Since the integration of the Pacific Division in 2015, the American Hockey League schedule has had an unbalanced look to it.

Whilst the rest of the American League played 76 games, those in the Pacific played just 68.
This was a feature of the deal between the AHL and NHL when creating the new-look division which featured several organisations moving their franchises to the West Coast.

It’s been a bugbear of many who cover the league and the news that an agreement has been reached to bring uniformity to the schedule is greatly welcomed.

Beginning in 2022-23, all teams will play a 72-game regular-season schedule.

As part of the plan to prepare for the switch for the 2021-22 season, teams in the Atlantic, North and Central Divisions have the option of playing either 76 or 72 games, while teams in the Pacific Division will continue to play just 68 games.

“I am very pleased that we were able to achieve a schedule of 72 games for all teams in the American Hockey League,” said Scott Howson. “In coming together to create a plan that is fair and equitable, our owners have demonstrated a commitment to the long-term strength of the league.”

Website link : https://theahl.com/ahl-board-approves-plan-for-schedule-unification

For clarification of what teams have individually opted to do please check the below graphic.

Image: AHL.com

As per the AHL press release: “Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of teams qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs each year; details will be finalized and announced later in the offseason.”

Quite what an extended playoff format will look like is up for debate but my guess would be some kind of shortened play-in or wildcard series.

The divisional alignment of the AHL has always been in a state of flux and with it now being top-heavy on the west coast, further changes have been made for 2021-22.

Ignoring the changes that allowed the 2020-21 season to take place, let’s compare to the 2019-20 campaign.

Image: AHL.com

The Atlantic Division remains as was with the only change being Bridgeport switching to being the Islanders rather than the Sound Tigers.

Image: AHL.com

There shall only be seven teams competing in the North Division as opposed to eight.
The one absentee is the Binghamton Devils. This is due to New Jersey moving their affiliate from Binghamton to Utica and Vancouver switching from Utica to Abbotsford BC.

Image: AHL.com

The Central Division has also lost a team and will feature just seven rivals. The absentee is San Antonio Rampage who was bought by the Vegas Golden Knights and shipped to Henderson, NV.

Image: AHL.com

Nine teams will contest the Pacific Division, a rise from seven in 2019-20.
The Henderson Silver Knights, who played their inaugural season in the strange 2020-21 campaign and the as-yet-unnamed team in Abbotsford BC.

What’s most interesting about the jump to nine is that when the team from Palm Springs joins the AHL in 2022, will that mean a ten-team division or possibly more realignment or even a different format?

The 2021-22 AHL season is slated to start on October 15, 2021, and playoff berths will be determined by points percentage.

It’ll be time to dust of those abacuses as two-point will no longer mean two points!