2001–02 AHL season
The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion teams.
The AHL realigns divisions again. The Eastern conference consists of the East, North and Canadian divisions. The Western conference consists of the Central, South and West divisions. The league also announces three additional trophies. Two of which are to be awarded for the regular season champions of the new divisions. The Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy goes to the West division, and the Emile Francis Trophy goes to the North division. The third trophy, the Michael Condon Memorial Award is first awarded for outstanding service by an on-ice official in the AHL.
Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers finished first overall in the regular season. The Chicago Wolves won their first Calder Cup championship, in their inaugural AHL season.
Team changes
- The Louisville Panthers suspend operations, becoming dormant.
- The Kentucky Thoroughblades move to Cleveland, Ohio, becoming the second incarnation of the Cleveland Barons.
- The Bridgeport Sound Tigers join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
- The Manchester Monarchs join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Six teams transferred to the American Hockey League, when the International Hockey League ceased operations.
- The Chicago Wolves based in Rosemont, Illinois.
- The Grand Rapids Griffins based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- The Houston Aeros based in Houston, Texas.
- The Manitoba Moose based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- The Milwaukee Admirals based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- The Utah Grizzlies based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Final standings
Eastern Conference
| North | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Lowell Lock Monsters | 80 | 41 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 96 | 229 | 209 |
| Manchester Monarchs | 80 | 38 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 90 | 236 | 225 |
| Worcester IceCats | 80 | 39 | 33 | 7 | 1 | 86 | 245 | 218 |
| Portland Pirates | 80 | 30 | 31 | 15 | 4 | 79 | 220 | 225 |
| Springfield Falcons | 80 | 35 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 74 | 213 | 237 |
| East | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 80 | 43 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 98 | 240 | 192 |
| Hartford Wolf Pack | 80 | 41 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 95 | 249 | 243 |
| Providence Bruins | 80 | 35 | 33 | 8 | 4 | 82 | 190 | 223 |
| Albany River Rats | 80 | 14 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 52 | 172 | 271 |
Western Conference
| West | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Grand Rapids Griffins | 80 | 42 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 95 | 217 | 178 |
| Houston Aeros | 80 | 39 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 93 | 234 | 232 |
| Utah Grizzlies | 80 | 40 | 29 | 6 | 5 | 91 | 240 | 225 |
| Chicago Wolves | 80 | 37 | 31 | 7 | 5 | 86 | 250 | 236 |
| Milwaukee Admirals | 80 | 30 | 35 | 10 | 5 | 75 | 198 | 207 |
| South | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Norfolk Admirals | 80 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 4 | 92 | 222 | 205 |
| Hershey Bears | 80 | 36 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 89 | 200 | 193 |
| Philadelphia Phantoms | 80 | 33 | 27 | 15 | 5 | 86 | 206 | 210 |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 80 | 20 | 44 | 13 | 3 | 56 | 201 | 274 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Donald MacLean | St. John's Maple Leafs | 75 | 33 | 54 | 87 | 49 |
| Eric Boguniecki | Worcester IceCats | 45 | 38 | 46 | 84 | 100 |
| Rob Brown | Chicago Wolves | 80 | 29 | 54 | 83 | 103 |
| Brad Smyth | Hartford Wolf Pack | 79 | 34 | 48 | 82 | 90 |
| Jason Chimera | Hamilton Bulldogs | 77 | 26 | 51 | 77 | 158 |
| Justin Papineau | Worcester IceCats | 75 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 86 |
| Eric Landry | Quebec Citadelles | 73 | 26 | 36 | 62 | 119 |
| Brian Swanson | Hamilton Bulldogs | 65 | 34 | 39 | 73 | 26 |
| Bob Wren | St. John's Maple Leafs | 69 | 24 | 49 | 73 | 83 |
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Calder Cup Playoffs