2012–13 AHL season

The 2012–13 AHL season was the 77th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 12, 2012 and ended on April 21, 2013. The 2013 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season. The Calder Cup was won by the Grand Rapids Griffins for their first Calder Cup in franchise history.

Regular season
On June 28, the Board of Governors approved a minor realignment for the league for the 2012–13 season. The only changes were made in the Western Conference, as three teams swapped divisions for this season: Abbotsford moves to the North Division, Grand Rapids moves to the Midwest Division and Charlotte moves to the newly renamed South Division (formerly West Division). The Eastern Conference remains the same as the previous season. Among the rule changes for this season, the league has adopted video-review for goals, which has been in use in the NHL for years.

Because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, all NHL players who were still eligible to play in the AHL without clearing waivers were assigned to their AHL teams for the duration of the lockout. The lockout also forced the cancellation of one of the two AHL Outdoor Classics for 2012; as a result, there was only one Outdoor Classic in 2013. The Hershey Bears hosted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Hersheypark Stadium on January 20. The Penguins won the game 2–1 in overtime before a crowd of 17,653 spectators.

Relocations
As a result of the aforementioned lockout, the Rochester Americans moved a portion of its home schedule to the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York to fill the void of its parent club, the Buffalo Sabres, during the lockout (both teams are owned by Terrence Pegula). The team's name and branding remain unchanged.

Final standings
indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

Leading skaters
The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of the end of the regular season.

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of the end of the regular season.

GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss

All-star teams
First All-Star Team Second All-Star Team
 * Justin Schultz (D)
 * Sami Vatanen (D)
 * Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (LW)
 * Tyler Johnson (C)
 * Gustav Nyquist (RW)
 * Niklas Svedberg (G)
 * Mark Barberio (D)
 * Adam Clendening (D)
 * Matt Fraser (LW)
 * Jeff Taffe (C)
 * Brett Connolly (RW)
 * Curtis McElhinney (G)

Milestones

 * Abbotsford Heat The Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, were tied against the Abbotsford Heat when first Steve McCarthy scored a short-handed goal and then Ben Street scored from the faceoff circle. The two goals in three seconds tied a professional hockey record. Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog reported that the ECHL, formerly the East Coast Hockey League, had two goals scored in the same span during a 1993 game. However, the comparable record in the NHL is four seconds. Before Thursday, the fastest two goals had been scored in the AHL was five seconds.  The Heat is an affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, and the team went on to win the game, 3-0 on November 1, 2012.
 * Abbotsford Heat goaltender Barry Brust set a record for longest shutout streak by not allowing any goals for 268 minutes and 17 seconds. The previous record was 249:51, set by Johnny Bower with the Cleveland Barons in 1957.
 * Hershey Bears forward Jon DiSalvatore became the 82nd player in AHL history to record 500 career points on November 25, 2012.
 * Toronto Marlies forward Keith Aucoin became the 11th player in AHL history to record 800 career points on December 16, 2012.
 * Rockford IceHogs forward Martin St. Pierre became the 83rd player in AHL history to record 500 career points on January 5, 2013.
 * Providence Bruins forward Graham Mink became the 84th player in AHL history to record 500 career points on February 16, 2013.
 * Hershey Bears forward Boyd Kane became the 85th player in AHL history to record 500 career points on March 23, 2013.
 * Hershey Bears forward Jeff Taffe became the 86th player in AHL history to record 500 career points on April 20, 2013.