# 2010–11 AHL season

The 2010–11 AHL season was the 75th season of the American Hockey League. An all-time high of thirty teams played 80 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on October 8, 2010, and ended on April 10, 2011. This season featured the addition of one new team, the relocation of two others, and the renaming of another.

## Schedule

The 2010–11 AHL schedule, announced on August 25, 2010, consisted of 1,200 games held between October 8, 2010, and April 10, 2011. An outdoor game between Connecticut Whale and Providence Bruins was played at Rentschler Field on February 19, 2011. Providence won the game 5–4 in a shootout in front of 21,673 spectators.

## Team and NHL affiliation changes
### Team changes

* The Albany River Rats moved to Charlotte, NC due to major financial losses. They became the Charlotte Checkers.
* The Lowell Devils relocated to Albany, NY due to changes in the lease with UMass Lowell making it "financially impossible" to stay. They retained the Devils nickname.
* The dormant Edmonton Road Runners were reactivated and moved to Oklahoma City, OK as the sixth incarnation of the Edmonton Oilers affiliate. The team played as the Oklahoma City Barons, thus making it the first time the franchise has set up operations in the United States.
* The Hartford Wolf Pack were renamed the Connecticut Whale on November 27, 2010.

### Affiliation changes

| AHL team | new affiliate | old affiliate |
| Oklahoma City Barons | Edmonton Oilers | new team |
| Springfield Falcons | Columbus Blue Jackets | Edmonton Oilers |
| Syracuse Crunch | Anaheim Ducks | Columbus Blue Jackets |

## Final standings

y– indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot  x– indicates team clinched a playoff spot  e– indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

### Eastern Conference

| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Portland Pirates (BUF) | 80 | 47 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 103 | 280 | 238 |
| x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK) | 80 | 44 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 98 | 255 | 209 |
| x–Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale (NYR) | 80 | 40 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 88 | 221 | 223 |
| e–Worcester Sharks (SJS) | 80 | 36 | 31 | 4 | 9 | 85 | 210 | 245 |
| e–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 80 | 38 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 82 | 209 | 252 |
| e–Springfield Falcons (CBJ) | 80 | 35 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 75 | 233 | 253 |
| e–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) | 80 | 30 | 39 | 4 | 7 | 71 | 218 | 266 |
| East Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 80 | 58 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 117 | 261 | 183 |
| x–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 80 | 46 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 100 | 255 | 214 |
| x–Charlotte Checkers (CAR) | 80 | 44 | 27 | 2 | 7 | 97 | 265 | 243 |
| x–Norfolk Admirals (TBL) | 80 | 39 | 26 | 9 | 6 | 93 | 265 | 230 |
| x–Binghamton Senators (OTT) | 80 | 42 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 92 | 255 | 221 |
| e–Syracuse Crunch (ANA) | 80 | 35 | 38 | 3 | 4 | 77 | 217 | 249 |
| e–Adirondack Phantoms (PHI) | 80 | 31 | 39 | 4 | 6 | 72 | 197 | 248 |
| e–Albany Devils (NJD) | 80 | 32 | 42 | 1 | 5 | 70 | 217 | 283 |

### Western Conference

| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) | 80 | 44 | 27 | 2 | 7 | 97 | 226 | 193 |
| x–Lake Erie Monsters (COL) | 80 | 44 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 96 | 223 | 206 |
| x–Manitoba Moose (VAN) | 80 | 43 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 93 | 220 | 210 |
| e–Abbotsford Heat (CGY) | 80 | 38 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 86 | 186 | 212 |
| e–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 80 | 37 | 32 | 1 | 10 | 85 | 228 | 219 |
| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 80 | 36 | 34 | 2 | 8 | 82 | 227 | 254 |
| e–Rochester Americans (FLA) | 80 | 31 | 39 | 5 | 5 | 72 | 218 | 266 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| y–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 80 | 44 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 102 | 226 | 194 |
| x–Houston Aeros (MIN) | 80 | 46 | 28 | 1 | 5 | 98 | 240 | 212 |
| x–Peoria Rivermen (STL) | 80 | 42 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 92 | 223 | 218 |
| x–Texas Stars (DAL) | 80 | 41 | 29 | 4 | 6 | 92 | 213 | 210 |
| x–Oklahoma City Barons (EDM) | 80 | 40 | 29 | 2 | 9 | 91 | 245 | 234 |
| e–Chicago Wolves (ATL) | 80 | 39 | 30 | 5 | 6 | 89 | 260 | 262 |
| e–San Antonio Rampage (PHX) | 80 | 40 | 33 | 4 | 3 | 87 | 228 | 245 |
| e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 80 | 38 | 33 | 4 | 5 | 85 | 216 | 245 |

## Statistical leaders
### Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Corey Locke | Binghamton Senators | 69 | 21 | 65 | 86 | 42 |
| Alexandre Giroux | Oklahoma City Barons | 70 | 32 | 46 | 78 | 63 |
| Jason Krog | Chicago Wolves | 80 | 19 | 56 | 75 | 22 |
| Darren Haydar | Chicago Wolves | 77 | 27 | 47 | 74 | 60 |
| Nigel Dawes | Hamilton Bulldogs | 66 | 41 | 31 | 72 | 24 |
| Marc-Antoine Pouliot | Norfolk Admirals | 69 | 25 | 47 | 72 | 53 |
| Brad Moran | Oklahoma City Barons | 79 | 20 | 52 | 72 | 40 |
| Keith Aucoin | Hershey Bears | 53 | 18 | 54 | 72 | 49 |
| Ben Walter | Lake Erie Monsters | 77 | 23 | 47 | 70 | 24 |
| T. J. Hensick | Peoria Rivermen | 59 | 21 | 48 | 69 | 27 |

### Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average.
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
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | SA | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | W | L | OT |
| Curtis Sanford | Hamilton Bulldogs | 40 | 2273 | 1036 | 73 | 5 | 1.93 | 0.930 | 22 | 13 | 2 |
| Brad Thiessen | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 46 | 2567 | 1065 | 83 | 7 | 1.94 | 0.922 | 35 | 8 | 1 |
| Mark Dekanich | Milwaukee Admirals | 43 | 2500 | 1212 | 84 | 4 | 2.02 | 0.931 | 23 | 12 | 5 |
| Richard Bachman | Texas Stars | 55 | 3191 | 1595 | 117 | 6 | 2.20 | 0.927 | 28 | 19 | 5 |
| Michael Leighton | Adirondack Phantoms | 30 | 1783 | 889 | 66 | 5 | 2.22 | 0.926 | 14 | 12 | 3 |

## Calder Cup playoffs
### Bracket

| Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | | | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final |
| A1 | Portland | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A3 | Connecticut | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A3 | Connecticut | 2 | | | A1 | Portland | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Atlantic Division | Atlantic Division | Atlantic Division | | | A1 | Portland | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Atlantic Division | Atlantic Division | Atlantic Division | | | E5 | Binghamton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Manchester | 3 | | | E5 | Binghamton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Binghamton | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E5 | Binghamton | 4 | | | | | | E5 | Binghamton | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E5 | Binghamton | 4 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E3 | Charlotte | 0 | | | | |
| E1 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 4 | | | | | | | | | E3 | Charlotte | 0 | | | | |
| E4 | Norfolk | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E4 | Norfolk | 2 | | | E1 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 2 | | | | | | | |
| East Division | East Division | East Division | | | E1 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 2 | | | | | | | |
| East Division | East Division | East Division | | | E3 | Charlotte | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E2 | Hershey | 2 | | | E3 | Charlotte | 4 | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Charlotte | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E3 | Charlotte | 4 | | | | | | | | | | E5 | Binghamton | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | W2 | Houston | 2 |
| N1 | Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | W2 | Houston | 2 |
| W5 | Oklahoma City | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W5 | Oklahoma City | 2 | | | N1 | Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| North Division | North Division | North Division | | | N1 | Hamilton | 4 | | | | | | | |
| North Division | North Division | North Division | | | N3 | Manitoba | 3 | | | | | | | |
| N2 | Lake Erie | 3 | | | N3 | Manitoba | 3 | | | | | | | |
| N3 | Manitoba | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N3 | Manitoba | 4 | | | | | | N1 | Hamilton | 3 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | N1 | Hamilton | 3 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W2 | Houston | 4 | | | | |
| W1 | Milwaukee | 4 | | | | | | | | | W2 | Houston | 4 | | | | |
| W4 | Texas | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| W4 | Texas | 2 | | | W1 | Milwaukee | 3 | | | | | | | |
| West Division | West Division | West Division | | | W1 | Milwaukee | 3 | | | | | | | |
| West Division | West Division | West Division | | | W2 | Houston | 4 | | | | | | | |
| W2 | Houston | 4 | | | W2 | Houston | 4 | | | | | | | |
| W3 | Peoria | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## AHL awards

2010–11 AHL awards :
| Award | Recipient(s) |
| Calder Cup | Binghamton Senators |
| Les Cunningham Award | Corey Locke (Binghamton Senators) |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy | Corey Locke (Binghamton Senators) |
| Willie Marshall Award | Colin McDonald (Oklahoma City Barons) |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award | Luke Adam (Portland Pirates) |
| Eddie Shore Award | Marc-Andre Gragnani (Portland Pirates) |
| Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award | Brad Thiessen (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award | Brad Thiessen & John Curry (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) |
| Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award | John Hynes (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) |
| Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award | Bryan Helmer (Oklahoma City Barons) |
| Yanick Dupre Memorial Award | Cody Bass (Binghamton Senators) |
| Jack A. Butterfield Trophy | Robin Lehner (Binghamton Senators) |
| Richard F. Canning Trophy | Binghamton Senators |
| Robert W. Clarke Trophy | Houston Aeros |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| Frank Mathers Trophy | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy | Milwaukee Admirals |
| Emile Francis Trophy | Portland Pirates |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| Sam Pollock Trophy | Hamilton Bulldogs |
| John D. Chick Trophy | Milwaukee Admirals |
| James C. Hendy Memorial Award | Michael A. Mudd (Worcester) |
| Thomas Ebright Memorial Award | Mark Chipman |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Awards | Tim Leone (Hershey) |
| Ken McKenzie Award | Mike Cosentino (Toronto) |
| Michael Condon Memorial Award | Brian Lemon |