AHL Affiliates & News

[jds 20]

As long as they know about any injuries (like in the morning skate) 24-36 hours in advance, they should be able to get the guys called up in time for a game. That's going to be a tough one.

It's official. AHL Board of Governor's approves move of Manitoba Moose to St. John's. They will be the new farm team of the Winnipeg Whatsits.

The Canadian Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Manitoba Moose have found a new home.

The American Hockey League's board of governors has approved the franchise's move from Winnipeg to St. John's, N.L.

The AHL club was forced to leave Winnipeg after True North Sports and Entertainment purchased the Atlanta Thrashers late last month with the intention of moving them to Manitoba capital.

True North Sports and Entertainment also owns the Moose.

The St. John's club will serve as the AHL affiliate for the as-yet named Winnipeg franchise starting in 2011-12.

The AHL's St. John's Maple Leafs were relocated to become the Toronto Marlies in 2005 after 14 seasons.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's St. John's Fog Devils were founded in 2005, but left to become the Montreal Juniors in 2008.

"The American Hockey League is excited to be returning to St. John's," AHL president and CEO David Andrews said in a release. "The people of Newfoundland and Labrador showed tremendous support for our league in the past, and we're confident that passion will return to Mile One Centre this fall."

[Chadd 916]

Talk about conflicting emotions for the AHL clubs. No more winterpeg trips, but now you have to deal with the newfie fans.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Glenn Stanford has stepped down as President of the Hamilton Bulldogs (Canadiens) to head home to NFLD and run the AHL team there. Sad to see him go, but I always figured a new team there would come after him. He ran the Maple Leafs when they were there and they always did well.

[goaliemanshark 6]

Who do the Canucks get as their farm team now?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Who do the Canucks get as their farm team now?

Rumour is that Vancouver wants to move their guys to Abbotsford (to have them close). There could be lots of AHL affiliates bouncing around this year. If Pegula buys the Amerks...they go back to being Buffalo's team...which leave Portland without an NHL parent. Calgary could then provide players to Portland. I don't know the status of other team aggreements, but there are usually 1 or 2 teams that change each year. It's a chain reaction, 1 team decides to move and others move around to make up the roster differences.

[raganblink 82]

I'll bite here... Whose taking Chicago? They were Atlanta's team.

So Winnipeg takes Vancouver's franchise, Vancouver wants to take Calgary's, does Calgary take Chicago? Or does Vancouver make it simple and take the Wolves?

[shotty 7]

true north owns the moose franchise. a ton of the moose players are property of the canucks... those players will be transferred to whichever team becomes the affiliate club of the canucks. from a layman's point of view, it would be easiest for the players who are property of the canucks to move to chicago and for the wolves players to move to the new NFLD team... but it probably wont happen like that. the abbotsford franchise isn't doing so well, and for long term viability of that business it would be best for them to align with the canucks.

[chippa13 1844]

After watching how badly things went with the attempt in Lowell, I don't think NHL teams care one bit about the long term viability of AHL affiliates.

[shotty 7]

i'm speaking of the ownership group of the Abbotsford franchise. When they landed a team, they approached the canucks, who were not interested in breaking ties with the moose at the time. you're right; nhl clubs may not care much about the viability of an AHL club, but you can be certain that if they have the option to make things easier on their staff and players, they certainly will.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I'll bite here... Whose taking Chicago? They were Atlanta's team.

So Winnipeg takes Vancouver's franchise, Vancouver wants to take Calgary's, does Calgary take Chicago? Or does Vancouver make it simple and take the Wolves?

I forgot all about the Wolves. They will definitely be in the mix of movement.

Hmmm:

Vancouver - Abbotsford

Winnipeg - St. John's

Buffalo - Rochester

Florida (currently in Roch.) - Portland

Calgary - Chicago

???

[Chadd 916]

I forgot all about the Wolves. They will definitely be in the mix of movement.

Hmmm:

Vancouver - Abbotsford

Winnipeg - St. John's

Buffalo - Rochester

Florida (currently in Roch.) - Portland

Calgary - Chicago

???

I thought Chicago (AHL) was folding. If that's the case, and there isn't a compatible AHL team without an agreement, I could see Featser splitting them up and sending the guys to a couple different teams. I believe he was GM in Herhsey during their affiliation with Colorado, so he knows the positives and negatives with long distance affiliate relationships.

I'm really surprised that there isn't an AHL franchise in Seattle or Portland yet.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I hadn't heard that about CHI. Too bad if it is true. They've been a great franchise in both the AHL and IHL before that. This was the first season in a while with an AHL affiliate for every NHL team. No split affiliations.

Seattle and Portland both have WHL teams that draw well (to the best of my knowledge). Could they support second teams in those cities/markets?

[raganblink 82]

Personally? No. Ahl failed in des Moines and Omaha, both historic junior hockey towns. We do have a bunch of other crap going on though so that might explain losing them (football is big and wrestling in both towns). Also if a game is played at home on a Saturday during Iowa or Nebraska football game, place was empty.

Ahl could make it a go but that would probably kill whl.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Personally? No. Ahl failed in des Moines and Omaha, both historic junior hockey towns. We do have a bunch of other crap going on though so that might explain losing them (football is big and wrestling in both towns). Also if a game is played at home on a Saturday during Iowa or Nebraska football game, place was empty.

Ahl could make it a go but that would probably kill whl.

I dunno...Jr hockey is a crazy beast. When I said "can they support both" I meant that the AHL would be the weaker draw.

[raganblink 82]

Then yes they could. Theyd probably hit league average in ahl.

[Chadd 916]

Seattle and Portland both have WHL teams that draw well (to the best of my knowledge). Could they support second teams in those cities/markets?

Those markets are large enough to support AHL teams. Neither city has an NBA and NFL franchise in town, so there should be some corporate money available.

[bigdmac 12]

Those markets are large enough to support AHL teams. Neither city has an NBA and NFL franchise in town, so there should be some corporate money available.

Portland Trail Blazers?

[raganblink 82]

Nba AND NFL team.

[goaliemanshark 6]

Oh man, I opened up a can of worms!!

[chippa13 1844]

Those markets are large enough to support AHL teams. Neither city has an NBA and NFL franchise in town, so there should be some corporate money available.

Seattle Seahawks?

Edit: Wait, I know what you're getting at now. You're saying that neither has BOTH an NBA and NFL team.

[cooperalls 4]

Portland has a great venue (Rose Garden), Seattle does not. The Key isn't a great venue for any sport, and its last renovation still isn't paid off...so getting money for a suitable arena would be next to impossible. That's one of the biggest reasons they lost the Sonics.

Both cities have a pretty good core of fans for Major Junior, but probably only average 5-6K for attendance. For a rivalry game or playoffs, they get as many as 10K. But those are at pretty low ticket prices. I'm afraid the price hike for AHL wouldn't help attendance, let alone trying to support two teams in the same market.

Travel for a team from either city in the AHL would be tough too, isn't Abbotsford is the only one that's close?

Not that it wouldn't be great to have another professional team in the NW, it just doesn't seem very likely.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Some AHL News to pass along...

The Chicago Wolves roster will be populated by prospects of the Vancouver Canucks: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370154

&

Kirk Muller is the new HC for the Preds affiliate in Milwaukee: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370150

[shotty 7]

not that I have my finger on the pulse of the AHL or anything, but I certainly didn't expect that (Canucks / Wolves)

[RadioGaGa 162]

not that I have my finger on the pulse of the AHL or anything, but I certainly didn't expect that (Canucks / Wolves)

I thought we'd see them put the farm in Abbottsford!

[chippa13 1844]

Buffalo renewed ties with Rochester. I'm not sure why they split from them in the first place.