AHL make decision on playoff format for 2025 Calder Cup: Report

The AHL Calder Cup Playoffs will stick with the same format as the past two years, according to a report from Inside AHL Hockey. On Thursday, the outlet confirmed that the AHL Board of Governors agreed to continue the existing format for one more year.

According to the Inside AHL Hockey report, the decision was made with the intention of postponing discussions on the playoff format until next summer. At that time, the league will revisit the topic of playoff format while also negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement.

Under the current format, which will stay the same for the upcoming AHL season, the Calder Cup Playoffs will see 23 teams qualify for the postseason.

They will be comprised of the top six teams in the Atlantic Division, the top five teams in the North Division and Central Division, and the top seven teams from the Pacific Division.

The top two teams in the Atlantic, the top three teams in both the North and Central Divisions, and the top team in the Pacific Division all receive first-round byes. Teams who didn't receive a bye will collide in a best-of-three series in the first round, as opposed to the standard best-of-seven series used in the NHL.

Looking further at the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs format and the 2023 winners

After the best-of-three first-round series, teams will then meet in the Division Semifinals. There, they will play in a best-of-five series to determine which teams will make it to the Division Finals, which will also be played as a best-of-five series.

From there, the Conference Finals and the Calder Cup Finals will be played as best-of-seven series, as NHL fans are accustomed to seeing.

Last year's AHL Calder Cup saw the Hershey Bears earn their 12th championship in franchise history, defeating the Coachella Valley Firebirds in a thrilling six-game series.

The Firebirds came out strong in Game 1, picking up a 4-3 win, with the Hershey Bears then bouncing back in Game 2 to even the series. The two teams then split games three and four, with the Firebirds winning Game 3, and the Bears winning Game 4.

In games 5 and 6, the Hershey Bears managed to win back-to-back games, with Game 6 going down to the wire and the Bears picking up a 5-4 win in OT. Heading into the upcoming season, the two teams are likely to be favorites to return to the finals given their dominant regular season play last year.

After the upcoming season, it will be interesting to see how the league will handle the playoff format in the years to come.