Chicago Wolves intend to return to independence (upd: only lasted one year before reaffiliating)

[IU Hawks fan]

Woah! Very interested to see how this plays out.

Click to read more...

 

[StreetHawk]

Where does Carolina end up with now? They were with Charlotte which was super convenient location wise, but Charlotte has since paired up with Florida.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Wolves clearly pining for their IHL days.

And really, no NHL team should want to be affiliated with the Wolves. They're fantastically-run when it comes to putting a good product on the ice and catering to their fans, but that is not always or often aligned to catering to parent affiliate desires to develop players.

 

[Mike Jones]

Independence? In the Kansas City area? That's an interesting move.

 

[mouser]

I thought the AHL required teams to have a NHL affiliation?

 

[MeHateHe]

Independence? In the Kansas City area? That's an interesting move.

<iframe src="Drums Eye Roll GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY" width="480" height="266" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="">via GIPHY</a></p>
Copy Code

 

[gstommylee]

I thought the AHL required teams to have a NHL affiliation?

I thought so too since wolves tried to not have an affiliation before and AHL told them that they can't do that.

 

[Centrum Hockey]

So the wolves are joining another league then,since it’s impossible to build a full team consisting of veterans with the current AHL rules and the AHL doesn’t allow independents.

 

[SemireliableSource]

I don't remember the exact wording of the by law but I'm pretty sure the requirement for the affiliation is for new teams and doesn't explicitly say you have to maintain an affiliation.

 

[nickp91]

This is about to get interesting

 

[Yukon Joe]

Interesting.

I know the Wolves historically have always put their own interests first (i.e. winning) ahead of trying to develop players for NHL teams and have not always been seen as the greatest partner as a result.

But I too thought the AHL required teams to be an NHL affiliate - that's the direction the league has taken for a very long time now.

CUrious to see what happens.

 

[Roadrage]

Guessing they've decided to leave the AHL? Maybe looking at restarting the IHL as a charter member?

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Chicago Wolves to shed NHL affiliation

Wolves general manager Wendell Young confirmed Wednesday the Wolves plan to become an independent AHL team.

theathletic.com

Young said the decision was made because the Wolves believe the Hurricanes’ philosophy towards their AHL affiliate had changed this season.

“Within our affiliation, it says we will develop and also we want to win a Calder Cup,” said Young, who is in his 14th season as Wolves general manager. “I think the philosophy has changed, not our philosophy, but the philosophy has changed from up top. We had a really successful year and won the Calder Cup last year and developed players, gave them a few players too that are in their lineup now at minimum salary. I believe Carolina’s philosophy has changed. It was all about development. And our philosophy, it’s in our affiliation, that says develop and win. We think by winning, we develop. That’s where we stand.

“Also, some organizations are development-only, but we think if we have development and win playoff games, guys learn how to win, which you’re trying to do all the time. That’s changed. It’s time to go independent and follow our own philosophy.”

 

[StreetHawk]

Interesting.

I know the Wolves historically have always put their own interests first (i.e. winning) ahead of trying to develop players for NHL teams and have not always been seen as the greatest partner as a result.

But I too thought the AHL required teams to be an NHL affiliate - that's the direction the league has taken for a very long time now.

CUrious to see what happens.

Wolves have always been that affiliate that you team up with in between your AHL affiliate. Canucks went to Chicago in between losing Manitoba due to the return of the Jets and before they got to Utica. Same with Vegas before they got one in Henderson, NV.

Question for Carolina is where do they go from here? Charlotte seemed logical since it was in state, but I heard it was a money issue with them. So, now where?

Chicago, probably makes sense for them to be independent if they want to be a winner consistently and not lose guys during the season to the NHL. Will be looking to sign vets who have basically accepted that the NHL is not in their future anymore.

 

[LadyStanley]

Insiders mention Chicago situation.

The upcoming/summer AHL BOG meeting may be very interesting.

Carolina may be looking for new franchise?

 

[WarriorofTime]

The Wolves are an excellent run organization. They formed in the 1990s as a team in the IHL which had no affiliation to the NHL. They advertised heavily and were the “anti-Blackhawks” who were run by Bill Wirtz. Games on local tv, prioritizing fan experience and winning above all else. They won a lot in the IHL and had a number of core players throughout the tenure. For a while they even outdrew the Blackhawks.

They switched over to the AHL when the IHL folded and have burned through different affiliations while remaining competitive. They remain fiercely independent and not an extension of their NHL affiliate. I imagine this makes them difficult to work with. They will likely continue to prioritize winning and to establish long term franchise players like in the 1990s. I wish them the best of luck.

 

[mouser]

From the limited reading I’ve done, there doesn’t appear to be a AHL requirement that the Wolves maintain a AHL affiliation.

If that’s the long term position of Chicago, it does raise the question whether the AHL could add a 33rd team in upcoming years to have 32 NHL affiliated teams?

 

[StreetHawk]

From the limited reading I’ve done, there doesn’t appear to be a AHL requirement that the Wolves maintain a AHL affiliation.

If that’s the long term position of Chicago, it does raise the question whether the AHL could add a 33rd team in upcoming years to have 32 NHL affiliated teams?

Carolina needs an affiliate now. So figure they eye somewhere in the eastern time zone. It does seem odd to have a completely Independent team in a minor league. I doubt that happens with baseball’s AAA leagues.

 

[LadyStanley]

Check out this Podcast: Coffee, Grunge & Playoff Hockey Coffee, Grunge & Playoff Hockey

Friedman and Marek 32 Thoughts. Some discussion near end of podcast. Didn't address Carolina's need/desire for AHL affiliate. Wolves want to push to win every year, not develop/stockpile depth for NHL call ups.

 

[GindyDraws]

Carolina needs an affiliate now. So figure they eye somewhere in the eastern time zone. It does seem odd to have a completely Independent team in a minor league. I doubt that happens with baseball’s AAA leagues.

I think it's more that they would like to create their own independent hockey league if they could but the limitations of hockey don't allow that.

 

[Ernie]

Does anyone know how many current AHL teams aren't controlled by their NHL affiliates?

 

[sh724]

Does anyone know how many current AHL teams aren't controlled by their NHL affiliates?

What do you mean by "controlled"? Many AHL teams that arent owned by an NHL are still basically ran by the NHL team

 

[rsteen]

I think it's 20 or 21 teams that are owned by their NHL affiliate. But most of the independently owned teams aren't very independent, as sh724 pointed out. Jeremy Jacobs doesn't own the PBruins, but their GM is Evan Gold who is also an AGM for Boston, for example.

 

[mouser]

Does anyone know how many current AHL teams aren't controlled by their NHL affiliates?

I believe 21 teams are currently owned by the NHL club. The 11 teams with separate owners are:

Charlotte Checkers
Chicago Wolves
Cleveland Monsters
Colorado Eagles
Grand Rapids Griffins
Hershey Bears
Leigh Valley Phantoms
Milwaukee Admirals
Providence Bruins
Springfield Thunderbirds
Syracuse Crunch

 

[GKJ]

Check out this Podcast: Coffee, Grunge & Playoff Hockey Coffee, Grunge & Playoff Hockey

Friedman and Marek 32 Thoughts. Some discussion near end of podcast. Didn't address Carolina's need/desire for AHL affiliate. Wolves want to push to win every year, not develop/stockpile depth for NHL call ups.

They also said 2 things that gave me good thought.

First, the Wolves are the only AHL team with their own management.

The other is that while they would not have affiliation, it would open them up to various loan agreements to take on prospects, and specifically goalies, who may be boxed out of situations on other teams. They do still have to adhere to roster rules.

This would give me some pause if I were the ECHL though. The Wolves are going to have a number of players who would be the best players in the ECHL. I’m quite curious to see how this plays out and if other teams want to try it. But my last point is the big factor - whoever does is going to have to pay their own staffs.