TheRussianRocket. Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/06/report-echl-and-chl-to-merge/The East Coast Hockey League and Central Hockey League are reportedly in talks to merge. According to hockey agent Darryl Wolski, the president of the 2112 Hockey Agency, the two professional hockey leagues, which have teams primarily in the U.S., could merge as early as the 2015-16 season. Wolski added that Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Stockton and Ontario all teams currently in the ECHL could join the American Hockey League next year to form a true Western Conference. The AHL has been in discussions with western-based NHL teams about moving their affiliations to the west making it easier for player transactions to occur. The Wichita Thunder, Tulsa Oilers, Rapid City Rush and Missouri Mavericks, all currently playing in the CHL, do not have NHL affiliations, while only the ECHLs Las Vegas Wranglers and Colorado Eagles do not have affiliations to an NHL team. There are currently 40 teams between the ECHL and CHL, while the AHL has 30 teams. I like this and hope it happens in 2015 (after this upcoming season). ECHL isn't the best if leagues and people's careers usually diminish there. Would much rather be joined with the CHL where there is better chance to find your game and succeed. Only concern would be balancing teams and players as there would be an abundance of them with both leagues joining. My guess would be some people will simply lose jobs as unfortunate as that would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Only concern would be balancing teams and players as there would be an abundance of them with both leagues joining. My guess would be some people will simply lose jobs as unfortunate as that would be. I don't follow. Other than league front-office staff, why would anyone lose a job? It doesn't sound like they are talking about eliminating any teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerEpic5 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and now ECHL? Now that is one big cluster beeping league... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpennyCanuck Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and now ECHL? Now that is one big cluster beeping league... Not sure why there is two CHL's... But Im pretty sure they mean the central hockey league. EDIT: Central hockey league and ECHL to merge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and now ECHL? Now that is one big cluster beeping league... The CHL that's merging with the ECHL is a minor pro league and not the same as the CHL that is the Canadian junior league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 By the math provided this would put a final total of: 34 AHL teams (4 Pacific ECHL teams --->Ahl) 27 ECHL teams (21 + 10 CHL - 4 Ahl) So all of a sudden there is more AHL teams than NHL... Could be preparation for expansion as every AHL team has an affiliate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 So all of a sudden there is more AHL teams than NHL... Could be preparation for expansion as every AHL team has an affiliate. I was thinking the same thing, but I sure hope the NHL doesn't go to 34 teams. 32 would be ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueberries Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 This is not the CHL most of you are thinking of: its not the OHL,WHL,QMJHL one. Its the central hockey league, not the Canadian Hockey League http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/ http://www.chl.ca/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I was thinking the same thing, but I sure hope the NHL doesn't go to 34 teams. 32 would be ideal. I believe 2 of the ECHL teams that would be moved to the AHL are actually independently run so if that remains the same it would be a 34 team league with 32 affiliate? Could work. I think these preparations of a merger have significance to the NHL that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 Oh, well that was a letdown No biggy for me then lol. Anything to revive the ECHL is fine with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I believe 2 of the ECHL teams that would be moved to the AHL are actually independently run so if that remains the same it would be a 34 team league with 32 affiliate? Could work. I think these preparations of a merger have significance to the NHL that's for sure. It's hard to see how an AHL team without any affiliation could even be competitive. Without any NHL prospects on the team, the roster would basically be filled with leftovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 odds are 2 failing AHL franchises would drop out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/06/report-echl-and-chl-to-merge/ I like this and hope it happens in 2015 (after this upcoming season). ECHL isn't the best if leagues and people's careers usually diminish there. Would much rather be joined with the CHL where there is better chance to find your game and succeed. Only concern would be balancing teams and players as there would be an abundance of them with both leagues joining. My guess would be some people will simply lose jobs as unfortunate as that would be. I believe the CHL is generally considered as a league below the ECHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I don't understand how anyone thought they meant it was merging with the Canadian Hockey League. Amateur and Pro leagues can't really merge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Stammer- Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toews Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Nothing significant ever comes out of the ECHL except goalies and the one odd player. And the only reason goalies go there is because their junior eligibility expires and there are 2 goalies already on their NHL affiliated AHL teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 I don't think the important message here is the chl - echl merger. This isn't really relevant for anything other than where Mallet will be playing. The important factor is that 4 teams will be joining the ahl for several reasons. 1. further implies there is truth about a western division in the ahl (not saying we would be a franchise that moves our affiliate west but we are currently 5th in distance between nhl an ahl. I personally like Utica.) 3 franchises from california and one in las vegas is perfect for la, sj, anaheim, and phx. 2. One team in particular that stands out in joining the ahl. Las Vegas has been a rumoured team for expansion for several years now. Does this imply that maybe they would like to see how an ahl team does before expansion/relocation further down the line, does this possibly mean las vegas is put on the backburner for the time being? 3. AHL teams have to have an NHL affiliate to be competitive. Some failing franchises may close but this is still adding teams putting the total over 30. If this is true expansion is a MUST for the NHL. I don't see teams splitting ahl affiliates as a good idea. In echl it is okay because its generally for lower level prospects. With blue chip prospects getting all the ice time in the ahl, middle prospects will get screwed over if playing on a roster with two nhl teams. It just doesn't work. furthermore who determines which nhl team gets 1 1/2 rosters to fill up? 4. If there is a new western division, which teams fill it out? Will a franchise (like say utica) move to other previously mentioned expansion locations with an arena? (Kansas city? Portland?) 5. Could an Arizona ahl/echl team take over jobing.com if nhl decides to relocate? This announcement might not be huge news but speculations and questions surrounding it are interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamJamIam Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 It's hard to see how an AHL team without any affiliation could even be competitive. Without any NHL prospects on the team, the roster would basically be filled with leftovers. Isn't that pretty much what the Wolves are? Sure they have affiliations but they're not long-lasting because they tend to favour signing AHL players and shafting developing prospects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wshdrvvn Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 it would be kind of cool if there were AHL teams that had no affiliation and could build a roster specifically for the A. would make good competition for other affiliated teams. love the idea of this merger though. it would be good for pro hockey if there was a clear pecking order aligned for each team, going down two leagues. Rosters could go very deep and mamagement could set very specific plans for players. ECHL player loans get to be a mess in the AHL as well, I hope this merger will streamline that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 the AHL requires a certain number of "developmental" players on their roster, any independant AHL teams (there have been MANY in the AHL over the years) usually either go belly up or get a new affiliation for the following season. you cant build a successful team with scraps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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