Minor league fans actually watch the team year after year, they don't just check in every once in a while to check out the prospects. So naturally they're gonna grow attached to the guys who play there for a while and produce. Some of them probably like the big club, too, but obviously they're gonna grow fond of the AHL all star who plays there four years and scores 70 points a year more than the NHL prospect who's only there a couple months before making the bigs full time. Like LoD said they have a vested interest in the team beyond just the young guys.
That's not to say that they all hate prospects, lol. Can't speak to the Phantoms but guys like Budaj, Mike Green, Fehr, Neuvy, John Carlson, Holtby, etc were really popular in Hershey before they made the NHL. They all spent more than a few months here, too. But with the way and frequency Washington has historically drafted, as a Bears fan, I've cared way more about the Graham Minks and Chris Bourques of the hockey world than whatever fourth round college prospect is coming here to play a couple years in his mid twenties before leaving for Europe or something. I always look forward to free agency just to see what AHL vets the Caps are gonna sign.
Guys like Carey and Varone have put up good numbers with the Phantoms and contributed to wins, so naturally they're going to be fan favorites. Just because they're not 20 year old prozpex doesn't mean the local fans should just shun and boo them, lol.
