JackieMoon

I meant after their affiliation with Utica ceases. Just a matter of time, that the other Western NHL teams follow suit. UPDATED: EASTERN CONFERENCE Adirondack (?) Cincinnati (Predators, Panthers) Elmira (Sabres) Florida (Hurricanes. Lightning) Greenville (Rangers) Gwinnett (Coyotes) Kalamazoo (Blue Jackets, Canucks) Manchester (Kings) Norfolk (?} Orlando (Maple Leafs) Reading (Flyers) South Carolina (Capitals, Bruins) Toledo (Red Wings) Wheeling (Penguins, Canadiens) WESTERN CONFERENCE Alaska (Blues) Allen (Sharks) Colorado (Flames) Evansville (Senators) Ft. Wayne (Avalanche) Idaho (Stars) Indy (Blackhawks) Missouri (Independent) Quad City (Wild) Rapid City (Independent) Tulsa (Independent) Utah (Ducks) Wichita (Independent) Maybe the best solution is to have no divisions... just an East and West Conference? Not trying to make this a realignment thread. Just trying to make sense of this mess.

Well, that's good then. ...so here is how the ECHL looks so far... Cincinnati (Panthers, Predators) Elmira (Sabres) Manchester (Kings) Reading (Flyers) Toledo (Red Wings) Wheeling (Penguins, Canadiens) - CANADIENS SHOULD GO WITH BRAMPTON Florida (Hurricanes, Lightning) Greenville (Rangers) Gwinnett (Coyotes) Norfolk - HURRICANES? Orlando (Maple Leafs) South Carolina (Capitals, Bruins) BRUINS WANT SOMETHING NORTH, SO CAPITALS SHOULD STAY Brampton (Independent) Evansville (Senators) Ft. Wayne (Avalanche) Indy (Blackhawks) Kalamazoo (Blue Jackets, Canucks) CANUCKS SHOULD GO WEST Allen (Sharks) Missouri (Independent) Quad City (Wild) Tulsa (Independent) Wichita (Independent) Alaska (Blues) Colorado (Flames) Idaho (Stars) Rapid City (Independent) Utah (Ducks) .... who in the hell knows how the realignment will go. Looks like a lot of teams will change affiliations as well. Rumor has it the Cyclones and Predators are going to stick together and the Panthers are parting ways.

...Yeah but how long is it before all the other Western teams say no to Alaska travel. Poor team is getting axed sooner or later.

I honestly don't see how the Alaska Aces are going to carry on much longer. Perhaps they should eye moving to the WHL and reforming their whole franchise. Wow, ECHL just got their division structure right. Now they will go to six divisions.

Hmm, so looks like the ECHL will have another realignment for 15-16

What sucks is Alaska is going to end up losing their franchise. If this new AHL West takes off, no NHL team is going to put a farm team up there. As for CBJ linking up with the Cyclones, that could work for AA. Cincinnati is not a hockey town. The Cyclones have a good following, but they never pack in seats. Only big nights are $1 beer/College Brat Night, and when kids eat free/parents stand in line for the whole 2nd Period just to get their kids a free hot dog Night.

I would like to see the Blue Jackets take advantage of this situation if it unfolds... i.e. Avalanche moving their AHL affiliate West. Pairing up with Cleveland would be a smart move.

Probably not until March. Some big news before the NHL Playoffs, I'm sure.

I'm pretty sure this has been in the works for awhile (Indy Ft Wayne placed in West). Looks like the "stories"are true. Bye bye West Coast teams. Glad to see CHL aboard.

There has been a void in the hockey minor league system ever since the IHL folded. Hated seeing the league go under. Was a really great league to watch. Miss the days of the Atlanta Knights, Las Vegas Thunder, Kansas City Blades, Detroit Vipers.

Well, as we all know nothing makes sense when it comes to hockey business.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/24/report-ahl-migration-west-could-begin-in-2015-16/ Some here. Found some yesterday too. Googled it, can't remember where. Reason why Denver Cutthroats and Arizona Sundogs ceased operations, because they were bought out. It's only fitting that these teams get "farm" teams closer to home. Just wonder what kind of future is in store for some of these teams with a long AHL history. I could even see the Blue Jackets buying Lake Erie (would make sense). I hope that the Grizzlies and Aces stick around. But, I just don't see how it would make sense for anyone to affiliate with Alaska if they want to keep teams close. Abbotsford would be a good fit for the Canucks. As for Calgary, who knows. Maybe they will buy the Grizzlies? Think we are going to see a lot of greed in the Minor Leagues. A lot of fans are going to lose their teams. Maybe the ECHL will expand to the Northeast and absorb some of these AHL teams that are going to get left behind?

Sorry if there is already a thread for this, I couldn't find it. Looks like for 2015-16 the minor league hockey system is going to go with a huge overhaul. Looks like the Western Conference teams are going to get Western teams, so here is what I have gathered so far... 1. Arizona Coyotes have bought the Arizona Sundogs (once of the CHL). They will be the new AHL team for Arizona. 2. Colorado Avalanche have purchased the Denver Cutthroats (once of the CHL). They will be the new AHL Colorado affiliate. 3. Los Angles Kings will be moving their AHL affiliate to Ontario, CA (they already own the Reign, ECHL,). Reign will be moved up. 4. Winnipeg Jets are moving their AHL team to Thunder Bay. 5. Ducks apparently are buying an AHL team and moving it to San Diego. Probably a return of the Gulls, I suspect. 6. Edmonton Oilers have purchased the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL). They will be the new AHL affiliate. So what this leaves is San Jose, who are rumored to be moving Worcester to California. Only fitting they team up with the Stockton Thunder. Calgary and Vancouver are rumored (once deals are closed) will be moving their teams West. Since, the ECHL West will be dismantled, this looks like the Alaska Aces will be closing up shop after this season. Utah Grizzlies future is unknown. Probably will be ceasing operations as well. Now, it makes perfect sense why the Midwest teams of the ECHL have been moved into the Western Conference. News is at the end of this season the CHL will be folding and of what little teams are left will be absorbed into the ECHL. Brampton will probably fold where they are struggling to stay afloat now. So, another question is what happens to the AHL teams/cities that lose their team? Portland, ME (Pirates) have a strong history in the AHL. Do they get a second chance are they folding too? Worcester Sharks are looking to fold. The Oklahoma City Barons are up for sale by Edmonton. Perhaps St. Louis buys them and moves their AHL team there? Another question is the Lake Erie Monsters? With Colorado buying the Denver Cutthroats where does that leave them? They would fit in nicely with the ECHL (Walleye, Cyclones). Anybody know of anymore "news"?

The "Ultimate" NFL Realignment *AMERICAN (AFC)* Baltimore Buffalo Cincinnati Cleveland Denver Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Miami New England NY Jets Oakland Pittsburgh San Diego Tennessee *NATIONAL (NFC)* Arizona Atlanta Carolina Chicago Dallas Detroit Green Bay Minnesota New Orleans NY Giants Philadelphia St. Louis San Francisco Seattle Tampa Bay Washington Keep current system. Get rid of 2 preseason games and make those regular season games. Play every team in your conference once (15 games, on an every other home-away basis) plus 3 games against your "traditional foes" aka current divisions. Top 6 go to playoffs from each conference. Pretty simple, yet will never be done...

Agreed.

With the ECHL divisions being really lopsided, I see a realignment coming next season. Here is a realignment that makes most sense... EASTERN CONFERENCE Cincinnati Cyclones Elmira Jackals Evansville Icemen Florida Everblades Ft. Wayne Komets Greenville Road Warriors Gwinnett Gladiators Indianapolis Fuel Kalamazoo Wings Orlando Solar Bears Reading Royals South Carolina Stingrays Toledo Walleye Wheeling Nailers WESTERN CONFERENCE Alaska Aces Bakersfield Condors Colorado Eagles Idaho Steelheads Las Vegas Wranglers Ontario Reign Stockton Thunder Utah Grizzlies

Would appreciate these if you have the time:

Just as bad as the NYI's Old Man in the Sea.

It's been almost 20 years, and it's been proven to be a huge mistake. Time for the team to be renamed the Quebec Nordiques.

About time! I'm putting my money on Seattle. Why? For one its the NHL. Two, they wont want to look like complete idiots realigning the realignment.

Bring on the Nordiques, Totems, or Scouts.... Choke the life out of those Wild Dogs and put em to sleep.

Who knows... I do love the NHL Realignment, but they should have waited another season, couldn't hurt. Like all other hockey fans, I'm sick of this. Move the damn team to Quebec already and be done with it. Again, another way of the NHL shooting themselves in the foot. Phoenix and Florida should have been dealt with before realignment was considered.

I really like that AAA. Never understood why they are in two separate leagues anyways (when their corresponding MLB teams don't line up).

Although the new NHL realignment proposal is a step in the right direction (4 divisions instead of 6), I really think it could be tweaked a little more to accomodate two future expansion teams. EASTERN - ATLANTIC Carolina Hurricanes New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals EASTERN - NORTHEAST Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Quebec Nordiques (Florida Panthers) Toronto Maple Leafs WESTERN - CENTRAL Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche (temporary) Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets AVAILABLE MARKETS: Houston, Kansas City, Saskatchewan (2/3 awarded franchises and Colorado goes to the Pacific) WESTERN - PACIFIC Anaheim Ducks Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks Seattle Totems/Metropolitans (Phoenix Coyotes) Vancouver Canucks Playoffs: Each conference (two division winners and six wildcards)

Going off of what the Admiral said... Would be nice to see a two league AAA hockey system like it use to be in the 90's. AHL NORTH Bridgeport Sound Tigers Connecticut Whale Hamilton Bulldogs Manchester Monarchs Portland Pirates Providence Bruins Springfield Falcons St. John's Ice Caps Toronto Marlies Worcester Sharks AHL SOUTH Adirondack Phantoms Albany Devils Binghamton Senators Hershey Bears Norfolk Admirals Rochester Americans Syracuse Crunch WB/Scranton Penguins IHL EAST Charlotte Checkers Cincinnati Cyclones Grand Rapids Griffins Lake Erie Monsters Orlando Solar Bears Toledo Walleye IHL WEST Chicago Wolves Houston Aeros Milwaukee Admirals Oklahoma City Barons Peoria Rivermen San Antonio Stampede