LadyStanley
Registered User
Edmontonsun 9:09pm via HootSuite FLAPSHOT: Oilers to buy Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL, says Terry Jones http://t.co/2fiPkY9rUK http://t.co/mCHW257xp1
An interesting development for sure.
The Trenton Devils were owned by the NJ Devils from 2007-11, but I can't recall another AA team which was owned by an NHL club in the past few decades.
If the NHL would invest at a significant level in ownership at the ECHL/AA hockey and it created a 30-30-30 alignment, then AA hockey would achieve the stabilizing point it has long needed.
I don't really expect something like this to occur, but it's a fun scenario to speculate about.
The real question is with the potential of the NHL going to LV will AHL come to bako with significantly higher attendance and support than OKC.
Innnteresting. Makes me wonder if Edmonton is looking for a landing place for their struggling OKC AHL franchise and buying out the Condors to be able to do it without any interference from the existing team... or if instead they're really looking to just own the whole chain.
I still wonder if we're looking at Monarchs->Ontario or Monarchs->San Diego and Oil Barons->Bakersfield... not sure if the ECHL teams would continue or not. Guess we'll know when we know
I think its a good thing if you look at it some of the other teams owned in the past nhl that owned it didn't care about the lower level franchise like trenton and jersey . The devils ran that franchise into the ground at least in this situation is Edmonton might actually help the situation. I'm still hoping The caps or the Hershey buy Reading.
An interesting development for sure.
The Trenton Devils were owned by the NJ Devils from 2007-11, but I can't recall another AA team which was owned by an NHL club in the past few decades.
If the NHL would invest at a significant level in ownership at the ECHL/AA hockey and it created a 30-30-30 alignment, then AA hockey would achieve the stabilizing point it has long needed.
I don't really expect something like this to occur, but it's a fun scenario to speculate about.
The GM of Hockey operations for OKC was at our last game and will be tonight. he met with fans after the game and took questions. It was interesting once you got past the obviosu stupid ones which are out of his realm like the name of the team changing etc.
I asked him the following question: The ECHL is typically a warehouse for 4th liner AHL guys and typically AHL will call up ECHL guys and many tiems they simply sit int he arena. He agreed and siad that Bako is different and was purcahsed for a completley different reason. Edmonton owns teams form WHL to NHL inclusive. There are 20 NHL contracts that can be used and unlimited AHL ones however no team wants to excise all 50 NHl nor do they want to throw around AHL contracts form an economic standpoint. Bako has a single pupose. Startnext next eyar and possible later on towards the ned of this season, Edmonton's scouts will be looking at both independent ECHL players and NCAA/Junior kids. The purpose is to attract them to Bako will there will be Edmonton people on a regular basis to evaluate them. Bako/OKC and Oilers will utilize essentially the same system so that there will not be a disparity when changing levels. 4th liners paly an average of 7-8 minutes in the AHL. They will be sent periodically to BAko to play 25-30 minutes in order to work on their individual skills. Currently the one of the Edmonton goalie coaches has been in Bako working with the goal tenders.
So in short Bako will be part of a REAL developmental process. How it will affect the play on the ice will be interesting. I would assume we will be stacked with the max vets for learning purposes and Edmonton people will be here regualrly. It is far cheaper to sign a youngster and develop him rahter than singing a multi-million dollar contract to buy the talent. For Bako fans one thing is obvious clear. We have an owner that is seriously interested int he product on the ice rather than what the break even is to seat 5,000 fans each night. yes it is a busienss, but in our case it is a business of hockey and not a non-profit corporation.
These sentiments are what needs to take place in my mind. Nice to see like it looks like Edmonton is taking the steps into that and utilizing a top-down development method. I've said in other threads I don't think the NHL as a whole sees this as enough of a positive to invest the resources into it though.