AHL announces divisions for 2015-16

[LadyStanley]

http://theahl.com/ahl-announces-alignment-for-2015-16-p197883

Two conferences, four divisions.


Pacific division: 5 California teams, plus San Antonio, and Texas

Click to read more...

 

[Judas Tavares]

These actually looks pretty good. Charlotte is a major outlier, but I imagine a big reason is because their flights to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee set things up nicely. Would imagine to a lesser to degree, the same goes for St. John's being able to fly to Montreal and Toronto.

 

[Hoodaha]

http://theahl.com/ahl-announces-alignment-for-2015-16-p197883

Two conferences, four divisions.


Pacific division: 5 California teams, plus San Antonio, and Texas

Glad they lumped the TX teams in with California. Could have been rough watching the same 4 teams over and over. TX teams have to travel one way or the other, this gives them a relatively easy swing on a bus once they're in California.

 

[IceCapsFanNL]

These actually looks pretty good. Charlotte is a major outlier, but I imagine a big reason is because their flights to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee set things up nicely. Would imagine to a lesser to degree, the same goes for St. John's being able to fly to Montreal and Toronto.

It's easier for St. John's. They used to fly to TO and drive to Wilkes Barre or Hershey. The New York State teams are a better match for St. John's

 

[tigervixxxen]

Glad they lumped the TX teams in with California. Could have been rough watching the same 4 teams over and over. TX teams have to travel one way or the other, this gives them a relatively easy swing on a bus once they're in California.

I hope it's not just watching 6 teams over and over

 

[ZekeA]

I think they messed it up the AHL should have stuck with 3 divisions in each conference, easier on travel that way............

 

[Disengage]

It's easier for St. John's. They used to fly to TO and drive to Wilkes Barre or Hershey. The New York State teams are a better match for St. John's

I'm hoping I'll be able to get up there to see the Amerks play the Caps. Seems like it's a fun trip.

 

[Hoodaha]

I hope it's not just watching 6 teams over and over

I wouldn't be shocked if it is. It'll be better for the CA teams than 4 teams over and over...

 

[Alberta]

I think they messed it up the AHL should have stuck with 3 divisions in each conference, easier on travel that way............

Although this way playoffs are simple for travel because they'd all be within the division. They haven't announced that but it only makes sense to do it that way now.

I was wondering how they were going to do it if the Pacific Division teams played fewer games than everyone else.

 

[Alberta]

It's easier for St. John's. They used to fly to TO and drive to Wilkes Barre or Hershey. The New York State teams are a better match for St. John's

St. John's has a direct flight to Newark too right? I imagine they use that route often when playing teams in the NE USA.

 

[IceCapsFanNL]

It's once daily. Too much chance of a delay. I like that flight in the summer, too chancy in the winter for me.

IIRC they used to fly to MTL and bus it to New England

 

[IceCapsFanNL]

I'm hoping I'll be able to get up there to see the Amerks play the Caps. Seems like it's a fun trip.

Yep, its a good road trip. Especially if you are a drinker

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Charlotte and the Texas teams are obviously the odd men out, but considering their even more pronounced isolation now, can't say I'm surprised or disappointed by the alignment.

Charlotte outlier aside, I really like that Central.

 

[aparch]

Charlotte is just as much of an outlier in the Central as Manitoba is.

A flight is a flight. Hershey is an eight hour drive from Charlotte, their closest Eastern Conference team.

 

[RowdyFan42]

It's once daily. Too much chance of a delay. I like that flight in the summer, too chancy in the winter for me.

IIRC they used to fly to MTL and bus it to New England

That would make sense. AFAIK, Albany usually busses to Montreal and flies to St. John's from there.

 

[210]

It's once daily. Too much chance of a delay. I like that flight in the summer, too chancy in the winter for me.

IIRC they used to fly to MTL and bus it to New England

I'm fairly certain they flew to Toronto, and then on to Boston, and bussed from there.

 

[IceCapsFanNL]

I think you are right. Anyway, this is easier.

 

[Unsustainable]

5 divisions in 6 years for Charlotte.

Maybe next season they can join with California teams.

 

[CJNewman]

Looking at this you don't realize the the upheaval in divisions until you really look at it. First the Atlantic is made up of 8 teams from 3 different divisions. The North is made up of 7 teams from 4 different divisions. Central division is made up of 8 teams from 3 different divisions. Pacific division is made up of 7 teams from 4 different divisions.

 

[Tommy Hawk]

Glad they lumped the TX teams in with California. Could have been rough watching the same 4 teams over and over. TX teams have to travel one way or the other, this gives them a relatively easy swing on a bus once they're in California.

I think they messed it up the AHL should have stuck with 3 divisions in each conference, easier on travel that way............

Looking at this you don't realize the the upheaval in divisions until you really look at it. First the Atlantic is made up of 8 teams from 3 different divisions. The North is made up of 7 teams from 4 different divisions. Central division is made up of 8 teams from 3 different divisions. Pacific division is made up of 7 teams from 4 different divisions.

And absolutely none of this matters when the schedule is being created. Never has, never will

 

[wildcat48]

Charlotte wants to be in the west for a couple reasons.

1.) It's easier for them to fly to Chicago and play the Midwest hub of teams.

2.) It's an easier sell to their non-hockey fan base when they advertise San Antonio, Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee any other NBA markets I might be missing vs. Binghamton, Utica, Portland or any other eastern city.

They want it this way.... And, looking at the divisions they look fine because ultimately teams will play primarily within their division.

 

[Nerdlinger]

5 divisions in 6 years for Charlotte.

Maybe next season they can join with California teams.

Well, 4 divisions if you consider that the South of 2012-13 was just renamed the West in 2013-14, when they traded Houston for Abbotsford. But yeah, a lot of moving around.

 

[Tommy Hawk]

These actually looks pretty good. Charlotte is a major outlier, but I imagine a big reason is because their flights to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee set things up nicely. Would imagine to a lesser to degree, the same goes for St. John's being able to fly to Montreal and Toronto.

Detroit? For Grand Rapids?

Charlotte wants to be in the west for a couple reasons.

1.) It's easier for them to fly to Chicago and play the Midwest hub of teams.

2.) It's an easier sell to their non-hockey fan base when they advertise San Antonio, Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee any other NBA markets I might be missing vs. Binghamton, Utica, Portland or any other eastern city.

They want it this way.... And, looking at the divisions they look fine because ultimately teams will play primarily within their division.

The last sentence is it - because they want it this way. Charlotte was probably asked what division they wanted to be in because they really did not naturally fit anywhere and they could be in pretty much any divisior without a major impact.

 

[HansH]

I hope it's not just watching 6 teams over and over

Tell that to the "Original Six" worshipers in the NHL

 

[Theoriginalalex]

And absolutely none of this matters when the schedule is being created. Never has, never will

Well, on this point, it has begun to matter more. Over the last few years the league had slowly started to balance the schedule more. Last season, for the first time, all teams in the same division played 8-12 times, while teams in different divisions played between 0-8 times. And most everyone played all their fellow conference teams (Charlotte and Syracuse being the two major exceptions).

So, I'm not saying the divisions matter a whole lot, but they do matter some, and matter a lot more than they did even 5 years ago.