Team and NHL affiliation changes

The National Hockey League added the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2017–18 season. The Las Vegas management confirmed that the organization would also have an AHL affiliate in their first season, although it was not stated whether the AHL team would be an expansion or relocation. The organization looked into adding an affiliate on the West Coast with the leading candidates being Salt Lake City, Reno, or Fresno.^[3][4] However, as the season went on, they looked into co-affiliations with a pre-existing AHL team since the new NHL team would likely not have a large amount of drafted talent to fully stock an AHL roster.^[5] In February 2017, AHL commissioner David Andrews later stated that there was a "50-50 chance" of a 31st team being established for the 2017–18 season.^[6]

Other than the Golden Knights adding a team, there were also reports in November 2016 of the St. Louis Blues adding an expansion team in Kansas City.^[7] This would later be denied by the announced potential owner in Kansas City, Lamar Hunt Jr., in a press release from his ECHL team in the area, the Missouri Mavericks,^[8] and further denied by AHL commissioner, David Andrews, after the January 2017 Board of Governors meeting.^[9] In May 2017, the 30 team alignment was confirmed and there would be no expansion for 2017–18. The Golden Knights signed a multi-year affiliation with the Chicago Wolves, replacing the Blues as their primary affiliate. The Blues also announced that they would continue to send players to the Wolves for that season, as well as to the San Antonio Rampage, the AHL team that they would affiliate with for 2018–19.

The league confirmed after the 2017 Board of Governors meeting that it had made a commitment to an expansion applicant for a 31st team for the 2018–19 season^[1] later revealed to be the Colorado Eagles.^[10][11] The Eagles had been a member of the ECHL prior to the promotion and the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. The Eagles join other recent ECHL markets in the AHL such as Bakersfield, Charlotte, Ontario, and Stockton.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of April 15, 2018.^[19]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1440 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of April 15, 2018.^[20]

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

Playoff format

The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs format was retained from the divisional format of the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs. The playoff format was finalized at the Annual Board of Governors meeting that took place July 2017. 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 2017 Calder Cup playoffs.

The 2018 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.^[1]

Bracket

All-Star Teams

First All-Star Team^[21]

• Garret Sparks (G) – Toronto
• Jacob MacDonald (D) – Binghamton
• Sami Niku (D) – Manitoba
• Mason Appleton (F) – Manitoba
• Chris Terry (F) – Laval
• Phil Varone (F) – Lehigh Valley

Second All-Star Team^[21]

• Michael Hutchinson (G) – Manitoba
• T. J. Brennan (D) – Lehigh Valley
• Zach Redmond (D) – Rochester
• Austin Czarnik (F) – Providence
• Andreas Johnsson (F) – Toronto
• Ben Smith (F) – Toronto

All-Rookie Team^[22]

• Ville Husso (G) – San Antonio
• Filip Hronek (D) – Grand Rapids
• Sami Niku (D) – Manitoba
• Mason Appleton (F) – Manitoba
• Daniel Sprong (F) – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
• Dylan Strome (F) – Tucson