Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
Yet.
Until recently, there really weren't any WHL cities worthy of an AHL team. Saskatoon is growing up.
It's too convenient to say that they haven't set up in WHL markets when none were really suitable. Besides, Abbotsford already violates the spirit of that with Chilliwack right there. I lived in Chilliwack for several years and they are essentially in the same market as Abbotsford.
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Saskatoon, Regina, Seattle and Portland have always had the market to support AHL level pro hockey and have done so in the past. The thing is, an old adage says, 'you don't bite the hand that feeds you' and the CHL is the main feeder for the NHL and they wouldn't like the CHL to start demanding big bucks for graduating juniors like the Euros are now doing.
It should be possible for the AHL to move into these cities but it would have to be negotiated so the junior owners are satisfied and it doesn't create a backlash among the hockey public.