1986–87 AHL season
The 1986–87 AHL season was the 51st season of the American Hockey League. 13 teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league institutes awarding one point in the standings, for an overtime loss. The league experimented with a shootout to settle games tied after a scoreless overtime period; the format would not be used again until the 2004–05 season.
The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season. The Rochester Americans won their fifth Calder Cup championship.Team changes
''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;
| South | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Rochester Americans | 80 | 47 | 26 | 7 | 101 | 315 | 263 |
| Binghamton Whalers | 80 | 47 | 26 | 7 | 101 | 309 | 259 |
| New Haven Nighthawks | 80 | 44 | 25 | 11 | 99 | 331 | 315 |
| Hershey Bears | 80 | 43 | 36 | 1 | 87 | 329 | 309 |
| Baltimore Skipjacks | 80 | 35 | 37 | 8 | 78 | 277 | 295 |
| Springfield Indians | 80 | 34 | 40 | 6 | 74 | 296 | 344 |
| Newmarket Saints | 80 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 60 | 226 | 337 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Tim Tookey | Hershey Bears | 80 | 51 | 73 | 124 | 45 |
| Alain Lemieux | Baltimore Skipjacks | 72 | 41 | 56 | 97 | 62 |
| Brett Hull | Moncton Golden Flames | 67 | 50 | 42 | 92 | 16 |
| Mitch Lamoureux | Hershey Bears | 78 | 43 | 46 | 89 | 122 |
| Ross Fitzpatrick | Hershey Bears | 66 | 45 | 40 | 85 | 34 |
| Glenn Merkosky | Adirondack Red Wings | 77 | 54 | 31 | 85 | 66 |
| Ray Allison | Hershey Bears | 78 | 29 | 55 | 84 | 57 |
| Bruce Boudreau | Nova Scotia Oilers | 78 | 35 | 47 | 82 | 40 |
| Serge Boisvert | Sherbrooke Canadiens | 78 | 27 | 54 | 81 | 29 |
| Wes Jarvis | Newmarket Saints | 70 | 28 | 50 | 78 | 32 |
Trophy and Award winners
;Team awards
;Individual awards
;Other awards
