Minor League Hockey Shake-up...coming

[FiddySicks]

You guys are putting way too much thought into how the AHL and ECHL should function.

As Admiral keeps pointing out (upon deaf ears, apparently), the point of minor leagues is to get practice time and develop as a player in game situations, and to keep costs down. It's not about playing equal schedules or seeing every team or even winning a championship (and a parent team will never admit that last point publicly). It's getting their younger players ready for the top league and helping players rehabilitate and get back in game shape.

It's not really a necessity to have your AHL team located near the parent club when you have an allowance of carrying three extra skaters.

I think I should clarify a few things. While the point of the AHL, for the most part, is to develop players for the parent team, that doesn't mean that it should be a slapdash operation where teams just get games in whenever it's convenient, however many games that may be from team to team. While I certainly don't advocate the Calgary/New Jersey model where every possible corner is cut in terms of running a minor-league operation, I also wouldn't want a whole league full of tweener superstars where quality prospects get their minutes where they can, because that doesn't serve the NHL well, and like everyone except that CHRDANHUTCH weirdo who pops up around the internet, I am an NHL fan first and foremost. Affiliates should be in harmony with their parent teams in terms of running systems, maintaining a clear line of communication about who gets and needs ice time, but at the AHL level, there still has to be an effort to present the teams as engaged civic entities that want to provide a quality product at an affordable price. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think there can be an amenable middle ground where affiliates make the most of their talent without running mere scrimmages.

As for a league footprint, it should be obvious that keeping everyone in close quarters means cheaper travel and more time to practice. Let's face it: minor-league hockey is never going to exist on fat profit margins. Being able to drive a prospect from Rockford to Chicago, Allentown to Philadelphia, or one street in Toronto to another street in Toronto are luxuries of geography, not entitlements. We can't have a minor league that looks just like the NHL with all the dots on the map moved 75 miles in one direction or another. For most cities outside the northeast/midwest, tough crap. To me, the biggest irony of the Sharks claiming that they can't properly monitor their prospects in Worcester, besides the fact that their prospects are generally hockey's answer to the Putty Patrol, is that we live in a world that has never been smaller. To hear it from these Silicon Valley whiners, of all people, you'd think they were relying on telegrams to hear how their kids were looking. DEAR DOUG WILSON STOP TOMMY WINGELS CANNOT CEASE SCORING STOP PLEASE REQUEST HIS PRESENCE BY CONESTOGA AT YOUR SOONEST CONVENIENCE STOP. I find it very hard to believe that the Sharks were monitoring their prospects any worse than anyone else. But while information travels quickly and easily, hockey teams don't. That the Sharks need to have their prospects right in their own building because flying them from the Northeast Corridor was slightly inconvenient was born of the same kind of spoiled empty-headedness that gave us sweaters without stripes to be 2% faster.

This California thing is inefficient, indulgent, and compromises the integrity of the league. I don't like it and won't ever like it. The scale of minor-league hockey makes it foolish to run more than regional circuits: preferably one in the northeast, one in the midwest.

THEYRE RUINING THE SANCTITY OF EAST COAST BUS TRAVEL, DAMMIT!!!

[The_Admiral]

Not so much sanctity as common sense. And sure, a little bit of integrity when it comes to one team playing a 76-game season, another playing a 64-game season because they're in the Cool California Kids Club, and calling it the same league.

If there's going to be a AAA league for western states, fine, whatever, have fun with it, but it shouldn't come at great expense to the small-town northeast, where hockey is kinda their thing. I honestly don't care one bit about losing Norfolk or Oklahoma City, and I'd be pleased as punch to see Charlotte drop off the map as well, but I feel bad for the good folks in New England and upstate New York where there's not a lot going on but get to have this tradition. And actually, of all the franchise relocations I'm still pissed about, Peoria is in the lead on that.

[bosrs1]

Not so much sanctity as common sense. And sure, a little bit of integrity when it comes to one team playing a 76-game season, another playing a 64-game season because they're in the Cool California Kids Club, and calling it the same league.

If there's going to be a AAA league for western states, fine, whatever, have fun with it, but it shouldn't come at great expense to the small-town northeast, where hockey is kinda their thing. I honestly don't care one bit about losing Norfolk or Oklahoma City, and I'd be pleased as punch to see Charlotte drop off the map as well, but I feel bad for the good folks in New England and upstate New York where there's not a lot going on but get to have this tradition. And actually, of all the franchise relocations I'm still pissed about, Peoria is in the lead on that.

I guess I get what you're saying to an extent, but can't agree. I mean I feel for the people in Glen Falls losing their team for instance, except they're not. They're actually getting an ECHL pro team back that is more in line with the small size of their city. Worcester I feel for in terms of losing their team entirely, and wish they'd had some incoming replacement but alas the Sharks have no ECHL affiliate. Though they still have the team they all really root for in the NHL less than 50 miles away down the Mass Pike so there is that. Manchester similar to Glen Falls is getting a team in line with its city size AND still has the NHL team most of them root for 50 miles away.

Meanwhile the cities their teams are moving to are far bigger and/or far more removed from any alternative, particularly NHL with the obvious exception of San Jose (which of the 5 moves makes the least sense in terms of final placement) and Ontario on distance (though in reality the drive from Ontario to LA or Anaheim takes far longer than the mileage would suggest). I mean really of all the cities involved with this move the only one in the Northeast getting truly screwed is Worcester (assuming the Bruins don't follow through on finding them an ECHL team).

[FiddySicks]

Not so much sanctity as common sense. And sure, a little bit of integrity when it comes to one team playing a 76-game season, another playing a 64-game season because they're in the Cool California Kids Club, and calling it the same league.

If there's going to be a AAA league for western states, fine, whatever, have fun with it, but it shouldn't come at great expense to the small-town northeast, where hockey is kinda their thing. I honestly don't care one bit about losing Norfolk or Oklahoma City, and I'd be pleased as punch to see Charlotte drop off the map as well, but I feel bad for the good folks in New England and upstate New York where there's not a lot going on but get to have this tradition. And actually, of all the franchise relocations I'm still pissed about, Peoria is in the lead on that.

Yeah but at least the people in upstate New York or New England (even more so) are all within, what, two hours of a pro team? I think they'll be fine. And, if hockey up there really is so strong, this may signal a shift of more east coast based teams moving their AHL operations up there to compensate, rather than having to follow prospects who will ultimately end up on the other side of the country anyway.

And the only way to build a strong fan base anyway is to move a team to a non traditional market and let the fanbase grow after pouring government money into their building... Oh my God I'm officially in Cototes fan speak mode.

Maybe this really is a stupid idea.

[bosrs1]

Not so much sanctity as common sense. And sure, a little bit of integrity when it comes to one team playing a 76-game season, another playing a 64-game season because they're in the Cool California Kids Club, and calling it the same league.

If there's going to be a AAA league for western states, fine, whatever, have fun with it, but it shouldn't come at great expense to the small-town northeast, where hockey is kinda their thing. I honestly don't care one bit about losing Norfolk or Oklahoma City, and I'd be pleased as punch to see Charlotte drop off the map as well, but I feel bad for the good folks in New England and upstate New York where there's not a lot going on but get to have this tradition. And actually, of all the franchise relocations I'm still pissed about, Peoria is in the lead on that.

Yeah but at least the people in upstate New York or New England (even more so) are all within, what, two hours of a pro team? I think they'll be fine. And, if hockey up there really is so strong, this may signal a shift of more east coast based teams moving their AHL operations up there to compensate, rather than having to follow prospects who will ultimately end up on the other side of the country anyway.

And the only way to build a strong fan base anyway is to move a team to a non traditional market and let the fanbase grow after pouring government money into their building... Oh my God I'm officially in Cototes fan speak mode.

Maybe this really is a stupid idea.

Don't know about that. None of the new AHL markets are pouring any government money into any of the 5 arenas being utilized. In fact all of them are already using long finished structures and if any improvements are being made, for instance in San Diego which is by far the oldest of the 5 western arenas, it is private money being utilized.

[BigEd76]

The new ECHL divisions and playoff format were announced for next season

http://echl.com/alignment-playoff-format-announced-for-2015-16-season-p196093

-- 6 divisions, adding a "South" (EC) and "Midwest" (WC) and changing "Pacific" to "West"

-- Elmira and Reading stay in the East with the three newcomers (Adirondack, Manchester, Norfolk)

-- The other five East teams will be the new "South"

-- Brampton moves to the EC and joins Kalamazoo, Toledo and Wheeling in the North

-- Cincinnati, Evansville, Fort Wayne and Indy move to the WC and become the new "Midwest" division, with Quad City joining them from the Central

-- Rapid City moves from the Central to the West, joining the remaining teams (Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Utah)

-- Playoffs will be like the previous NHL format (3 division champs then 5 best records, best of 7 series, conference champs battle for the championship)

[JackieMoon]

Sucks to see the Cincy-Toledo rivalry go. But, should make way for some new ones in Indiana and Quad City.

If Brampton folds (as expected), then I can see the Cyclones moving into the North.

[The_Admiral]

I feel so bad for people stuck with the ECHL. What's the point, even. You might see someone's future backup goalie?

[bosrs1]

I feel so bad for people stuck with the ECHL. What's the point, even. You might see someone's future backup goalie?

The point is to watch some live hockey representing your home town (or area). As someone who lives in a current non-hockey town, I can tell you I would have taken anything I could get. I'm glad we're getting the AHL, but I would have gladly taken ECHL as well. It's not necessarily about seeing someone going up to so and so NHL team. I couldn't care less that the reborn Gulls are a Ducks farm team or that some of their players might be in the NHL some day.

[gosioux76]

I feel so bad for people stuck with the ECHL. What's the point, even. You might see someone's future backup goalie?

You could say the same thing about minor league baseball. I don't go to a Hillsboro Hops game because I think the game matters. I go for the atmosphere. I go because it's baseball. I don't even care if they win. It's a game in my community.

Why should hockey be any different?

[illwauk]

I feel so bad for people stuck with the ECHL. What's the point, even. You might see someone's future backup goalie?

I'd actually welcome an ECHL version of the Admirals at this point... the Nashville affiliation has made this team painfully unwatchable.

At least the ECHL makes up for its lack of true NHL prospects with fights, which are pretty much the entire reason anyone outside of hardcore puckheads even care about minor league hockey.

[The_Admiral]

But I like watching hockey, not fumbling around trying to slug somebody. Of course, I'm hardcore.

Why should hockey be any different?

Baseball puts you outside on a summer day/night. Even at the minor-league level, that's pleasant in and of itself. Hockey, it's winter, it's cold, you're probably in a foul mood. You'd like to watch something watchable. I like watching AHL games because while it may be rough around the edges, it's still very good hockey. Also, tickets to the Chilled Ham are eminently affordable and have nary a bad seat in the house for, again, pretty darn good hockey.

[gosioux76]

But I like watching hockey, not fumbling around trying to slug somebody. Of course, I'm hardcore.

Why should hockey be any different?

Baseball puts you outside on a summer day/night. Even at the minor-league level, that's pleasant in and of itself. Hockey, it's winter, it's cold, you're probably in a foul mood. You'd like to watch something watchable. I like watching AHL games because while it may be rough around the edges, it's still very good hockey. Also, tickets to the Chilled Ham are eminently affordable and have nary a bad seat in the house for, again, pretty darn good hockey.

I guess maybe I'm not as familiar with the varied skill levels of the minor hockey leagues. Where would the ECHL rank compared with, say, NCAA hockey. Because I loved going to University of North Dakota games back when I was a student there, and I still enjoy it on the occasion they have a nationally televised game. I just may not be a sophisticated hockey viewer.

[-kj]

I've only been to one ECHL, in Orlando, but I had a good time watching hockey that was of a much higher level than I'd originally expected.

[JackieMoon]

What's wrong with having a minor league team (and supporting them)? I can go to 6 Cyclones games for the price of 1 Blue Jackets game. That's just for the tickets. Not including food and gas.

Sure, these guys are nowhere near as good as NHL'ers. But, it's live hockey. Living in Southern Ohio (a place where hockey is a myth), I'll take it!

[HedleyLamarr]

I'd rather drive four hours to Nashville to see an NHL game than 30 minutes to see a Gwinnett game.

[Sodboy13]

Calgary ditching the Stockton Thunder identity that's been around for a decade to rebrand the team the Flames. Well, that went great in Quad City, I'm sure it'll take off like gangbusters in a place that's actually bankrupt.

[bosrs1]

Calgary ditching the Stockton Thunder identity that's been around for a decade to rebrand the team the Flames. Well, that went great in Quad City, I'm sure it'll take off like gangbusters in a place that's actually bankrupt.

You have a link for that one? Would be disappointing if that's what they're doing. You think they'd have learned by now.

But I like watching hockey, not fumbling around trying to slug somebody. Of course, I'm hardcore.

Why should hockey be any different?

Baseball puts you outside on a summer day/night. Even at the minor-league level, that's pleasant in and of itself. Hockey, it's winter, it's cold, you're probably in a foul mood. You'd like to watch something watchable. I like watching AHL games because while it may be rough around the edges, it's still very good hockey. Also, tickets to the Chilled Ham are eminently affordable and have nary a bad seat in the house for, again, pretty darn good hockey.

Maybe that's the difference. In California it's not particularly cold and we're not in a foul mood. I'm just as happy to go watch minor league hockey for all it's quirks and unique traits as I am to go see minor league baseball. Hell I drive over an hour to go see MiLB during the summer in Lake Elsinore even though I've got MLB 10 minutes from my house in downtown San Diego just because of minor league sports virtues beyond the level of skill on field. So I'm definitely going to take advantage of seeing a San Diego representing AHL (or ECHL or any other of the larger minor leagues) team 10 minutes from my house rather than drive the hour and a half+ through LA traffic to Anaheim.

[The_Admiral]

Calgary ditching the Stockton Thunder identity that's been around for a decade to rebrand the team the Flames. Well, that went great in Quad City, I'm sure it'll take off like gangbusters in a place that's actually bankrupt.

"Stockton Flames" actually sounds pretty good, probably because it's so easy to envision Stockton being on fire.

[ninersdd]

A recent winner of "Americas most miserable city" Stockton is.