Hi, newbie here. I already posted this in the AHL forum, but I thought there might be some folks in the ECHL forum who don't frequent the AHL forum. I apologize if it seems spammy.
I should confess up front that I know very little about hockey. But I am very interested in expansion and realignment issues in all sports leagues, so I thought I'd share a possible scenario I came up with for the near future of the NHL (say, about 10 years from now). I'm also going a couple steps further and making some guesses about the AHL and ECHL too. I'd very much appreciate feedback as to how plausible the scenario is.
Here I'm being optimistic and assuming the NHL has expanded to 32 teams by 2025 and that none of the current teams have relocated (I'm looking at you, Coyotes and Panthers
). With the expansion of the NHL to Quebec and Seattle, Quebec joins the Atlantic Division (renamed the Northeast Division); Washington moves to the new Northeast (could have been Pittsburgh but I'm keeping them with the Flyers); the Florida teams move to the Metropolitan Division (renamed the Atlantic Division); poor Columbus is booted out of the Eastern Conference into the Central Division; and Seattle joins the Pacific Division. Maybe I'm in denial, but I'm sticking to my guns about the NHL opting for Quebec over Las Vegas.
The AHL and ECHL have expanded in turn, and each NHL team has its own affiliate in both minor league tiers. In this scenario, there has been a lot of wheeling and dealing as to the affiliation, ownership, and relocation of AHL and ECHL franchises, primarily so that the NHL parents can have affiliates that are geographically closer to them. This trend is of course already underway with the creation of the Pacific Division in the AHL next season. I just take trend that a few steps further here. Both the AHL and ECHL emulate the bigs by realigning into four divisions.
~~~~~~
All relocation notes [in brackets] are relative to the expected 2015-16 alignments.
Key:
() = NHL affiliate in parentheses
* = NHL parent team owns minor league franchise
^ = the owners of the LA Kings are part-owners of the Cincinnati Cyclones, despite not being affiliated with the team
~~~~~~
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Quebec Nordiques
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Atlantic Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
Arizona Coyotes
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Totems
Vancouver Canucks
~~~~~~
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI*)
Hartford Wolf Pack (NJD*) [was Albany]
Laval Canadiens (MTL*) [was St. John's]
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Rochester Americans (BUF*)
Springfield Falcons (QUE)
Syracuse Crunch (OTT)
Toronto Marlies (TOR*)
Atlantic Division
Charlotte Checkers (CAR)
Florida Everblades (FLA*) [was Portland]
Hershey Bears (WSH)
Lake Erie Monsters (CBJ)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)
Long Island Rangers (NYR*) [located in Uniondale; was Hartford]
Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) [expansion]
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT*)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Chicago Wolves (CHI)
Colorado Eagles (COL*) [was Binghamton]
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Iowa Wild (MIN*)
Milwaukee Admirals (WPG*) [was Manitoba]
Missouri Mavericks (STL*) [was Rockford]
San Antonio Rampage (NSH)
Texas Stars (DAL*)
Pacific Division
Bakersfield Condors (EDM*)
Idaho Steelheads (VAN*) [was Utica]
Las Vegas Wranglers (ARI) [expansion]
Ontario Reign (LAK*)
Portland Cascades (SEA*) [located in Oregon; was Milwaukee]
San Diego Gulls (ANA*)
Stockton Sharks (SJS*) [was San Jose]
Utah Grizzlies (CGY*) [was Stockton]
~~~~~~
"ECHL" (hopefully the league will have changed its name by this point)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Adirondack Rangers (NYR*) [was Rapid City]
Albany Devils (NJD) [expansion]
Brampton Beast (TOR)
Manchester Monarchs (MTL*) [was Tulsa]
Portland Pirates (OTT) [expansion; located in Maine]
St. John's IceCaps (QUE) [expansion]
Utica Capitals (WSH*) [was Idaho]
Worcester Bruins (BOS*) [was Orlando]
Atlantic Division
Binghamton Islanders (NYI) [expansion]
Elmira Jackals (BUF)
Greenville Road Warriors (TBL)
Gwinnett Gladiators (NSH)
Norfolk Hurricanes (CAR*) [was Florida]
Reading Royals (PHI)
South Carolina Stingrays (FLA)
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest Division
Cincinnati Cyclones (CBJ^)
Evansville IceMen (ARI)
Fort Wayne Komets (WPG)
Indy Fuel (SJS)
Kalamazoo Wings (VAN)
Peoria Rivermen (STL*) [was Missouri]
Rockford IceHogs (CHI*) [was Alaska]
Toledo Walleye (DET)
Central Division
Allen Americans (DAL)
Houston Aeros (COL*) [was Colorado]
Oklahoma Oilers (EDM*) [was Norfolk]
Omaha Lancers (CGY*) [was Adirondack]
Quad City Mallards (MIN)
Rapid City Rush (ANA)
Tulsa Tyrants (LAK*) [was Manchester]
Wichita Thunder (SEA)
~~~~~~
Summary of AHL and ECHL franchise changes by location (compared to expected 2015-16 alignments):
Gained franchise (9)
AHL (4): Las Vegas, Laval, Long Island (Uniondale), Portland (Oregon)
ECHL (5): Houston, Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), Omaha, Peoria, Worcester
"Promoted" from ECHL to AHL (6)
Colorado (Loveland), Florida (Estero), Idaho (Boise), Missouri (Independence), Orlando, Utah (West Valley City)
"Demoted" from AHL to ECHL (6)
Albany, Binghamton, Portland (Maine), Rockford, St. John's, Utica
Swapped franchises in the same league (7)
AHL (3): Hartford, Milwaukee, Stockton
ECHL (4): Adirondack (Glens Falls), Manchester, Norfolk, Tulsa
Lost franchise (3)
AHL (2): Manitoba (Winnipeg), San Jose
ECHL (1): Alaska (Anchorage)
~~~~~~
Comments, (constructive) criticism, questions?
I should confess up front that I know very little about hockey. But I am very interested in expansion and realignment issues in all sports leagues, so I thought I'd share a possible scenario I came up with for the near future of the NHL (say, about 10 years from now). I'm also going a couple steps further and making some guesses about the AHL and ECHL too. I'd very much appreciate feedback as to how plausible the scenario is.
Here I'm being optimistic and assuming the NHL has expanded to 32 teams by 2025 and that none of the current teams have relocated (I'm looking at you, Coyotes and Panthers
). With the expansion of the NHL to Quebec and Seattle, Quebec joins the Atlantic Division (renamed the Northeast Division); Washington moves to the new Northeast (could have been Pittsburgh but I'm keeping them with the Flyers); the Florida teams move to the Metropolitan Division (renamed the Atlantic Division); poor Columbus is booted out of the Eastern Conference into the Central Division; and Seattle joins the Pacific Division. Maybe I'm in denial, but I'm sticking to my guns about the NHL opting for Quebec over Las Vegas.The AHL and ECHL have expanded in turn, and each NHL team has its own affiliate in both minor league tiers. In this scenario, there has been a lot of wheeling and dealing as to the affiliation, ownership, and relocation of AHL and ECHL franchises, primarily so that the NHL parents can have affiliates that are geographically closer to them. This trend is of course already underway with the creation of the Pacific Division in the AHL next season. I just take trend that a few steps further here. Both the AHL and ECHL emulate the bigs by realigning into four divisions.
~~~~~~
All relocation notes [in brackets] are relative to the expected 2015-16 alignments.
Key:
() = NHL affiliate in parentheses
* = NHL parent team owns minor league franchise
^ = the owners of the LA Kings are part-owners of the Cincinnati Cyclones, despite not being affiliated with the team
~~~~~~
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Quebec Nordiques
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Atlantic Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
Arizona Coyotes
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Totems
Vancouver Canucks
~~~~~~
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI*)
Hartford Wolf Pack (NJD*) [was Albany]
Laval Canadiens (MTL*) [was St. John's]
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Rochester Americans (BUF*)
Springfield Falcons (QUE)
Syracuse Crunch (OTT)
Toronto Marlies (TOR*)
Atlantic Division
Charlotte Checkers (CAR)
Florida Everblades (FLA*) [was Portland]
Hershey Bears (WSH)
Lake Erie Monsters (CBJ)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)
Long Island Rangers (NYR*) [located in Uniondale; was Hartford]
Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) [expansion]
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT*)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Chicago Wolves (CHI)
Colorado Eagles (COL*) [was Binghamton]
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Iowa Wild (MIN*)
Milwaukee Admirals (WPG*) [was Manitoba]
Missouri Mavericks (STL*) [was Rockford]
San Antonio Rampage (NSH)
Texas Stars (DAL*)
Pacific Division
Bakersfield Condors (EDM*)
Idaho Steelheads (VAN*) [was Utica]
Las Vegas Wranglers (ARI) [expansion]
Ontario Reign (LAK*)
Portland Cascades (SEA*) [located in Oregon; was Milwaukee]
San Diego Gulls (ANA*)
Stockton Sharks (SJS*) [was San Jose]
Utah Grizzlies (CGY*) [was Stockton]
~~~~~~
"ECHL" (hopefully the league will have changed its name by this point)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Adirondack Rangers (NYR*) [was Rapid City]
Albany Devils (NJD) [expansion]
Brampton Beast (TOR)
Manchester Monarchs (MTL*) [was Tulsa]
Portland Pirates (OTT) [expansion; located in Maine]
St. John's IceCaps (QUE) [expansion]
Utica Capitals (WSH*) [was Idaho]
Worcester Bruins (BOS*) [was Orlando]
Atlantic Division
Binghamton Islanders (NYI) [expansion]
Elmira Jackals (BUF)
Greenville Road Warriors (TBL)
Gwinnett Gladiators (NSH)
Norfolk Hurricanes (CAR*) [was Florida]
Reading Royals (PHI)
South Carolina Stingrays (FLA)
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest Division
Cincinnati Cyclones (CBJ^)
Evansville IceMen (ARI)
Fort Wayne Komets (WPG)
Indy Fuel (SJS)
Kalamazoo Wings (VAN)
Peoria Rivermen (STL*) [was Missouri]
Rockford IceHogs (CHI*) [was Alaska]
Toledo Walleye (DET)
Central Division
Allen Americans (DAL)
Houston Aeros (COL*) [was Colorado]
Oklahoma Oilers (EDM*) [was Norfolk]
Omaha Lancers (CGY*) [was Adirondack]
Quad City Mallards (MIN)
Rapid City Rush (ANA)
Tulsa Tyrants (LAK*) [was Manchester]
Wichita Thunder (SEA)
~~~~~~
Summary of AHL and ECHL franchise changes by location (compared to expected 2015-16 alignments):
Gained franchise (9)
AHL (4): Las Vegas, Laval, Long Island (Uniondale), Portland (Oregon)
ECHL (5): Houston, Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), Omaha, Peoria, Worcester
"Promoted" from ECHL to AHL (6)
Colorado (Loveland), Florida (Estero), Idaho (Boise), Missouri (Independence), Orlando, Utah (West Valley City)
"Demoted" from AHL to ECHL (6)
Albany, Binghamton, Portland (Maine), Rockford, St. John's, Utica
Swapped franchises in the same league (7)
AHL (3): Hartford, Milwaukee, Stockton
ECHL (4): Adirondack (Glens Falls), Manchester, Norfolk, Tulsa
Lost franchise (3)
AHL (2): Manitoba (Winnipeg), San Jose
ECHL (1): Alaska (Anchorage)
~~~~~~
Comments, (constructive) criticism, questions?
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