2025 will be fourth Calder Cup Playoff with 23 teams
The American Hockey League's Board of Governors has approved the 23-team playoff format for the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, per Tony Androckitis of InsideAHLHockey.
The controversial playoff format has been in place the previous three Calder Cup Playoffs, it initially came into place as a way for teams to play more games after losing time due to COVID-19.
The AHL's CBA expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, allowing the board to re-evaluate after the fourth iteration of this format.
The AHL has 32 teams, and this format allows the majority of teams to play in high leverage games and gives more players access to the playoffs, and experience that is always valuable for developing players.
Due to the large number of teams, nine teams receive byes into the second round, some feel the bye week kills momentum for the teams who have earned the higher seed.
Since switching to this playoff format the Hershey Bears have won the two previous Calder Cups, while the Chicago Wolves won after the initial switch in 2022.
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