The Insider's Guide
Whether you're a player, staff member, or a raving hockey fan, our extensive guide aims to give you with a sound understanding on all things AHL (American Hockey League). Here in this guide, we’ll cover:
•About The League/History
•Skill Level of Players
•AHL Salary + Compensation
•Expectations
•Environment (Arenas, Fanbases)
•Playing in the A (aka “the Jungle”)
•and more
Let’s set down the smelling salts…and start getting into the action.
Chapter 1
About the League + History
Chapter 2
AHL Skill Level
Chapter 3
AHL Salary + Compensation
Chapter 4
Expectations at the AHL Level
Chapter 5
Environment (Arenas, Fanbases)
Chapter 6
Playing in the A (aka “the Jungle”)
We'll start out Chapter 1 by giving a quick overview on the league.
If you’re reading this guide, you likely already know what the AHL is about to some extent...so we’ll keep this first chapter short.
This refresher will help set the tone as we move into further chapters...
The AHL stands for the American Hockey League. It’s the second highest level of professional hockey in all of North America, following only the NHL which sits directly above it. One level below the AHL sits the ECHL.
The league currently has 32 teams it total, with 26 of the teams being based in the United States and 6 based in Canada.
The league is commonly referred to as the AHL, but you’ll often hear it go by the “American League”, “the Jungle”, or “The A” by players/staff.
Here in this guide, we’ll refer to the league with these names throughout.
The story of the American Hockey League dates way back to the 1930's.
That's a long time ago.
Two prior leagues, the first International Hockey League and the Can-Am League (which were originally formed in the 1920's) were both struggling in number of teams.
Due to this, the two leagues came together for two seasons of an interlocking schedule from 1936 to 1938.
During this initial period, the combo held well.
The Calder Cup trophy was created and would be awarded to the leagues champion each year. This legacy continues on to this day. The AHL championship trophy is named after the NHL's first ever president, Frank Calder.
Heading into the 1938-1939 season, the leagues officially merged but the leagues name still remained the I-AHL.
In 1940, the league officially became the American Hockey League.
Through the leagues first decades from the 1940's to the 1970's, the league stayed intact consistently and was mostly stable.
During the 1970's, there was a bit of instability across the league due to a combination of competing pro hockey leagues and the high cost to operate a minor league team, but the league held it together.
Yes...some teams folded, but the league itself didn't.
Due in part to NHL expansion a level above in following seasons, this also naturally helped bolster the leagues strength as well as increasing player salaries throughout the 1970's and 1980's. Win-win...
By the year 2000, the league had 20 clubs.
The following year when the IHL folded in 2001, the AHL now had 27 teams.
In recent years, a handful of AHL franchises have relocated as a byproduct of NHL clubs wanting their farm team to be closer to them (for development and call up reasons). A good portion of these teams have moved out West based on where NHL expansion has taken place.
With a couple of additional teams joining the league in recent years (ex: Coachella Valley Firebirds), the league now stands at the number we mentioned above...which is 32 teams in total today.
With that brief league history covered, it's time we move into the elite skill level and caliber that you'll find in the American league.
It's about to get exciting...let's continue.
How good are hockey players in the AHL?
Extremely good.
As you'll read in this chapter, the skill level across the American League is one to be taken seriously in terms of the level/talent.
The AHL may sit one level below the NHL (top league in the world), but the caliber of players here is still very near to world class. The AHL stands as one of the top leagues in the world on its own.
Due to this, the caliber of players is exceptionally high.
To help put this into perspective, there are numerous elite NCAA and major junior players who turn pro each year that often can’t cut it at the AHL level. This is not to knock their ability in the slightest (it might just not be a fit for a variety of reasons). It’s just a mere fact.
We state this more to paint the reality of how good the caliber of play here is.
Some players, especially younger pros and goalkeepers, need more time to develop/mature their game in the ECHL a bit more before making their way back up to the American Hockey League.
Others are ready to make the jump in off the bat and some even move up to the NHL.
Adding to our statement above on the caliber of players the league has, you can look up and down any AHL roster in the league and you will find impressively experienced players on every single roster.
Yes...even that token fighter or 2 probably have solid cv’s alongside those heavy hitting penalty minutes.
Now that we’ve hit home on the level of play, let’s get into how much bacon AHL players are bringing in…
How much money do AHL players make?
In this chapter, we’re going to unpack this for you…
Players in the American Hockey League on standard AHL contracts must make a minimum salary of $52,725 USD per season.
For players who are loaned up (from the ECHL), they must receive a minimum salary of $41,625 USD per season.
Average AHL salary across the league sits a bit higher than these figures above. The AHL doesn’t currently have maximum salary cap for players.
We spoke with several AHL veteran players for this piece who were making low six-figures per season as top players in the A.
Per diem allowance on the road in the league is currently $83/day (as of the 2024-2025 season).
What type of expectations do teams have for players at the American Hockey League level?
In this chapter….we’ll dive into this, covering everything from players vying for limited spots to going over how club affiliations can impact player movement up and down.
As we harped on earlier in Chapter 2 (AHL Skill Level), the caliber of play in the league is quite high.
This makes for an extremely competitive atmosphere all around.
One of the biggest drivers of this has to do with the direct affiliations that each AHL club has above (NHL) and below them (ECHL).
Every AHL team has an affiliation with an NHL team above them and the majority do as well with ECHL teams below them.
Because of these direct affiliations, there’s quite a bit of movement of players up/down throughout the duration of the season.
You have players on one way, two-way, entry-level contracts, and shorter term PTO’s all vying to either keep their roster spot where they are today….or move up to the next level (kahh-ching).
For younger drafted players who the club has high expectations of in terms of one day playing for the big club (NHL team), they may have a bit more leniency in terms of initial performance at the pro level as they may need a year or 2 to continue developing their game.
For older and undrafted players, they need to bring it continuously to show why they can stay there.
What is the veteran rule?
The rule states that each AHL club must dress at least 12 players (not including goalies) who have not played in a combined 260 regular season games in the NHL, AHL, or any European Elite League equivalent (example: SHL in Sweden). There’s a bit more nuance on the specifics, but that’s the main gist of it.
What this rule encourages is a large part of every AHL roster to be comprised of up and coming players. This helps foster that development as they’re getting more games played.
Teams can still roster a number of highly experienced veterans on their lineups, but they need to always keep this rule in mind when it comes to roster composition throughout the entirety of a season.
With so many quality players aiming to play at this level, quality play, consistency, and production matter to clubs.
This is no surprise as it’s one of the top leagues on the planet.
If you’re not cutting it at the level….there’s another player itching to take your job.
Unlike many other leagues, the AHL does not have professional hockey tryouts.
If you’re going to earn a spot here, it’s pretty much certain that they are finding you (not the other way around).
If you’re reading this and you have aspirations to move up to the higher levels of pro hockey and you aren’t currently there, you’re best bet is to aim for an entry point (league) that’s more in line with your level today so it’s more realistic.
A quality hockey agency can make all the difference in you doing this correctly...especially if your playing resume on it's own doesn't jump off on paper alone.
What’s the atmosphere like in an AHL arena on game nights?
Good question.
In this chapter, we’ll touch on the atmosphere and environment in AHL arenas around the league.
We’ve scouted and attended countless AHL games over the past decade.
Overall, we'd say the atmosphere in many arenas (not all) is top notch.
For players, AHL games are fast-paced, physically demanding, and many arenas can get equally loud to NHL barns depending on the size and acoustics of the arena.
For fans, AHL games provide high quality hockey and a chance to see a combination of skilled veterans and up-and-coming prospects early in their pro career up close before they potentially become stars in the NHL one day.
Below, we’ll share some hard attendance numbers with you to help visual it.
The AHL team with the highest average attendance are the Cleveland Monsters. With an average home game attendance of 10,347 fans during the 2023-2024 season, this sits them atop the AHL attendance list.
Sitting just behind them in attendance are the Hershey Bears (9,439), Laval Rocket (9,256), Chicago Wolves (8,984), and the Coachella Valley Firebirds (8,844).
After this, there’s a huge pack of teams in the league that draw anywhere between 4,000-8,000 fans per game.
Rounding out the pack with lowest league attendance numbers in the AHL are the Utica Comets (2,954), Belleville Senators (2,738), and the San Jose Barracuda (2,116).
Just because a team doesn’t have the highest attendance numbers on paper though doesn’t mean it’s not a lively place to play (it depends).
Some barns for instance have lower seating capacities…so it’s important to take this into account when looking at attendance numbers.
Others are based in smaller hockey markets or the fanbase has an NHL team located in the same city (ex: NHL Calgary Flames & AHL Calgary Wranglers) which definitely can impact fan turnout.
That being said, AHL games make for a great atmosphere for players/fans alike...
What’s it like to play hockey in the AHL?
Good question.
Here in this closing chapter, we’ll share a few quotes from players and touch on what it’s really like to play here at this level of professional hockey.
The American Hockey League is often referred to as “The Jungle” by players.
It get’s this nickname from the combination of how competitive it is to play here mixed in with how tough it is both physically and with heavyweight fighters.
For this piece, we interviewed a few dozen former players to get their take on what it's truly like to play here.
We'll share a couple of their quotes below to give you a sense...
"Some of my best years playing pro were spent in the American League for the Americans. Not only did the organization take great care of us, but Rochester is a town filled with quality people who love hockey. With how close we were to Buffalo, that made it easier on guys who were sent up and down during the year."
"They don't call it "The Jungle" for nothing. The league is more skilled today but it's still a tough freaking league to play in. Every single team has a guy or multiple that can really throw em. The rest of the roster is chalked full of guys that are near NHL caliber talent. Every night is a grind."
"I miss playing hockey. I had a couple short stints in the National (NHL), but it didn't align to stay long term contract wise so I was back down in the A. As we started a family, I was able to slot into a veteran role on our team and had a few years of great stability during the latter half of my playing career. Our club was first in class in terms of how they helped my family and I. I'm still close to a number of former teammates, coaches, trainers, and fans many years later."
As you can grasp from the several player quotes above, you can see that it's both a highly skilled and physical league. Teams treat players (and their families) well throughout.
With the AHL sitting just one level below the top league in the world (NHL), it makes for an interesting dynamic in terms of players across each roster.
You have players that have already played in the NHL and are now back down in the AHL…
You have other guys who have finally made it up to the AHL…
You have rookies that are just getting their start as pro players…
With this Smörgåsbord of players, each players experience (and perception on playing in the league) will naturally differ.
Let me explain using two examples.
Situation 1
Let’s say you have Player A, a highly touted prospect. They absolutely light up the stat sheet in their last season of major junior and after a solid off season....they quickly crack the NHL clubs regular season roster that following fall....life couldn't be better.
They have a slow start to their rookie season in the NHL, but they're sticking with the big club. They quickly get accustomed to the teams private charter plane, arriving to the rink with all of their gear perfected for them, and those NHL paychecks every two weeks are really starting to add up.
Towards the end of their 1st pro year though, point production, consistency, and +/- start to dwindle.
With a snap of the finger...they're sent down to the teams AHL affiliate for further development.
In this situation, Player A is probably slightly bummed to be down in the A.
The away schedule with bus trips is much more demanding, they're no longer flying private planes, and those team dinners are a bit less extravagant.
Even though most AHL clubs treat players exceptionally well, this player has experienced the Filet Mignon of all hockey leagues...the NHL. They know firsthand that it tastes better than a Sirloin Steak.
Hopefully they'll buckle down and use the situation as motivation to make the jump back up, but based on their lived experience...their perception on the two levels has already been heavily shaped.
Situation 2
Now let's say you have Player B, a journeyman in their late 20's who's finally earned their shot in the AHL.
After a quality NCAA career going undrafted, they spent several seasons bouncing around a half dozen clubs in the ECHL developing their game...but never getting the opportunity to move up.
Until now...
Finally as they entered their 4th season pro, they were given a PTO to their first ever AHL camp and crushed it. The team had the perfect spot for them and they stuck with the club.
Player B is ecstatic.
Life in the AHL is a bit more enjoyable than playing in the Coast.
The perks are nice and the paycheck is quite a bit higher than what they were making in years past.
As you can see from the two examples we shared above, both Player A and Player B ended up playing at the same level. Yet, their perceptions on playing there were vastly different.
For the hundreds of players in the league each year, their own perceptions on playing in the league will sit somewhere on this spectrum...with many falling somewhere in the middle.
We've hit on this a number of times throughout this guide...but the AHL is one of the best leagues in the world.
If you're a player who's already played at the AHL level or you have a clear pathway to in the coming years, you should be proud of that.
Playing at this high a level for any player is an accomplishment in and of itself.
For many players reading this, playing in the AHL may be a bit unrealistic of a goal in terms of where you'll play next.
If that's the case for you, a great alternative option is taking your game across the pond to Europe.
With more leagues at varying tiers, it makes for a more approachable path to explore (depending on your experience and skill level). If the idea of playing puck in a European city excites you, feel free to send our office a message here.