The 2023 Calder Cup playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Hockey League (AHL) to determine the winner of the Calder Cup, which is awarded to the AHL playoff champions.
The 2023 playoffs began on April 18, 2023, with the 23-team playoff format that was introduced in 2022. All teams except the bottom two teams of the Atlantic, North, and Central divisions, as well as the bottom three teams of the Pacific division qualified for the playoffs. Each division has a best-of-three series in the first round to determine the top 16 teams for the division semifinals, with various teams receiving byes based on regular season performance.[1]
The 16 teams that remain—four from each division—will play a best-of-five series in the division semifinals, with the playoffs continuing with another best-of-five series for the division finals and a best-of-seven series for the conference finals and Calder Cup finals.
The Hershey Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds in overtime of game seven, granting Hershey their 12th Calder Cup in team history and first since 2010. This was only the second time a game seven went to overtime in the finals, and the first since 1953.[2]
Playoff seeds
After the 2022–23 AHL regular season, 23 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top 5 teams in the North and Central divisions, the top 6 teams in the Atlantic division, and the top 7 teams in the Pacific division based on points total qualified for the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. The Calgary Wranglers won the regular season title in their season finale.[3]
(A3) Charlotte Checkers vs. (A6) Lehigh Valley Phantoms
(A4) Springfield Thunderbirds vs. (A5) Hartford Wolf Pack
(N4) Utica Comets vs. (N5) Laval Rocket
Western Conference
(C4) Iowa Wild vs. (C5) Rockford IceHogs
(P2) Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. (P7) Tucson Roadrunners
(P3) Colorado Eagles vs. (P6) Ontario Reign
(P4) Abbotsford Canucks vs. (P5) Bakersfield Condors
Division semifinals
Eastern Conference
(A1) Providence Bruins vs. (A5) Hartford Wolf Pack
(A2) Hershey Bears vs. (A3) Charlotte Checkers
(N1) Toronto Marlies vs. (N4) Utica Comets
(N2) Syracuse Crunch vs. (N3) Rochester Americans
Western Conference
(C1) Texas Stars vs. (C5) Rockford IceHogs
(C2) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (C3) Manitoba Moose
(P1) Calgary Wranglers vs. (P4) Abbotsford Canucks
(P2) Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. (P3) Colorado Eagles
Division finals
Eastern Conference
(A2) Hershey Bears vs. (A5) Hartford Wolf Pack
(N1) Toronto Marlies vs. (N3) Rochester Americans
Western Conference
(C1) Texas Stars vs. (C2) Milwaukee Admirals
(P1) Calgary Wranglers vs. (P2) Coachella Valley Firebirds
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
(A2) Hershey Bears vs. (N3) Rochester Americans
Western Conference
(P2) Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. (C2) Milwaukee Admirals
Calder Cup Finals
Calder Cup Game 6 on June 19, 2023
(P2) Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. (A2) Hershey Bears
Playoff statistical leaders
Leading skaters
These are the top ten skaters based on points. If there is a tie in points, goals take precedence over assists.[4]
Leading goaltenders
This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage with at least 60 minutes played. The table is initially sorted by goals against average, with the criterion for inclusion in bold.[5]
