Affiliation Agreement?
People around the Bears organization that usually have good info (and willing to share) have been silent on the issue of affiliation. I see the last one year extension was announced on 4/14/13
http://www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?id=4103 so we are not too much beyond that this year. Wondering if this will be wrapped up into the Monday announcement?
I know that Bears staff and management have been grumbling about the affiliation lately (last two years), but I don't see a better option. They have really grown accustomed to the proximity of Washington and Reading for ease of player movement (when GMGM can be bothered to paper down players when needed). The lack of communication and coordination with Washington, Oates in particular, frustrates Hershey to no end.
This should be interesting to watch in any case. Some people are clamoring for Anaheim because of the very good relationship with Bruce Boudreau and his recent visits to Hershey (he still has a home here), but I think that is short sighted. Not only would the distance be an issue, but Anaheim was not well thought of when they were with Syracuse. Maybe things have changed with Bruce, but that spat with Howard Dolgon makes me nervous. I am betting on "the devil we know" for another year. I can only hope the devil we know is the Caps without Oates and GMGM. With a front office change, I may just be able to bring my Caps gear into rotation again without feeling like I have to vomit.
I am hoping Bob Hartley ends up in Washington. His position with the Flames is still up in the air and I think he would be a great fit for the Caps. He has a proven track record in managing superstars and I think he could get the Ovi situation under control. His close ties to Hershey (team and community) will be a huge + for us on the AHL side, but not of primary concern to the org as a whole.
