NHL / AHL affiliations

[BulaJacket]

Anyone have opinions on affiliations?

ie.
Will the AHL (and lower leagues) stabalize at 30 teams? (more? less?)
Like/dislike NHL teams owning/controllning them?
Like/dislike independent owning/controlling?
Certain affiliations you think are really good situations?
Certain affiliations you think are bad situations?
Certain affiliations where the teams missed the boat?



(I'll have an answer to one in a bit)

[ThreeStars]

Oooh thinking about this perhaps we could put together a listing of all the NHL/AHL/ECHL affiliations, locations of the AHL/ECHL arenas and the like and sticky it for people to refer to. (Give me sometime and I can put this together....)

To answer one of your questions, I don't think the AHL will stabilise. Too much money is being lost and attendance will always be bad except for the few places where the minor league hockey is a huge part of the community.

[BulaJacket]

Well, my thing is with the Blue Jackets and Lake Erie Monsters.....
I just think they missed the boat on this one.....

had been following that stuff a little a year or two ago when the CBJ's affiliation with the Syracuse Crunch had run out. I know they renewed either last year or this year, and of course I know the Monsters are affiliated with the Avs.

I think the CBJs & Monsters missed a HUGE opportunity to unite, grow, and further popularize hockey in north & central Ohio.

I could've even envisioned (and would have loved) a Cavaliers NBDL team playing at Nationwide with a Jackets-affiliated Monsters team playing at the Q. Don't get me wrong, the Avs are a good team and organization, but watching the BlueJackets AND their prospects on a Cleveland team on FSN Ohio (or other local TV) would've been devine. Now I watch Avs' (who I don't mind, but don't follow now with the CBJs) prospects, instead of unfortunately CBJ prospects.

from the standpoint of building hockey in Ohio, being able to follow players and teams with closer connections, I think they've missed the boat. I just think about all of the hockey fans who don't have Center Ice to watch the Avs (in a different time zone as well), but do have the local cable sports channels like FSN Ohio. The Cavs, Indians, & Browns represent and expose (not negative connotation) Cleveland, and the BlueJackets represent and expose Columbus (and by extension Ohio), while the Monsters represent and expose Cleveland and the Colorado Avalanche. I'm a local fan who'll always represent the home team, but you can see the difference. I think about all of the uniting of local fans, cross marketing possibilities (Monsters, Cavs, BlueJackets, possible Columbus NBDL team), free promotion of each team on the other's telecasts, and growth of the sport that could happen if these two excellent organizations were together.

[BulaJacket]

BTW, here's a resource with affiliation information....

User:Ccwaters/ahl affil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Hockeyknight]

I don't like the idea that some teams have their AHL affiliate in the opposite end of the States. Could Portland, ME be any farther than Anaheim, CA?

I think the NHL and AHL should get together and say that from now on, teams should regionally locate their minor teams so that the fans of the big club can go visit the AHL club and vice versa.

[Hockeyknight]

Originally Posted by BulaJacket

Well, my thing is with the Blue Jackets and Lake Erie Monsters.....
I just think they missed the boat on this one.....

No.. I think they missed the boat with the Youngstown Steeldogs of the CHL. What are they doing in the CHL anyway? It is the Central Hockey League. Wouldn't it be great if they could get that franchise to merge into the AHL.

And speaking of the CHL... It would be cool if they just collect some of the SPHL teams Huntsville and Knoxville would look cool with those teams and wouldn't have to travel as far.

And speaking of moving into leagues.. .what the heck is the Utah Grizzlies trying to prove? I hear they are now going to move into the SEL.

[lAbitibien]

I think that the AHL should have 30 teams, but I don't think they're gonna be able to have stabilization in team since there is no stabilization with staff and player

[BulaJacket]

What do you mean?

[lAbitibien]

I mean that every member of an AHL organization probably want to get to the NHL. If you want to popularize a franchise in any locations, you need top figure that stay with the team for long enough to be associate with that team. Not necesseraly a star player like Crosby or Ovechkyn, but a player who would be very popular in the community. The AHL is the league where no one wants to play.

[ThreeStars]

Couple of things:

The idea of having the AHL teams locate near the NHL teams just doesn't work fiscally. The AHL teams travel by bus, that could be some very long trips to away games.

Regarding the AHL being the lkeague "no one wants to play in": that is not so, Yes I agree it probably is not a young hockey players dream to end up their but that is not what is for. The AHL is a teaching league. This is where young 'uns learn to play professional hockey with a similar pace and skill level to the NHL (not quite there, obviously). There are veterans in the league who teach the newbies the ropes. Ultimately it serves an important purpose for the NHL, it really isn't a stand alone league.