Can someone explain to me why the Ducks can't just create an AHL expansion team to use as their primary affiliate? Not in time for this season, obviously, but in time for next season? Is there any reason the Ducks couldn't just create a team in Sacramento/Salt Lake/San Diego/Las Vegas/Fresno/Portland/Seattle and use them as their affiliate?
Option #1 - Play a lot of minutes in Bakersfield of the ECHL with primary attention from the coaches
Option #2 - Play fewer minutes in ??? of the AHL with less attention from the coaches
I prefer Option #1. I hope a lot of players get sent to Bakersfield and I hope the goalie that is sent is a good one. Better to be in the Ducks system, with Ducks approved coaches and playing the minutes that the Ducks want then to have them being treated as an outsider getting leftover minutes for some other team.
I'm not sure what kind of relationship the Ducks have with Bakersfield but it's nothing like what they had with Portland and Iowa. For one they have no say over the coaching staff and thus no say over what style they coach. It's an affiliation and the players that get sent there play the system that's already in place which may or may not resemble the style instructed by Randy Carlyle. It's only beneficial sending borderline players there because they're the ones that will get dicked over playing for an AHL team that's not affiliated with us. The MacMillans, Miteras and Beleskys will get plenty of ice-time because they are good players. The Bots, Baileys and Bickels will not so we should expect them to be sent to Bakersfield.
It's not like the Ducks prefer this situation, they hate it. They absolutely want another AHL affiliate as soon as possible. Now owning their own franchise might seem to be the best choice but it may not make sense to the team financially. Teams that own their own AHL franchises have money to spend and have teams in areas that will turn a slight profit. Added a team out West will only service convenience to the Ducks. It's hard enough to get people out in this part of the world to watch the best hockey there is and it's damn near impossible to convince them to watch minor league hockey. I live near Ontario and let me tell you, the Reign aren't a hot ticket despite the amount of hockey fans out here and how good they were. I can't imagine many of the places you mentioned would be stronger draws regardless if it's a level higher. The Ducks don't even make money, how is a minor league team supposed to?
The situation is we need to just tough it out this season and find another affiliate next season. If they have to buy a dormant franchise and operate themselves they will but that won't be their first option otherwise they would just bought the Chops and kept things running this season. My guess is we'll provide Bakersfield with about 7-8 players, maybe ten at the most. Our better prospects like MacMillan, Belesky and Mitera will go to San Antonio and the rest will be spread out with no more than 2 or 3 to a team. Some people are freaking out that our kids won't see any ice time and that's crap. The teams they'll be sent to just won't have to sign an AHL free agent and they'll take their spot. Guys like Ajay Baines, Adrian Veideman and TJ Trevalyan saw plenty of ice-time with the Chops last year. Hell Baines was the captain. The only guys who are going to suffer are the ones being sent to Bakersfield who could probably make an AHL roster but these are kids who have a terrible chance of ever being Ducks so who cares?
0
. Pro hockey in California is pretty hot and cold depending on where you go. Ontario has struggled with their attendance which surprised me, but if you come here to Bakersfield or go up to Stockton, you will find we do fairly well with attendance. San Diego and Fresno used to do real well but have fallen by the wayside. Its very hit or miss, I have no idea why.
