The days of the UHL between AHL teams is kind of irrelevant based on what has happened with the AHL from that time to now. A quick look at league geography shows what I am talking about. More chairs than players for the NE musical chairs game. Utica just tried to secure their long term minor pro future, will be interesting to see what Binghamton does long term.
There are so many former AHL cities in the northeast still fighting for a smaller number of teams that want to be there.
not as much as you would think....
Yeah I know that the odds are not great but I never would have guessed that Utica would ever see the AHL again before the Canucks landed here in 2013. Likewise I really didn't think another team would chose Utica once the Canucks decide to head west. Never rule it out completely.
I look at the AHL in two modern stages: prior to 2015-2016 and after 2015-2016. With the way the league is moving geographically I'm not sure 2013 has much left to do with anything.
This is spot on, it was "easier" for east coast cities to lose then gain an AHL club with so many being over here, with the west coast movement the supply has dwindled but the demand has remained the same or increased.
Not 7, 4. ECHL has 3 set expansions teams to take them to 28, so only 4 left. Binghamton better get moving...
27, bleed:
Sometimes people forget that Utica was the not the Canucks first or second choice they looked at Seattle and Abbotsford. It was the all the right circumstances coming together that turned Utica from a vacant market into a AHL hot spot.
They were at 26, Brampton folds means 25, add those 3 gets it back to 28 franchises in the league. Manchester has nothing to do with that number
it was 26 before the opt outs, bleed:
Do you have any knowledge that any of the teams that opted out aren't coming back?
league goes to 27 with T/R and Coralville, Savannah isn't active until next October, and if Binghamton files they become #29
so exactly what I said, league is at 28 members (once expansion is accepted a team is a member), and only has 4 spots left so binghamton better get moving...
the point you keep missing is:
That's a roundabout way of saying "Yes, with the three announced expansions the league will be at 28 teams."
NO, what bleed doesn't get is Savannah isn't a franchise now, because where's the arena when that announcement was made unbeknowst to all of us when Crelin dropped that bombshell on the entire league.
They have been accepted into the league so they are a member in the league. If they weren't a member than your point would hold, but they wouldnt add savannah and then act like they dont exist and go to 33 and be one over. Once a team completes expansion they are a member of the league and are accounted for, just the same way brampton was a member until they officially terminated...
then why aren't they starting in October, 2021, bleed
Research Savannah franchise, bleed:
The arena does not matter, the fact is the FRANCHISE exists in the league. If for whatever reason the arena doesnt happen there then the EXISTING FRANCHISE can seek a new arena/location.
There are some people in Utica complaining about the Devils coming back. Either Rangers fans or those still bitter about the Devils leaving Utica nearly 30 years ago. They just don't understand how fortunate a small city like Utica is that another NHL team is stepping in to replace the Canucks. Keeping the Comets name does help though and I'm glad Esche convinced New Jersey to not rebrand Utica as the Devils again.
