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Vulcan · 04-30-2009, 10:07 PM

At one time most of the AAA franchises in the AHL, the old International League and before that, the old Western Hockey League, were privately owned and operated.

Nowadays most NHL teams own their AHL franchises, so the AHL depends on their parent teams for players and jumps to the tune of the NHL, and what an NHL team wants, it gets. The Flames want to move to Abbotsford, or the Stars want to move to Austin, done deal.

At one time other good NA minor leagues could get good players unaffiliated with the NHL but the good ones all go to Europe now.

04-30-2009, 10:07 PM	#11
Vulcan Franchise Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sunshine Coast Exp:	At one time most of the AAA franchises in the AHL, the old International League and before that, the old Western Hockey League, were privately owned and operated. Nowadays most NHL teams own their AHL franchises, so the AHL depends on their parent teams for players and jumps to the tune of the NHL, and what an NHL team wants, it gets. The Flames want to move to Abbotsford, or the Stars want to move to Austin, done deal. At one time other good NA minor leagues could get good players unaffiliated with the NHL but the good ones all go to Europe now. Last edited by Vulcan; 04-30-2009 at 10:11 PM.