AHL/NHL Affiliations

[JMCx4]

then why is the franchise based in Independence, and has ZERO to do with the AHL since EVERY Hockey fan knows Sly White's stance on hockey in KC

It's more about encouraging you to choose your words more carefully, HUTCH. The ECHL **IS** "pro hockey." Further, the Mavericks **DO** have something to do with the AHL through their current affiliation with the Stockton Heat (and previously with the Chicago Wolves). And I doubt that "EVERY Hockey fan knows Sly White's stance on hockey in KC" (is that a cross between KC Mayor Sly James & Jackson County Exec Frank White?). Yet, I do agree that the Kansas City area is at best a long-long shot at ever landing an NHL franchise. An AHL franchise? Slightly more likely, especially if Lamar Hunt Jr. finds a combination of financial & political opportunities that favor his real estate investments. Meanwhile, I'll just keep enjoying the presence of an ECHL team in my home state.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

It's more about encouraging you to choose your words more carefully, HUTCH. The ECHL **IS** "pro hockey." Further, the Mavericks **DO** have something to do with the AHL through their current affiliation with the Stockton Heat (and previously with the Chicago Wolves). And I doubt that "EVERY Hockey fan knows Sly White's stance on hockey in KC" (is that a cross between KC Mayor Sly James & Jackson County Exec Frank White?). Yet, I do agree that the Kansas City area is at best a long-long shot at ever landing an NHL franchise. An AHL franchise? Slightly more likely, especially if Lamar Hunt Jr. finds a combination of financial & political opportunities that favor his real estate investments. Meanwhile, I'll just keep enjoying the presence of an ECHL team in my home state.

you do realize the Stockton Heat were born where, JMC, Portland, despite the many flips/incarnations of a given franchise..... This all originally stemmed from the Blues investigating KC, and/or the Mavericks , which the club denied BEFORE Vegas struck the Wolves PDC, and then Colorado leaving at the end of its season... what does that have to do with the AHL, anyway, the Mavericks aren't leaving or doing what the Eagles will eventually do....

 

[UticaHockey]

Could Prince George be a future AHL market?

I think it'd make sense as an affiliate with the Canucks, have a good airport, although a ways away, but they could potentially do the same thing St. John's did, like fly then bus.

Almost 500 miles north of Vancouver and about 1300 miles from the closest AHL divisional team. Sounds like a great idea to me. Maybe the AHL should expand to Russia and Europe too.

 

[JMCx4]

... what does that have to do with the AHL....

Just once more, for em-PHA-sis ...

It's more about encouraging you to choose your words more carefully, HUTCH.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Just once more, for em-PHA-sis ...

uh, Where's the proposal to elevate the Mavericks to the AHL, THEN, JMC? Kansas City is NOT a current member of the AHL, MOVE ON

 

[Clinton Comets EHL]

you do realize the Stockton Heat were born where, JMC, Portland, despite the many flips/incarnations of a given franchise..... This all originally stemmed from the Blues investigating KC, and/or the Mavericks , which the club denied BEFORE Vegas struck the Wolves PDC, and then Colorado leaving at the end of its season... what does that have to do with the AHL, anyway, the Mavericks aren't leaving or doing what the Eagles will eventually do....

Please look at what you type before you press send. Honestly, your comments make a pretzel look like a straight line. Please produce facts before spitting out nonsense.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Please look at what you type before you press send. Honestly, your comments make a pretzel look like a straight line. Please produce facts before spitting out nonsense.

why is this topic up, simply put the AHL stated Kansas City was denied by the Mavericks ownership when the Blues investigated that option.... MOVE ON

 

[mk80]

To settle everyone's debate, this is the reason the Eagles are making the jump instead of the Mavericks...

The Blues entered talks with potential ownership groups in Kansas City and Indianapolis about an expansion club, but the price proved too expensive. The two cities already have ECHL franchises — the Kansas City Mavericks and the Indy Fuel — and the combined costs of the AHL franchise fee, ECHL exit fee and other financial factors would have totaled an estimated $7 million-plus.

Source: Blues add AHL affiliate in San Antonio — for next year

As the article also states, had the Blues decided to spend the money the move could have already happened and KC would have AHL hockey. However, that didn't happen and KC has the Mavericks in the ECHL and are still one the strongest ECHL organizations, could they possibly ever make the jump in the future? Maybe. But right now they are the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The Blues have also sinced signed on with the San Antonio Rampage for 5 seasons (although we know those can be broken early as we have seen in past AHL moves) but for the time being its safe to assume the Blues are committed to San Antonio

 

[Jackets Woodchuck]

then why is the franchise based in Independence, and has ZERO to do with the AHL since EVERY Hockey fan knows Sly White's stance on hockey in KC

Not every hockey fan. I'm a hockey fan and I have no idea who Sly White is or his stance on hockey in Kansas City.

 

[UticaHockey]

To settle everyone's debate, this is the reason the Eagles are making the jump instead of the Mavericks...



Source: Blues add AHL affiliate in San Antonio — for next year

As the article also states, had the Blues decided to spend the money the move could have already happened and KC would have AHL hockey. However, that didn't happen and KC has the Mavericks in the ECHL and are still one the strongest ECHL organizations, could they possibly ever make the jump in the future? Maybe. But right now they are the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The Blues have also sinced signed on with the San Antonio Rampage for 5 seasons (although we know those can be broken early as we have seen in past AHL moves) but for the time being its safe to assume the Blues are committed to San Antonio

As the trend of NHL teams owning their AHL franchise continues to grow the Blues went in the other direction when they sold their AHL franchise to the Vancouver Canucks five years ago. Without that transaction the Utica Comets would not exist and the fans in Utica are grateful that the St. Louis Blues ownership decided that owning an AHL team was too costly. Why people thought that the Blues would somehow buy the AHL's 31st franchise and move them to Kansas City, Indianapolis or anywhere else for that matter I don't understand. They had their shot at ownership and threw it away and it was an opportunity for another team to purchase the newest expansion franchise in the AHL and it turned out to be Colorado.

 

[Nightsquad]

Nobody knows it all, all this is speculations and guesses. These leagues (ECHL/AHL) will do whatever and whenever the NHL and its organizations want done. Its doesn't matter what city supports their teams if that respective team is owned or becomes owned by an NHL club. At the end of the day Utica can sell out 3800 seats 1000 times but unless Robert Esche owns the team and is making money then it is irrelevant. Not to say Esche isn't doing a good job, he is doing a great job and his loyalty to his community is unmeasured but if Vancouver finds their operational needs are better served closer to western Canada then that will happen. Kansas City or its surrounding areas (Independence, Topeka, Lawrence) if someone wants to place a hockey team there then that will happen. Greater Kansas City fans might not want to be a minor league town of St. Louis.

 

[Avsrule2022]

As the trend of NHL teams owning their AHL franchise continues to grow the Blues went in the other direction when they sold their AHL franchise to the Vancouver Canucks five years ago. Without that transaction the Utica Comets would not exist and the fans in Utica are grateful that the St. Louis Blues ownership decided that owning an AHL team was too costly. Why people thought that the Blues would somehow buy the AHL's 31st franchise and move them to Kansas City, Indianapolis or anywhere else for that matter I don't understand. They had their shot at ownership and threw it away and it was an opportunity for another team to purchase the newest expansion franchise in the AHL and it turned out to be Colorado.

Agreed except that Colorado did not buy the AHL franchise. The owner of the Eagles did.

 

[mk80]

As the trend of NHL teams owning their AHL franchise continues to grow the Blues went in the other direction when they sold their AHL franchise to the Vancouver Canucks five years ago. Without that transaction the Utica Comets would not exist and the fans in Utica are grateful that the St. Louis Blues ownership decided that owning an AHL team was too costly. Why people thought that the Blues would somehow buy the AHL's 31st franchise and move them to Kansas City, Indianapolis or anywhere else for that matter I don't understand. They had their shot at ownership and threw it away and it was an opportunity for another team to purchase the newest expansion franchise in the AHL and it turned out to be Colorado.

Definitely as a Blues fan I disagreed with the decision to sell the Rivermen when the trend as you mentioned is to Own and Operate the AHL clubs, but our ownership then really just wanted to focus on the Blues operations itself (as they stated). I think their mindset changed when they realized they were going to be without an affiliate this season but now they are happy signing on with San Antonio for now.

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Here's a future possibility. The Lightning purchase Syracuse, relocate them to Orlando, and Orlando ECHL relocates to Syracuse, then the Lightning change their ECHL affiliation to the Everblades, giving the Lightning two local teams in their farm system.

 

[go comets]

Here's a future possibility. The Lightning purchase Syracuse, relocate them to Orlando, and Orlando ECHL relocates to Syracuse, then the Lightning change their ECHL affiliation to the Everblades, giving the Lightning two local teams in their farm system.

That will be a huge increase in travel for their ahl squad. And the lighting play a lot of hockey in the north east... Makes little sense to me......

 

[Clinton Comets EHL]

Here's a future possibility. The Lightning purchase Syracuse, relocate them to Orlando, and Orlando ECHL relocates to Syracuse, then the Lightning change their ECHL affiliation to the Everblades, giving the Lightning two local teams in their farm system.

no sense whatsoever

 

[Agalloch]

no sense whatsoever

It will take at least another team in Florida to make it works.

 

[JMCx4]

Here's a future possibility. The Lightning purchase Syracuse, relocate them to Orlando, and Orlando ECHL relocates to Syracuse, then the Lightning change their ECHL affiliation to the Everblades, giving the Lightning two local teams in their farm system.

For the moment presuming this is a serious scenario ... The only way another hockey team ever calls the Amway Center home is if the DeVos Family own it. Before and after their purchase of the Solar Bears last May, there has been annual turmoil in balancing the basketball & hockey schedules in that building; and the Magic will always win out. The DeVos's have the money & the clout to shape their own future, and I see no motivation for them to go back to a landlord-tenant relationship with the local hockey team. Meanwhile, the Lightning owners seem quite satisfied to focus their investments on the success of hockey in Tampa Bay (NHL and amateur) while simply influencing from afar how Howard Dolgon utilizes their prospects with the Crunch.

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Well the Lightning can sponsor the DeVos family buying the AHL Crunch and moving them into Orlando as the AHL Solar Bears.

They would then move the ECHL Solar Bears to Syracuse, then turn around and sell the new ECHL Syracuse team to the Sabres, giving that team a local ECHL affiliate.

 

[royals119]

Well the Lightning can sponsor the DeVos family buying the AHL Crunch and moving them into Orlando as the AHL Solar Bears.

They would then move the ECHL Solar Bears to Syracuse, then turn around and sell the new ECHL Syracuse team to the Sabres, giving that team a local ECHL affiliate.

The question remains: "Why would they do that?" West coast teams moved their affiliates as a group, so they could keep their prospects close by, even while either or both teams were on the road. For Tampa, moving their AHL team to Florida means they are closer when both teams are home, but reduces the chances of an easy callup while the Lightning are on the road in Boston, NYC, Pittsburgh, and Philly. It also increases the amount of time their AHL team spends traveling, which means less practice time and less rest. Plus the AHL team wouldn't be in Orlando as much for those callups, since they would be spending a lot more days traveling. The net result is probably a negative, even without the associated costs of buying, moving and re-branding.

 

[UticaHockey]

Well the Lightning can sponsor the DeVos family buying the AHL Crunch and moving them into Orlando as the AHL Solar Bears.

They would then move the ECHL Solar Bears to Syracuse, then turn around and sell the new ECHL Syracuse team to the Sabres, giving that team a local ECHL affiliate.

The Sabres or any NHL team have zero interest in owning an ECHL team. The NHL teams out west bought existing ECHL teams only to buy the arena lease agreements so they could move their AHL teams to those same cities in California. Every one of them have since sold the ECHL teams that they own with the last being Calgary that sold the Thunder to local owners in Glens Falls.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

The Sabres or any NHL team have zero interest in owning an ECHL team. The NHL teams out west bought existing ECHL teams only to buy the arena lease agreements so they could move their AHL teams to those same cities in California. Every one of them have since sold the ECHL teams that they own with the last being Calgary that sold the Thunder to local owners in Glens Falls.

not exactly true, Utica..... Spectra owns the ECHL Team in Portland, and what NHL Team is Spectra based off of, Philadelphia's Flyers, since the company built Cross Insurance Arena, among other interests in management of the majority of AHL Arenas, notably Hartford, and Binghamton to name at least two.... past teams include Abbotsford, etc... not to mention Lehigh Valley and its arena..... In fact, Spectra operates both major arenas in Maine, not just Cross Arena but Cross Center in Bangor, where locals refer to it as the Bangor Auditorium, the arena in which it replaced much as Cross Arena was simply the CCCC, until its renovation 6 years ago....

all you have to do is research Spectra and venue management and there are 17 pages of such info, in fact, the Colorado Eagles and its host venue/arena are both listed under that category

 

[UticaHockey]

not exactly true, Utica..... Spectra owns the ECHL Team in Portland, and what NHL Team is Spectra based off of, Philadelphia's Flyers, since the company built Cross Insurance Arena, among other interests in management of the majority of AHL Arenas, notably Hartford, and Binghamton to name at least two.... past teams include Abbotsford, etc... not to mention Lehigh Valley and its arena..... In fact, Spectra operates both major arenas in Maine, not just Cross Arena but Cross Center in Bangor, where locals refer to it as the Bangor Auditorium, the arena in which it replaced much as Cross Arena was simply the CCCC, until its renovation 6 years ago....

all you have to do is research Spectra and venue management and there are 17 pages of such info, in fact, the Colorado Eagles and its host venue/arena are both listed under that category

Whatever

 

[Avsrule2022]

not exactly true, Utica..... Spectra owns the ECHL Team in Portland, and what NHL Team is Spectra based off of, Philadelphia's Flyers, since the company built Cross Insurance Arena, among other interests in management of the majority of AHL Arenas, notably Hartford, and Binghamton to name at least two.... past teams include Abbotsford, etc... not to mention Lehigh Valley and its arena..... In fact, Spectra operates both major arenas in Maine, not just Cross Arena but Cross Center in Bangor, where locals refer to it as the Bangor Auditorium, the arena in which it replaced much as Cross Arena was simply the CCCC, until its renovation 6 years ago....

all you have to do is research Spectra and venue management and there are 17 pages of such info, in fact, the Colorado Eagles and its host venue/arena are both listed under that category

Do the Flyers own the new Portland team? If so, then I believe they may be the only NHL team that owns an ECHL team. And please don't remind Eagles fans that Spectra manages the building. No one likes them, they are terrible.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Do the Flyers own the new Portland team? If so, then I believe they may be the only NHL team that owns an ECHL team. And please don't remind Eagles fans that Spectra manages the building. No one likes them, they are terrible.

Spectra or Comcast Spectacor in essence does, according to the ECHL, I wouldn't think you'd hire someone not affiliated with a Spectra venue in the front office, and both Briere and Holmgren are connected and it was the Flyers who started pro hockey in Portland.... YOU also likely don't get the transfer of territory from Alaska to Portland if it was a private ownership, like the 2 previous franchises were.