The affiliate thread

the best is when the mustangs coach describes thunder bay...

"i didn't come half-way up the arctic circle to get my ass kicked by these goons!"

 

nice cat. that Murray Chadwick was great. I think that the actor there died somewhat recently.


Murray Chadwick: Where'd you get these guys from, Ray? Mexico.
Ray the assistant coach: We're only looking for one player.
Murray Chadwick: Like that sorry son of a bitch who just tripped over the blueline.

 

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1s1EXKUW4[/video]

YES ED LAUTER died.

 

Absolutely the worst brand (in terms of entertainment quality) of AHL hockey came from Minnesota's affiliate, in my opinion. I was able to see them live a couple times this year. It was just as bad as tv, maybe worse. They just collapsed to defend and then would do something stupid with the puck. Complete mess. They try to play like the wild, but they suck so it's almost funny.

The good news is that Fletcher isn't trying to sugar coat anything. He's done a very good job, too bad the Pens didn't give the wild Shero.

 

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the AHL has abandoned the notion that the 5 new California teams will play a segregated schedule from the rest of the league. The 2 Texas teams will be in the division so I expect that WC schedule will be essentially unchanged from this season.

It's bad news for me, but good for Rochester. The Amerks will move back to the EC. I won't be able to see them as often in Illinois, but they'll have a much less grueling travel schedule to places like Syracuse and Binghamton.

I think the shift west will continue in another year with Utica to Abbotsford, BC, and the Yotes bringing their team much closer - probably to SLC but possibly Tuscon. I'd much rather the Avs to be in SLC rather than San Antonio. Also, I think it's a matter of time for Fresno to get a team.

 

Updated...

 

Thanks, Will. There are an awful lot of changes from a year ago. After I'm done double checking I will post the franchise/affiliation shifts from last year.

 

Out of 30 AHL teams, 11 either moved or changed NHL affiliations from last year. Obviously the five new teams in CA altered the map greatly. (They will have a weighted-points system for playoff seedings since the CA teams are playing a shorter schedule.)

New AHL City - Former City - NHL Affiliate
Bakersfield - Oklahoma City - Edmonton
Manitoba - St. John's - Winnipeg (expect them to move to Thunder Bay in a year or two)
Ontario, CA - Manchester, NH - LA Kings
San Diego - Norfolk - Anaheim
San Jose - Worchester - San Jose
Stockton - Glens Falls, NY - Calgary

AHL City - Former Affiliate - NHL Affiliate
Cleveland - Colorado - Columbus
Portland, ME - Arizona - Florida
St. John's - Winnipeg - Montreal (expect them to move to Laval, QU)
San Antonio - Florida - Colorado
Springfield, MA - Columbus - Arizona

AHL cities that got relegated: Hamilton to the OHL; Glens Falls, NY, Manchester, NH, Norfolk, VA to the ECHL. Oklahoma City to SOL and Worchester to either ECHL or SOL

 

I love having the new AHL team in the state. Will make call ups much easier when we get hit with injuries again *REF*

 

Yeah, a bus ticket is way cheaper than airfare. And no pesky flight attendants buzzing around to make sure you're all comfortable and the drink glass is full either.

 

I'm not going to lie, I love the introduction of swamp rabbits to the pro hockey world.

NYR-Hartford ECHL Affilate.

 

2015 ECHL Pre Season Power Rankings - (for the heluvit)

The ECHL looks a lot different than it did last season with affiliation switches. New teams such as Manchester, Norfolk, and Adirondack look to make waves. There is no longer a deep western conference of rosters.

Yet, players remain in the 28 team league, and several teams return with strong collections of talent.

1. Allen Americans

The defending champions and the affiliate of the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks switched AHL affiliations, with Worcester moving to San Jose themselves, but the Americans remain. Chad Costello returns as one of the top players in the ECHL, making the Americans top contenders once again.

2. Toledo Walleye

After finishing with the most points in the league last season, the Walleye remain in top position to be favorites to reach the Kelly Cup. Andrew Prochno out of St Cloud State could be a sleeper addition to the team.

3. Idaho Steelheads

The Steelheads are prime to return to top form again this season after reupping their agreement to remain a Dallas Stars affiliate. Led by Wade McLeod, the Steelheads are favorites, along with Allen, to go to the Kelly Cup out of the western conference.

4. South Carolina Stingrays

Despite making the championship series, the Kelly Cup, the Stingrays drop a few spots. First, they lost the Boston Bruins joint affiliation and will rely just on the Washington Capitals. Second, they lost their star goaltender, Jeff Jakaitis, to Norway.

5. Florida Everblades

Part of Florida?s success next season will depend on if the Hurricanes decide to place goalie Daniel Alltschaler in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. The Everblades were better than South Carolina in the regular season last year, and they could leap past them again this season.

6. Fort Wayne Komets

One thing is for sure for the Komets, and that is they will have strong goaltending. The Colorado Avalanche have the deepest goalie depth in the league and that means Pat Nagle could be back between the pipes.

7. Manchester Monarchs

The Monarchs roster will be what the Ontario Reign were last season, The Los Angeles Kings swapped the franchises in the AHL and ECHL. It will be strange, since the AHL Monarchs won the Calder Cup, and now they return as just a slightly above average ECHL playoff contender.

8. Colorado Eagles

As an independent affiliate, the Eagles have seen loads of success. They are put into a very tough division with the new league set up where they will have to compete with the likes of Idaho, Utah, Alaska, and Rapid City, all playoff teams or close to it.

9. Reading Royals

The Royals are in an easier division than they faced last season. They had to compete with Florida, Orlando, and South Carolina. They have an easier path coming up, competing against the new Norfolk, Manchester, and Adirondack franchises.

10. Orlando Solar Bears

Orlando has a shot to become a top contender in the league this season if their off season moves work out. One of the best moves this off season for the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate is the signing of Lindsay Sparks, who should add some veteran offensive prowess to the team. The future of goalie Antione Bibeau will make a big difference.

11. Utah Grizzlies

The Grizzlies, an affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, face the same woes as the Eagles in their tough division. The Grizzlies barley qualified for the playoffs last season and they?ll need to improve to become Kelly Cup contenders.

12. Rapid City Rush

The Rush, previously unaffiliated, gain a boost with the Arizona Coyotes. These players come over from the Gwinnet Gladiators, who did struggle last season.

13. Kalamazoo Wings

The Wings, the affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, also gained a new AHL affiliation this year with the addition of Lake Erie Monsters. Kalamazoo was a playoff team, but their 78 points were not anything to get too excited about when Toledo and Fort Wayne blew past them. They had less points than Greenville, who missed the playoffs.

14. Tulsa Oilers

The Oilers, led by Drew Fisher, are affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets, who are loaded with young talent. Tulsa had the misfortune of being placed in the same division as Allen, but they should still compete and be an improved team this season.

15. Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling, along with Kalamazoo, barely made the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate will be in the same division as Toledo, who they likely will not overtake.

16. Quad City Mallards

Cody Fidgett was a terrific off season addition for the Minnesota Wild affiliate. The Mallards will be competing with the Komets for the top spot in their division.

17. Greenville Road Warriors

Greenville came so close to being a playoff contender in the very tough eastern division last season. They finished just two points behind the fourth place Orlando Solar Bears. This year, the New York Rangers affiliate once again will be in the division where all their competitors made the playoffs, except for Gwinnett.

18. Alaska Aces

The Aces, one of just a few unaffiliated teams remaining, are not used to making the playoffs. They?ve had a busy off season bettering their roster, with Steven Summerhays joining the team in net after missing last season with a shoulder injury.

19. Wichita Thunder

The unaffiliated Thunder are an interesting case. Danik Gauthier, their top scorer, returns for a Thunder team that was close to playoff contention last season. Other than Allen, every team in their division this season is a toss up, so a good season could see them in the Kelly Cup.

20. Indy Fuel

A Chicago Blackhawks affiliate, the Fuel faced the pressures of being an expansion team in the ECHL last season. Despite this, they finished with 73 points, not an awful season, just three points out of being a playoff team. It will be hard for them to compete in a division with the Mallards and Comets.

21. Cincinnati Cyclones

The Nashville Predators affiliate tied with the Fuel for 73 points last season in their division. This year the Cyclones move to the west where they are projected to finish around the same as the Fuel.

22. Elmira Jackals

Elmira struggled at times last season. The Buffalo Sabres affiliate has some talent, but it will be difficult for them to compete for the playoffs. They have a weaker division, which might help them.

23. Gwinnett Gladiators

The Gladiators should get a boost with their new Boston affiliation. Unfortunately, they were placed in the toughest division in the league going into this season.

24. Missouri Mavericks

The Mavericks, an Islanders affiliate, had a bad year. The Islanders have loaded up on young talent and might be able to give the Mavericks some depth this season.

25. Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk, formerly the Bakersfield Condors, switch off with the Edmonton Oilers affiliations. They might have a shot to compete somewhat, with a deep organization, in a weaker division.

26. Brampton Beast

The Beast gained an affiliation, and a strong one at that, with the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal switched up both their ECHL and AHL affiliations this off season.

27. Adirondack Flames

Adirondock, formerly the Stockton Thunder, becomes the new ECHL affiliate for the Calgary Flames. The Thunder had a dreadful 2014-2015 season.

28. Evansville Icemen

The Ottawa Senators affiliate saw just an absolutely awful year. The future does not look bright for the franchise on the ice going into this year.

 

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=879403

As rumored, the AZ franchise moves their affiliate west. They bought the Springfield Falcons and will be moving them to Tucson.

I think this is very good news for US franchises and AZ in particular.

 

what the fuck, they keep stealing my local minor league hockey teams! i liked it better when they had every AHL team w/in an hour of me. pretty insane it was that way, and the rinks were almost always empty too.

 

Something tells me you're going to BC games before Springfield ones...hence the move.

Now you're down to 213 pro or NCAA teams within 2 hours of you...eat it.

 

as long as the Lowell Lock Monsters don't leave i'll survive.

 

Lines in the sand must be drawn.

Speaking of affiliates, I'm really curious about the Hawks. Rocky is running out of places to hide money within the NHL franchise (would have to pay more taxes on profit) and Rockford only has one more year in their agreement.

I can't see them buying or affiliating with the Wolves, doesn't seem like those two are ready to get along but who knows? Milwaukee doesn't seem like they'll be tied to anything tightly and Chicago has their ECHL affiliate in INDY. Peoria (former blues) is vacant from the AHL so Central IL is there too. I haven't heard much about Rockford and Chicago but stories should start popping up this summer.

Should be interesting to see how this gigantic AHL shift settle out.

 

why can't teh Wolves and Hawks join forces? all the newer fans in Chicago, and the hardcores, could catch a glimpse of the future at a fraction of the cost?..while the product is still red hot.

Hawks should move their AHL squad to Massachusetts. has me thinking, once Springfield leaves I don't think there'll be a Mass team at all. Providence is a stones throw away but still.

 

Wolves have a big ownership group and are still cashing in from their success (redwings-like) from last decade. WWW (old boss) and Wolves were not friendly with each other and actively sought to undercut the other. One of the owners of the Wolves had some rough dealings with Wirtz too.

You would think with their own tv contract that the Wolves and Hawks would be made for each other but I think ownership differences will be the problem. Ultimately the Hawks would be paying the Wolves for the affiliation agreement (I think they pay RKD 800k-ish this year for example) and then the Wolves would be operating however they want to. This would be less than ideal from a business and/or hockey operations perspective. The +/- from a business perspective varies and I don't have enough info to try to break that down.

Rockford has to cater to the Hawks so Chicago(NHL) can pick coaches and staff and direct acquisitions. Chicago (AHL) gets to do everything how they want to. They won't go out of their way to slot a guy in a particular spot for development.

The Hawks aren't going to invest in the Wolves because they have nothing to gain monetarily and the big team is doing just fine. I can't see Wolves ownership selling a majority stake to the Hawks unless something implodes (besides the team..thanks for those great farms Van and STL) on the business side.

Anyway, I'm babbling but the long and short of it is that an agreement with the Hawks doesn't make sense without a shift in majority ownership.

 

I like Providence...I'll get on the phone to Rocky.