Mackcanuck Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/284982841.html Having Iowa so close is one reason why the Wild has kept its roster at 22 players the past few weeks as opposed to the maximum 23. It saves money and salary-cap space. It’s an advantage the Anaheim Ducks (Norfolk is their affiliate), Arizona Coyotes (Portland, Maine), Colorado Avalanche (Erie, Pa.), Los Angeles Kings (Manchester, N.H.), San Jose Sharks (Worcester, Mass.) and even the Calgary Flames (Glens Falls, NY), Edmonton Oilers (Oklahoma City) and Vancouver Canucks (Utica, N.Y.) don’t have. That’s why as early as next season, there could be a titanic transformation in the AHL. The NHL’s chief development league is well on its way toward several relocations of eastern markets to western markets that’ll include some and eventually maybe all of the above teams. “It’s a work in progress,” said David Andrews, the AHL’s president and CEO who attended Wednesday’s Wild-Montreal Canadiens game. “It has been for about 30 months. I would say the work is getting a little more intense, and I would say it’s eventually going to happen. We’re essentially working on a framework. The Avs could end up with an affiliate in Colorado, the Coyotes in Arizona. Markets rumored in California? Ontario, Fresno, San Diego, Bakersfield, Stockton and Long Beach. The Canucks could put their team in Abbotsford, B.C. Andrews will be part of several meetings in Florida this week that could accelerate the process. The Kings and Sharks, who own their AHL franchises, want this to happen for next season, and the Ducks are working toward buying a franchise. “To move four or five teams is a fairly difficult thing to do,” Andrews said. “So the only thing not definite is the timeline, but it’s going to happen. We’re committed to doing it. And those teams are committed to doing it. It’s just a matter of how and when we can pull it all together.” Andrews feels for the markets that are destined to lose teams. “It’s really tough,” he said. “But a number of teams own their franchise as the Wild do, and it’s our obligation to work with them if they feel they want to relocate. It’ll be a pretty dramatic change in our geography, and it’s going to impact a number of existing markets that have been good, loyal markets in our league for a long time.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayRayDown Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I'd rather the team stays in Utica. They have shown great support for the team down there and I never like to see a team get taken from a city that has supported it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 But, Utica? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 The only way this works with the travel is if this is done all at once. Even still, the increased travel costs could be an issue for many of the teams being moved. I'm not sure if the markets out west can support an AHL team financially even if the travel costs stayed the same as they are now. Arizona can't even support an NHL team with AHL ticket prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I'd rather the team stays in Utica. They have shown great support for the team down there and I never like to see a team get taken from a city that has supported it Yep. As much as Id love our farm team here, Utica deserves our farm. Have been great and I don't see why they shouldn't be able to keep em. Can't give them enough praise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I wonder if the NHLPA will have issues with this. If 22 becomes the new 23 that's one less NHL salary job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I'm less worried about an increase in travel costs for a bunch of billionaires than I am about the reduced practice time that the young prospects would face. Granted if there were more teams out West the time spent travelling is reduced so maybe that becomes a moot point. Still, Western teams in any league have always seemingly faced travel issues so other than saving a few bucks for the owners, I fail to see how this benefits young prospects who need all the practice time they can get. My vote is to keep the team in Utica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I'm less worried about an increase in travel costs for a bunch of billionaires than I am about the reduced practice time that the young prospects would face. Granted if there were more teams out West the time spent travelling is reduced so maybe that becomes a moot point. Still, Western teams in any league have always seemingly faced travel issues so other than saving a few bucks for the owners, I fail to see how this benefits young prospects who need all the practice time they can get. My vote is to keep the team in Utica. I'm more worried about the AHL teams that aren't owned by an NHL franchise. It's going to be a tough sell to get these owners to play ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 B-But I thought having a AHL franchise in Utica, a 'central location', was an advantage??? That's what people sed. Why u lie to me?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Couldn't care less about utica. Our farm team should be in our own back yard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Couldn't care less about utica. Our farm team should be in our own back yard Not sure about that given our media though. Might be better for the kids shielding them from guys like Botchford and Gallagher for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tearloch7 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Not sure about that given our media though. Might be better for the kids shielding them from guys like Botchford and Gallagher for a while. Or expose them to the 'disease',that can be the Vancouver media, early so they learn early to ignore the ebb and flow of irrationality that starts with the media and spreads here on CDC .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Or expose them to the 'disease',that can be the Vancouver media, early so they learn early to ignore the ebb and flow of irrationality that starts with the media and spreads here on CDC .. Could be argued either way. In reality it will go both ways depending on the prospect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentine Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I'd feel bad about doing that to Utica's fans. By all accounts they've been pretty great, so even if we do get the opportunity to move our farm team to Abbotsford I'd rather they just stayed in Utica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentine Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Also, as an alternative, this 22-man roster issue could be solved by having a 'ghost' salary, say league minimum, sitting there if a team is trying to boost cap-space by only having 22 active players. That would take away some of the incentive for teams like Minnesota to try to stretch out their cap situation by taking advantage of a close farm team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Just because we switch affiliates doesn't mean Utica would lose a team. It would just mean Utica becomes the farm team for another NHL team. Maybe the Rangers take over Utica, and Hartford moves out West. Who knows? I personally like our team in Utica right now, but if the only reason we don't wanna move is because of fan support, well that would exist in Abbottsford, probably even more so. And as for media attention, it's better that they get used to it early, than to be thrown to the wolves later on. I think the argument could be made that it would prepare our guys for the spotlight much better. I'm happy if they stay in Utica, but I also see the benefits f having our prospects closer. The access to trainers, and coaches, and mentors alone would be a huge benefit. Not to mention Benning could watch our prospects live much more frequently, and gain his own perspective on where certain players are at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Just because we switch affiliates doesn't mean Utica would lose a team. It would just mean Utica becomes the farm team for another NHL team. Maybe the Rangers take over Utica, and Hartford moves out West. Who knows? More complicated to arrange when the Canucks own the team directly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 More complicated to arrange when the Canucks own the team directly. They own an AHL franchise. The name can be changed at any point. The Wolf Pack in Hartford could move to Utica and change names. That's pretty simple. I don't see the Comets going anywhere. The only thing that would change is the team and players affiliated with them. They would still be the Comets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 DeFazio played 2 games back to back than flew out and played the next game for us and didn't miss a step. If there is any indication that the effect of travel is overstated on call-ups its him. I'd rather they play somewhere where they aren't worn out by travel 99% of the time and have sellout crowds supporting them. I feel that makes getting sent down sting less too knowing your getting a lot of support while your playing in the AHL. I like utica and I want them at the very least to play 5 years there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 DeFazio played 2 games back to back than flew out and played the next game for us and didn't miss a step. If there is any indication that the effect of travel is overstated on call-ups its him. I'd rather they play somewhere where they aren't worn out by travel 99% of the time and have sellout crowds supporting them. I feel that makes getting sent down sting less too knowing your getting a lot of support while your playing in the AHL. I like utica and I want them at the very least to play 5 years there. Well there`s a 50% chance that we would need a call up when the team is at home. Travel to and from Abbotsford to Rogers Arena is under an hour. That means they could make the decision to call up a player the morning of a game and be fine. Rather than fly a guy out from New York the night before just in case. That alone is a huge benefit. A few times this season they`ve called a guy out, only to have him sit. Then they miss their game that night in the AHL. This way they could make the decision the day of the game, and still be able to have that guy play in Abbotsford if he`s not needed. As for fan support, I don`t see how it would be any less in Abbotsford. The only reason the Heat failed is because nobody wanted to pay to watch the Flames prospects play. If it were the Canucks affiliate, that building would be sold out every night. It also has a bigger capacity than the Auditorium. I love the support that Utica has shown, and I think they`re a great group of fans. But at the end of the day, it`s about developing our prospects in the best way possible. I think the access to trainers, coaches, managers, mentors, Canuck players, and Canucks fans, that these guys would have playing close to Vancouver would be invaluable. I would be happy for the farm team to be in Utica for the next 10 years, but if there`s an opportunity to have the farm team right in our own backyard, I think it`s one that can`t be passed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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