Utica Comets relocating to Abbotsford, Binghamton Devils to Utica

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Grand Rapids would move to the Eastern Conference as part of this realignment.

I would say keep Colorado and Tucson in what would now be a 10-team Pacific Division.

which will be 11 once Palm Desert as it is now referenced as joins in 2022-23

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

About time.
ECHL team in Chilliwack next?

Remember the Victoria Salmon Kings?

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

which will be 11 once Palm Desert as it is now referenced as joins in 2022-23

Actually when Abbostsford begins, it will be 9 MT/PT teams. Then Palm Desert makes it 10.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Actually when Abbostsford begins, it will be 9 MT/PT teams. Then Palm Desert makes it 10.

based off where you split the alignment, though

 

[gstommylee]

Actually when Abbostsford begins, it will be 9 MT/PT teams. Then Palm Desert makes it 10.

It gets complicated cause 3 teams needs to switch divisions to really even things out
2 from pacific then 1 from central into one of the two eastern divisions.

I don't think AHL really wants to go 9x8x8x7 or 10x7x8x7 either.

 

[StreetHawk]

What is STL doing for their AHL club? They lost the San Antonio Rampage affiliation and this season, they split Utica with Vancouver. Now, NJ is moving to Utica. So, where does that leave STL?

 

[Cacciaguida]

Remember the Victoria Salmon Kings?

Yeah. They did pretty well if I recall correctly.

 

[Centrum Hockey]

What is STL doing for their AHL club? They lost the San Antonio Rampage affiliation and this season, they split Utica with Vancouver. Now, NJ is moving to Utica. So, where does that leave STL?

They are still affiliated with the Springfield Thunderbirds they where just inactive for 20-21. Tom Stillman has said multiple times the current blues ownership is not interested in being a owner/operator of a AHL club.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

What is STL doing for their AHL club? They lost the San Antonio Rampage affiliation and this season, they split Utica with Vancouver. Now, NJ is moving to Utica. So, where does that leave STL?

Springfield, SH... one of the three that opted out, the issue is the AHL requiring all teams to be represented like it's an All Star Classic where each team/member club legally has to be represented.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Sucks that we're going to lose the very nice Comets branding to surely be replaced by the awkward-ass U-Devils branding.

The NJ Devil is such a good logo and it looks so f***ing dumb when applied to their AHL clubs. At least Utica will retain AHL hockey.

Abbotsford...well, at least it's the correct affiliate to give them a chance at attracting fans this time. That'll go a good way to make up for the travel this time around.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Sucks that we're going to lose the very nice Comets branding to surely be replaced by the awkward-ass U-Devils branding.

The NJ Devil is such a good logo and it looks so f***ing dumb when applied to their AHL clubs. At least Utica will retain AHL hockey.

Abbotsford...well, at least it's the correct affiliate to give them a chance at attracting fans this time. That'll go a good way to make up for the travel this time around.

apparently not.....

it appears MVG is retaining the Comets brand

 

[Big McLargehuge]

apparently not.....

it appears MVG is retaining the Comets brand

Oh damn, that makes me far happier than it has any business doing

It's just a good minor league brand in my eyes. Nothing that needs to be preserved at all costs or anything, just far more appealing to me than [Insert City Here] [Insert Parent Club Nickname Here].

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Oh damn, that makes me far happier than it has any business doing

It's just a good minor league brand in my eyes. Nothing that needs to be preserved at all costs or anything, just far more appealing to me than [Insert City Here] [Insert Parent Club Nickname Here].

Trade off, though.... Bridgeport's going the opposite way as Adam reported yesterday.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Trade off, though.... Bridgeport's going the opposite way as Adam reported yesterday.

Naturally. That stinks.

 

[GindyDraws]

The first incarnation of Abbotsford AHL team had no chance because no one wanted to cheer for the Flames and if done right the Abbotsford AHL team has an opportunity to create a winning name/logo combination

Also, at the time, Abbotsford was over a thousand miles away from their nearest opponent.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

ONly thing i am trying to figure out is what will the AHL do with alignment especially when Seattle's AHL joins

Pacific: Abbotsford, Bakersfield, Henderson, Ontario, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton
Central: Chicago, Colorado, Iowa, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Rockford, Texas, Tucson
North: Belleville, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Laval, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto, Utica
Atlantic: Bridgeport, Charlotte, Hartford, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Providence, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Fairly cut and dry if you ask me.

 

[AdmiralsFan24]

Pacific: Abbotsford, Bakersfield, Henderson, Ontario, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton
Central: Chicago, Colorado, Iowa, Manitoba, Milwaukee, Rockford, Texas, Tucson
North: Belleville, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Laval, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto, Utica
Atlantic: Bridgeport, Charlotte, Hartford, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Providence, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Fairly cut and dry if you ask me.

There's no legitimate reason for Tucson to be put in the Central other than wE nEeD eVeN dIvIsIoNs. Since this is a development league, put them in the Pacific and do what they did before when divisions were uneven. If the 5th place team in the Pacific has a better points percentage than the 4th place team in the Central, then the 5th place team in the Pacific makes the playoffs.

 

[StreetHawk]

AHL affiliations change so much, these divisions are going to be in a constant state of flux.

You have San Antonio going to Henderson, NV.
Blues align with Springfield after losing SA
NJ moves from Binghampton to Utica
Van moves from Utica to Abbotsford
CAR moves from Charlotte to Chicago
FLA moves from Springfield to Charlotte

Word is that Stockton/Calgary relationship isn't great. So who knows what happens there.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Also, at the time, Abbotsford was over a thousand miles away from their nearest opponent.

as was Newfoundland... hence the 2 game sets for those in the East that played them. which is why the travel expenditure subsidy was applied.... which the league has since done away with...

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

AHL affiliations change so much, these divisions are going to be in a constant state of flux.

You have San Antonio going to Henderson, NV.
Blues align with Springfield after losing SA
NJ moves from Binghampton to Utica
Van moves from Utica to Abbotsford
CAR moves from Charlotte to Chicago
FLA moves from Springfield to Charlotte

Word is that Stockton/Calgary relationship isn't great. So who knows what happens there.

Calgary has said every intention was to remain in Stockton.... they control the franchise, just like the decision to play out of Calgary this season....

 

[hockeyguy0022]

Calgary has said every intention was to remain in Stockton.... they control the franchise, just like the decision to play out of Calgary this season....

It's still so weird Sasktel Center let's the Blades have a clause that doesn't allow any higher level of hockey premier tenant outside of an NHL team in the building. Hence why the AHL never tries to go to Saskatoon.

So strange.

 

[MMC]

 

[PCSPounder]

It's still so weird Sasktel Center let's the Blades have a clause that doesn't allow any higher level of hockey premier tenant outside of an NHL team in the building. Hence why the AHL never tries to go to Saskatoon.

So strange.

I question if that’s strange.

I know the Winterhawks have a contract with arena management (essentially the Trail Blazers) that only allows negotiations with WHL... or NHL. And there’s a strong possibility this is part of the MO of the WHL. This explains some things about other markets.

 

[gstommylee]

Portland happens to be one of hte bigger WHL markets. WHL and NHL can co exist since its two different dollar price points for tickets. The issue with WHL and AHL are basically its the same ticket price huts you would hurt the WHL franchise if a AHL tried to move in.

 

[PCSPounder]

Portland happens to be one of hte bigger WHL markets. WHL and NHL can co exist since its two different dollar price points for tickets. The issue with WHL and AHL are basically its the same ticket price huts you would hurt the WHL franchise if a AHL tried to move in.

The point isn’t that they would co-exist (I seriously doubt they would). The point is that this clause exists as a non-compete, and it’s a true leap of faith to think Vulcan came up with it. The WHL has been very protective of “its territory” against leagues that it believes it can reasonably fight. If you look at the history of minor pro and even major junior, it’s quite curious that they pull it off 90% of the time.