AHL "state of the league" address.

[royals119]

Didn't see this posted anywhere yet. Andrews annual statement at the all-star game. Nothing earth shattering, confirms Seattle AHL for 2021, on the west coast, working toward a uniform number of games for all teams, but need agreement from the BOG, no movement expected for next year.

Stability central theme at AHL All-Star Classic

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[Centrum Hockey]

Didn't see this posted anywhere yet. Andrews annual statement at the all-star game. Nothing earth shattering, confirms Seattle AHL for 2021, on the west coast, working toward a uniform number of games for all teams, but need agreement from the BOG, no movement expected for next year.

Stability central theme at AHL All-Star Classic

Andrews has said there will be no team movement before when they was more than one team that moved in the offseason

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

The movement that we saw during the Pacific shift and before is just about done. All but three or four teams are either 1.) owned by their NHL affiliate and have their long term future secured or 2.) close enough in geography and/or have a good enough relationship that they might as well be one entity.

The only NHL teams who don't fit those are the Blues, Golden Knights, Panthers, and perhaps Tampa Bay and Vancouver if you're getting picky and they all aren't changing anytime soon.

Blues were looking at teaming up with a nearby EC team, supposedly talked with Indy and KC, and convincing them to cover the incurred costs of joining the AHL (AHL franchise fee, EC exit fee, etc.) the much like the Avalanche did with the Colorado Eagles. But they're with San Antonio for at least three more years, and most certainly are looking for options close to home. They're one of the few changes to look for.

Golden Knights have their prospects with Chicago Wolves and 10 minutes away from Chicago O'Hare with cheap 3 hour non-stop flights, and have verbally expressed how much they love the arrangement. Definitely looked at nearby EC teams like Salt Lake and Idaho but both passed. Panthers have the Springfield Thunderbirds and with the AHL's office within walking distance of MassMutual Center, they are unlikely to leave.

Tampa has been occasionally linked and Vancouver has been perpetually linked with relocating their AHL teams closer by. But, the Syracuse Crunch announced in October a 12 year lease with the Onandoga County War Memorial and still have independent ownership and an excellent prospect development relationship with Tampa. Vancouver has long been rumored to relocate their team to Abbotsford, but before the new year they committed to 6 more years in Utica citing how well the city treats their prospects and were rumored to want to keep their developing stars as far away from the Vancouver media as possible.

 

[ek93]

The movement that we saw during the Pacific shift and before is just about done. All but three or four teams are either 1.) owned by their NHL affiliate and have their long term future secured or 2.) close enough in geography and/or have a good enough relationship that they might as well be one entity.

The only NHL teams who don't fit those are the Blues, Golden Knights, Panthers, and perhaps Tampa Bay and Vancouver if you're getting picky and they all aren't changing anytime soon.

Blues were looking at teaming up with a nearby EC team, supposedly talked with Indy and KC, and convincing them to cover the incurred costs of joining the AHL (AHL franchise fee, EC exit fee, etc.) the much like the Avalanche did with the Colorado Eagles. But they're with San Antonio for at least three more years, and most certainly are looking for options close to home. They're one of the few changes to look for.

Golden Knights have their prospects with Chicago Wolves and 10 minutes away from Chicago O'Hare with cheap 3 hour non-stop flights, and have verbally expressed how much they love the arrangement. Definitely looked at nearby EC teams like Salt Lake and Idaho but both passed. Panthers have the Springfield Thunderbirds and with the AHL's office within walking distance of MassMutual Center, they are unlikely to leave.

Tampa has been occasionally linked and Vancouver has been perpetually linked with relocating their AHL teams closer by. But, the Syracuse Crunch announced in October a 12 year lease with the Onandoga County War Memorial and still have independent ownership and an excellent prospect development relationship with Tampa. Vancouver has long been rumored to relocate their team to Abbotsford, but before the new year they committed to 6 more years in Utica citing how well the city treats their prospects and were rumored to want to keep their developing stars as far away from the Vancouver media as possible.

Agreed on all points. I think the major shifts are pretty much done. The only team who still has a real reason to move (eventually) is Vancouver, but the recent re-upping with Utica should quiet that down for at least a couple years.

Another thing to consider for FLA/TB is that while they themselves are far away from their affiliates, if they need to call somebody up for a road game, Syracuse and Springfield are pretty much right in the backyard of almost every Eastern Conference NHL team. So while Syracuse/Tampa and Springfield/Florida are far away, an emergency call-up on the road is still extremely easy for these teams.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Agreed on all points. I think the major shifts are pretty much done. The only team who still has a real reason to move (eventually) is Vancouver, but the recent re-upping with Utica should quiet that down for at least a couple years.

Another thing to consider for FLA/TB is that while they themselves are far away from their affiliates, if they need to call somebody up for a road game, Syracuse and Springfield are pretty much right in the backyard of almost every Eastern Conference NHL team. So while Syracuse/Tampa and Springfield/Florida are far away, an emergency call-up on the road is still extremely easy for these teams.

Vancouver gave two reasons for staying in Utica: liking how the prospects have been 1. treated and 2. developed.

Utica's sellout streak is at 140something and the players are treated very well in the stands and on the street regardless of their on-ice performance, something which might not happen in Canucksland. Hard to argue that staying away from the hardcore professional fanbase and being a hero in a small hockey-obsessed with a rabid fanbase that packs the Aud every night would help with a player's confidence.

Also in Utica, the players are a short bus trip away from not only every divisional game but also every conference game save for Charlotte. Canucks management has said they'll take the increased practice and workout time over the ease of call-ups, since if they were to move to the Pacific conference they would be in the airport for nearly every game and wouldn't sleep in their own beds after games. I would assume that Tampa and Florida share this viewpoint.

 

[Centrum Hockey]

The movement that we saw during the Pacific shift and before is just about done. All but three or four teams are either 1.) owned by their NHL affiliate and have their long term future secured or 2.) close enough in geography and/or have a good enough relationship that they might as well be one entity.

The only NHL teams who don't fit those are the Blues, Golden Knights, Panthers, and perhaps Tampa Bay and Vancouver if you're getting picky and they all aren't changing anytime soon.

Blues were looking at teaming up with a nearby EC team, supposedly talked with Indy and KC, and convincing them to cover the incurred costs of joining the AHL (AHL franchise fee, EC exit fee, etc.) the much like the Avalanche did with the Colorado Eagles. But they're with San Antonio for at least three more years, and most certainly are looking for options close to home. They're one of the few changes to look for.

Golden Knights have their prospects with Chicago Wolves and 10 minutes away from Chicago O'Hare with cheap 3 hour non-stop flights, and have verbally expressed how much they love the arrangement. Definitely looked at nearby EC teams like Salt Lake and Idaho but both passed. Panthers have the Springfield Thunderbirds and with the AHL's office within walking distance of MassMutual Center, they are unlikely to leave.

Tampa has been occasionally linked and Vancouver has been perpetually linked with relocating their AHL teams closer by. But, the Syracuse Crunch announced in October a 12 year lease with the Onandoga County War Memorial and still have independent ownership and an excellent prospect development relationship with Tampa. Vancouver has long been rumored to relocate their team to Abbotsford, but before the new year they committed to 6 more years in Utica citing how well the city treats their prospects and were rumored to want to keep their developing stars as far away from the Vancouver media as possible.

Didn't Tampa dislike having their affiliate in Norfolk because of travel how would Orlando be any different unless they got the Panthers and Predators to join them

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Didn't Tampa dislike having their affiliate in Norfolk because of travel how would Orlando be any different unless they got the Panthers and Predators to join them

Things wouldn’t be different even if the Panthers and Predators joined them. It’s the same thing as if Seattle puts their AHL team in-state. Charlotte would still be the only other teammate nearby. Far too much time still spent at airports where in Syracuse they’ve only got one in conference game, let alone divisional game, that they need to for. Less time on the road, more time in the gym and on the ice.

The status quo will almost certainly remain since they signed a new lease for 12 years. An hour down the road in Utica, Vancouver signed one around the same time to keep Utica at the Aud for another six years.

 

[GindyDraws]

I'll believe the same number of games for all teams when I see it.

I find that to be an appalling decision still. Either make it 72 even or split the 7 true Pacific teams away from the rest of the league.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I'll believe the same number of games for all teams when I see it.

I find that to be an appalling decision still. Either make it 72 even or split the 7 true Pacific teams away from the rest of the league.

ECHL IS 72

 

[Tommy Hawk]

Let's go to 48 games. Games are only Fri, Sat, and Sun