AHL, the NHL's development league

[LadyStanley]

How many teams' emphasis is on development vs putting a good/great team together to keep seats in butts?

IOW, what portion of (1-2nd year) prospects vs more veteran/journeyman on roster?

Yes, the AHL limits # of veterans (260+ games) on roster to five, but what's the ratio of the other 13 skaters?


This week's Barracuda broadcaster blog projects that the Sharks will have FOURTEEN first (AHL) year players on the roster (including goalie, backing up Bibeau). (And could be the youngest team, again)

Where/how do other AHL teams stack up?

Click to read more...

 

[hb12xchamps]

There was a recent Caps article stating that the Capitals emphasis is playing their prospects over AHL journeymen in Hershey, which is a big change for the organization. Hershey's team will be a majority of first or second year AHL players next year:

G:
Samsonov (1st)

D:
Hobbs (2nd)
Johansen (2nd)
Bindulis (2nd)
Siegenthaler (2nd)

F:
Bau Hansen (2nd)
Gersich (1st)
Pilon (1st)
Pinho (1st)
Gustafsson (2nd)
Ikonen (1st)
Fjallby (1st)
Malenstyn (1st)
Mitchell (2nd)

 

[Growler]

Marlies were 3rd or 4th youngest last year. They likely will be older this year just because very little turn over will occur. The Dubas formula has been for the AHL to be development-first, but then spend big money on a few (3-4) excellent veterans who choose to embrace being in the AHL vs. being annoyed by it - and pay those guys good coin, often better than they would get playing in the NHL. Prospects on ELCs who are getting towards 24 years old and have no chance of making the Leafs typically get traded away.

AHL contracted players are stocked every year. Typically more than any other team under Dubas. e.g. 17 already contracted even though there is only 3-4 spots on the Marlies likely. ECHL get the rest.

Winning is good in as much as it hardens prospects for high stress hockey. But filling the stands is not the goal; it's more of a by-product.

 

[Growler]

There was a recent Caps article stating that the Capitals emphasis is playing their prospects over AHL journeymen in Hershey, which is a big change for the organization. Hershey's team will be a majority of first or second year AHL players next year:

G:
Samsonov (1st)

D:
Hobbs (2nd)
Johansen (2nd)
Bindulis (2nd)
Siegenthaler (2nd)

F:
Bau Hansen (2nd)
Gersich (1st)
Pilon (1st)
Pinho (1st)
Gustafsson (2nd)
Ikonen (1st)
Fjallby (1st)
Malenstyn (1st)
Mitchell (2nd)

This is a big shift because Hershey and the Wolves are independent and historically have been the most sensitive to gate revenues. To see Hershey making this shift is a really tell-tale sign of the change afoot in the NHL minor league system as a whole.

 

[GarbageGoal]

I expect Providence to mostly be Boston prospects, but some of those are guys going into their third or fourth year now, like Colby Cave and Anton Blidh. Also have some definite grizzled vets like Chris Breen and Jordan Szwarz.

 

[hb12xchamps]

This is a big shift because Hershey and the Wolves are independent and historically have been the most sensitive to gate revenues. To see Hershey making this shift is a really tell-tale sign of the change afoot in the NHL minor league system as a whole.

It will be really interesting this year to see how the fans embrace it. Hershey's fanbase is pretty old school and there are a lot of die hards that have had season tickets for decades. It's definitely going to be a tense and high stress situation for some of the prospects if they have a bad year.

Hershey signed Jayson Megna, Michael Sgarbossa and re-signed Aaron Ness as their veteran voices on the team. Their communications and play by play guy said that they are also looking to add another veteran forward and another veteran D to help with the development of the kids. The league is definitely trending towards more development

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

This is a big shift because Hershey and the Wolves are independent and historically have been the most sensitive to gate revenues. To see Hershey making this shift is a really tell-tale sign of the change afoot in the NHL minor league system as a whole.

Washington doesn't really have a lot of options, to go elsewhere...that trend was already shifting anyway....some newer posters don't realize what Hershey actually is, in comparison to past, current, or future markets.... even the veteran Bears posters know what that is....and for those that may not, Hershey is the only franchise run by a trust, not by an owner/operation model or private ownership so that is a factor you don't really recognize, it just becomes common knowledge

 

[JMCx4]

Now that the St. Louis Blues have a long-term affiliation with the San Antonio Rampage, they are clearly intent on using that team to develop their first-tier prospects. The "seats in butts" job will be left to the SS&E folks who manage the AT&T Center daily ops.

 

[Spirit of 67]

After the Marlies won the Calder Cup, this is what Sean Shapiro (who covers Texas for The Athletic) had to say:

It takes a big budget to do so, but Toronto is the golden example of how to run an AHL franchise and invest resources into your development program. It’s a model that other teams should try to copy, even it’s not realistic financially for most teams.

As was pointed out, the Marlies are spending some salary on AHL vets and keeping a steady flow of prospects rolling through.
One thing they're able to do is have vets happier due to playing in Toronto for decent money rather than toiling in some of these out of the way cities for half the pay.