153 replies to this topic

[DuckNewbie]

Since the Ducks AHL future will become a major discussion topic, (if it isn't already), I thought I'd kick it off with this tidbit:

Some additional details have emerged on the new AHL franchise in Oklahoma City. Prodigal Hockey, LLC owner Bob Funk, Jr. recently told the AP:

"We’re close. We have some things to finalize, and there are some approval processes that need to be gone through, but I think we’re really close to getting something done."

The AHL Board of Directors will meet during the AHL all-star break, January 18th and 19th, and it's expected that the "approval processes" that Funk spoke of will be at the top of the agenda. Expect an announcement in the coming days.

Link

You may recall that one of the keys to having 30 AHL teams, (and thus, one for the Ducks), is the Edmonton Oilers re-activating thier dormant AHL franchise. By this statement, it appears to be on track for next season!

That would leave the AHL Sprinfield, MA, team with an opening. Too early to say that we would end up there, since some shuffling around is still possible. And the question of the "temporary" Texas Stars, and suspended Iowa Chops issues need to be hammered out (or conjoined)....

But all in all, I think there's a much better than 50-50 chance for a Ducks AHL affiliate next year. (But, I'm a self declared optimist).


Note to mods: I figured a new topic was in order since the old discussions were conducted in the "dead" Iowa Chops threads. Move this if you feel it's warranted.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Thanks for the good news.

It's encouraging to see some promise for the AHL to have 30 teams next season.

Crucial for our chances of having our own AHL affiliation, and thus a better future for not only our prospects, but the franchise as a whole.

[Dark Knight]

So would our new franchise be in Springfield, MA or OK City?

[DuckNewbie]

So would our new franchise be in Springfield, MA or OK City?

Could be neither.....

But, by all accounts, OKC will definitely be the Edmonton team. The article goes on to ask what the team will be called, and guesses that it WILL be oil-industry related....Possibly even the Oilers.

As for Springfield, they would then certainly be open for a new affiliate. But it's probably too early to guess whether they would then become the Ducks affiliate, or maybe go with some other team.....leaving an unrelated third team without an affiliate, etc.

There are probably too many variables to make a guess where the Ducks end up right now. But the key will be having 30 AHL teams. (And their requirement that AHL teams have NHL affiliates).

The downside: Seems unlikely at this point that our affiliate will be "out west". We'll have to take what's available. But that's better than being the only dancer without a partner....Like now.

[Todrick]

Springfield would work... could even leave them the 'Flacons'... Ducks, Falcons, Condors... it works.

[iSkelly87]

Springfield would work... could even leave them the 'Flacons'... Ducks, Falcons, Condors... it works.

no it doesn't...just for the fact that their name is the falcons. The fresno falcons was and always will be the bitter rivals of the condors. I don't know if condors fans could live with the fact we are afflicted with a team named the falcons. But that is just coming from a long time condors fan =P

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Well, pretty much anything would be an improvement on "C•H•O•P•S"

No?

In any case, I sure hope that the NHL has some sway over the AHL in regards to EDM seemingly having control over two of the franchises. Remember Kevin Lowe has major power in the Oiler organization, and I wonder if he would try to torpedo Anaheim's ability to have their own affiliate... or at least make it extremely expensive to do so.

[Todrick]

Well, pretty much anything would be an improvement on "C•H•O•P•S"

No?

hard to argue with logic that sound.

[Dark Knight]

If the Ducks went to OKC they could be the "Dust Bowls"

[ladiesandgentlemen]

One good thing that I see doing a little research is that Springfield's affiliation commitment with Edmonton expires at the end of this present 09-10 season, according to the Wiki entry for the Springfield Falcons, which has these encouraging words:

Since the contract the Oilers have with the Falcons runs out at the end of the season, it is unknown who the Falcons will be affiliated with for the 2010-11 AHL season.

If the Ducks went to OKC they could be the "Dust Bowls"

Let's hope this season doesn't result in us resembling that remark.

[Dark Knight]

Let's hope this season doesn't result in us resembling that remark.

I was trying to come up with name that would be representative of the place the team is located. Pork industry = CHOPS... OKC = Dust Bowls... Kansas City = T-Bones (oh wait, that one's taken) etc...

[ladiesandgentlemen]

My concern was this scene next August... with Randy Carlyle, David McNab, and Bob Murray (in order) coming back to the Ponda after the dust of this season settled:

[Randy Carlyle]

It will be nice to have an AHL affiliate next season.

Then these kids will learn how to dump and chase properly instead of this crazy High Risk, High Reward style they keep trying to pull when they think I'm not looking.

"Dump and Chase like real men! Like we did back in the good old days" I say.

[Dark Knight]

My concern was this scene next August... with Randy Carlyle, David McNab, and Bob Murray (in order) coming back to the Ponda after the dust of this season settled...

Is that Murray bringing up the rear? He sure looks tiny from here. And no barstool...

[Randy Carlyle]

Is that Murray bringing up the rear? He sure looks tiny from here. And no barstool...

No that's me in front, then Bob. That's McNab in the back.

If you look close you can tell it is him, he's crying because he keeps insisting that the 5' 9" munchkins he tells us to sign are good and we had to finally explain to him that anyone under 6' 2" isn't even worth looking at.

[Dark Knight]

No that's Bob in front, then me. That's McNab in the back.

Looks like you're planning on losing some weight That's good I guess. For a moment I thought it was Jed Clampett.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Is that Murray bringing up the rear? He sure looks tiny from here. And no barstool...

Yes.

Look at his stature.

Ever-shrinking.

[woodbutcher]

Management might be willing to take a step backwards as far as the western expansion is concerned to ensure an AHL affiliate for the immediate future. It will be interesting to see how this AHL BOG meeting goes. Hopefully we can get some answers regarding the rumored Anaheim purchase of Bakersfield or maybe a clue to how they are going to proceed.

[DuckNewbie]

An interesting read about the "State of the AHL" address given by the CEO of the AHL here.

Link

I'll quote a few of the bullets that are of interest to us, (not necessarily in the order they have them):

– Edmonton has given every indication they do plan to go to Oklahome City but they have not pulled the trigger yet. They dont want to cut ties with Springfield so they’re making sure everything is going to happen, it’s a great working relationship. On a scale of 1-10 they are at about an 8 that they will activate in OKC.

– Iowa is on the market and for sale. Some have shown interest in buying and moving it and some with keeping it in Iowa. They’d need an affiliate and Anaheim is the only team without an affiliate.

– Texas has a temporary franchise and spring meeting is the time it’ll get resolved about what they’re doing next season. It is expected to happen that they’ll find a franchise. The exception won’t be extended if they can’t buy a franchise. Andrews said never say never but he doubt’s the league would. Iowa was complicated at the time and a sale wasn’t easy, is easier now.

– Carolina wants an affiliate closer to them, league wouldn’t be opposed to have a team down there. A number of things can happen and the news of Carolina wanting something down there doesn’t say anything about Albany.

– Five or six expiring affiliation agreements at the end of this season. We should expect a couple announcements in a few weeks of teams extending affiliations. Dave Andrews is the only one who knows the teams.

That's a pretty tangled web of potential movement of affiliations, there.

I still think Texas wants to buy the Chops affiliate, making their Texas team permanant. And we can only hope OKC gets off the ground, with Edmonton moving their players there.

But, as you can see, where the Ducks end up is most certainly NOT an easy question to answer right now.

[TecKaHoLiC]

The Lake Erie Ducks

[DuckNewbie]

Kinda off topic, and probably has no bearing on the Ducks AHL future.....

But for those wondering about the Carolina plans for their AHL affiliate that was alluded to a couple of posts ago:

That's the scenario playing out right now in Albany, NY, as the River Rats inch closer to being sold and relocated to North Carolina, home of their NHL parent the Carolina Hurricanes.

Link

[Rooch20]

It doesn't matter where it is on the North American map, our immediate need right now is having an AHL affiliate to develop our players. I'm pretty sure that Murray is trying to do the best with what he's got and I'm pretty confident that the staff of this franchise can put this in high priority and get this issue resolved before 2010-2011. It sounds like the AHL is making progress towards opening up teams for potential AHL affiliates for us.

[DropThePuck]

The commissioner also addressed the Iowa situation -- after the Iowa Chops ceased operations, Anaheim was left without an affiliate and has been forced to divide their AHL team between Manitoba, Texas and Toronto. "They are not happy," Andrews said. "They very much want to have their (own) team." The Chops are for sale and new owners could activate the franchise and re-affiliate with the Ducks if an owner can be found in time.
...
Five or six affiliation agreements expire at the end of the season, one temporary affiliation agreement must be made permanent, three teams may be on the move and the Ducks still need to find an exclusive affiliate -- the AHL is about to undergo a serious facelift.

<link>

[Rooch20]

How long is our deal with Iowa? Has it expired once they suspended operations?

[ladiesandgentlemen]

How long is our deal with Iowa? Has it expired once they suspended operations?

I think it ended with their breach of contract for not paying us money they owed us... at least on time.

That was last May.

Here's the reference.