Minor League Hockey Shake-up...coming

[bosrs1 900]

With the 30-30-30 setup taking place, it's development above all now. The "talented for their level" guys will be forced to ply their trade in Europe and/or Asia.

Definitely looks like its going to be the baseball model from now on...

[Viper 191]

As though the Peoria Rivermen having to slum it in the SPHL (as its only club located north of Tennessee, at that) since the last minor-league reshuffling wasn't bad enough...

[Sodboy13 3,930]

I think Peoria will be back in the ECHL in short order once this merger/absorption gets hashed out. It'll be a better draw with more dates, and they'll have an excellent geographic setup.

[illwauk 420]

This sucks... minor league hockey is much better with quasi-independent teams and rosters full of those "talented for their level" guys. But if it has to be like this, could my Admirals at least get a better parent club than the friggin' Predators?

[the admiral 18,186]

With Trotz out and Poile likely to follow, the Perds might abandon their commitment to churning out replacement-level shlubs and try developing good players for once. Hang tight.

[bosrs1 900]

So has the merger between the CHL and ECHL gone through?

[MidwestEagle 1]

So I guess this is supposed to be announced later today

http://www.kansas.com/sports/other-sports/wichita-thunder/article2558798.html

[MidwestEagle 1]

http://www.kansas.com/sports/other-sports/wichita-thunder/article2558798.html

should be announced sometime today

[mr.negative15 691]

Based on that report, the ECHL will take all the CHL teams left. Interesting. I did not see that coming. Should be interesting to see if the CHL teams have to adjust their rosters based on the ECHL rules this year or they will get 1 season leeway to adjust.

[MidwestEagle 1]

http://www.echl.com/echl-accepts-seven-new-members-p194005

It looks like its a done deal

[nash61 1,159]

Do ya believe us yet?

[BigEd76 191]

The league now has two teams called the Thunder

[MBurmy 962]

The league now has two teams called the Thunder

So "Thunder" is to the ECHL what "Admirals" is to the AHL...everything's gonna be just fine.

[sohiosportsfreak 233]

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.

[rams80 3,617]

The merger does not make the AHL move more or less likely. Indeed, adding some of the CHL teams helps bridge the gap between the two (particularly as those are the stronger/viable organizations.)

Brampton probably dies in a year or two though.

[mr.negative15 691]

The merger does not make the AHL move more or less likely. Indeed, adding some of the CHL teams helps bridge the gap between the two (particularly as those are the stronger/viable organizations.)

Brampton probably dies in a year or two though.

Having gone to a few games and seeing the attendance, I can see that happening.

[Sodboy13 3,930]

With every former CHLer a free agent and contracts under PHPA rules, I could see one or two of the Central 7 biting it mid-season.

[bosrs1 900]

The merger does not make the AHL move more or less likely. Indeed, adding some of the CHL teams helps bridge the gap between the two (particularly as those are the stronger/viable organizations.)

Brampton probably dies in a year or two though.

Oh that's a given that they don't necessarily impact the other. But they are two separate moves that are rocking the lower levels of hockey albiet separately. The AHL move will come non-the-less it seems.

[mr.negative15 691]

ECHL ‏@ECHL 25m25 minutes ago

The #ECHL will announce the revised divisional alignment and format for the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs today at 3 p.m. ET

[mr.negative15 691]

Here is the information that the ECHL tweeted would be provided.