the team was announced as being the Henderson Silver Knights. The team will be temporarily based out of the Orleans Arena in Summerlin, Nevada for the 2020-21 season and would then relocate to the Dollar Loan Center for the 2021-22 season pending completion of the new arena.


 * On January 4th the Charlotte Checkers, Milwaukee Admirals, and Springfield Thunderbirds were announced as having opted out of playing for the 2020-21 playing season due to restrictions on spectators for the season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.


 * Also on January 4th the league announced four temporary relocations due to local restrictions involving the AHL team's home area or the NHL team's home arena:
 * The Providence Bruins relocate to the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
 * The Binghamton Devils relocate to the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House and the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
 * The Ontario Reign relocate to the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.
 * The San Diego Gulls relocate to the Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena in Irvine, California.
 * The Stockton Heat would temporarily relocate for the 2020-21 season to Calgary, Alberta playing out of the Scotiabank Saddledome to avoid quarantine restrictions with crossing the US-Canada border for call-ups and joined the Canadian Division.
 * The Laval Rocket moved their home games to the Bell Centre in Montreal for the season.
 * The Belleville Senators move their games to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa for the season.
 * The San Jose Barracuda would start their season based out of Tucson, Arizona due to restrictions in their hometown San Jose, California.


 * On May 6th, 2021 the AHL Board of Governors approved the relocation of the Utica Comets to Abbotsford, British Columbia and the Binghamton Devils to Utica, New York where they will still be called the Utica Comets for the 2021-22 season.


 * On May 11, 2021 the Bridgeport Sound Tigers announced they would be renamed the Bridgeport Islanders for the 2021-22 season.

Standings
indicates team has clinched regular season division title

As of games May 20, 2021


 * A game between the Phantoms and Devils was suspended while tied and not completed, resulting in a 1–1 tie and a point for each team. 

Original Playoff format
The top four teams in each division ranked by points qualify for the 2020 Calder Cup playoffs.

The 2021 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.

Updated Playoff Format
The Calder Cup Playoffs league wide were cancelled and the divisions were allowed to hold their own playoffs. The Pacific Division was the only division indicated they would like to hold a playoff.

Pacific Division
All seven teams qualify for the playoffs. The fourth place team plays the seventh place team and the fifth place team plays the sixth place team in a single game playoff. The two winners meet in another single game playoff. The winner earns the fourth seed. The first two rounds will be held at the FivePoint Arena in Irvine, California on May 18th and 19th. The first place team will host the winner of the previous 3 games and the second place team will host the third place team in a best-of-three division semifinal series. The semifinal winners will meet in a best-of-three series at the higher seeded team. The playoff winner will win the John D. Chick Trophy.

Pacific Division Play-In First Round

 * San Jose Barracuda defeated Tucson Roadrunners 2-1
 * Colorado Eagles defeated Ontario Reign 5-4 (ot)

Pacific Division Play-In Second Round

 * San Jose Barracuda defeated Colorado Eagles 5-1

Play-In Bracket
Final results:

Pacific Division Semifinals
(Best-of-Three, held May 21-24)
 * Henderson Silver Knights defeated San Jose Barracuda 2 games to none
 * Bakersfield Condors defeated San Diego Gulls 2 games to 1

Pacific Division Final
(Best-of-Three)
 * Bakersfield Condors defeated Henderson Silver Knights 2 games to 1