The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League (AHL). First awarded in the 1937âÂÂ38 season, it is named after Frank Calder, inaugural president of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Calder Cup is distinct from the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Rookie of the Year in the NHL.
Teams from 28 different cities have won the Calder Cup. The Hershey Bears have won 13 championships, the most of any team currently in the AHL, and have competed in 25 finals, and compiling a 13âÂÂ12 record in their history. The defunct Cleveland Barons are second, with 9 total championships.
On May 11, 2020, the AHL cancelled the remainder of the 2019âÂÂ20 AHL season and the 2020 Calder Cup playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time that a Calder Cup champion was not awarded in the trophy's history. It was likewise not awarded in 2021 as the league did not hold a playoff (even though the AHL did play a delayed and shortened regular season).
The Most Valuable Player of the playoffs is awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy. It was first awarded in 1984 and is named after the former president of the AHL, Jack Butterfield. The trophy has been won by 40 different players, with none having won it more than once.
On June 23, 2025, the Abbotsford Canucks became the first franchise from the AHL's Pacific Division and the first Western Canadian team to win the Calder Cup.
Note: All Jack A. Butterfield Trophy winners played for the winning team, unless otherwise noted.
A. Calder Cup won by second franchise known as the Pittsburgh Hornets. Previous franchise became the Rochester Americans.<br /> B. Tim Tookey, Butterfield Trophy winner in 1985âÂÂ86, played for the Hershey Bears, and is the only Butterfield Trophy winner to date to have played for a losing team in the Calder Cup finals.
Bold denotes an active AHL team