The AHL is always in flux. I could see a lot happening.
The AHL Chicago Wolves owner Don Levin desperately wants an NHL team. He has been poking at Seattle but he won't win out to Balmer and the NBA guy.
The Islanders are on the market prior to the Brooklyn move. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are owned by Wang and the Islanders. If the Levin is somehow involved in NHL Brooklyn he wont need to own two AHL teams. I wouldn't be surprised if the Blackhawks push for Levin to get out of their market and give up Chicago instead of Bridgeport. Chicago is so profitable for Levin that I would think even though geography is to his disadvantage, the Sound Tigers would be his choice as the odd man out in that equation. Either way, one of those franchises would be on the market.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are hooked up with Springfield of the AHL, a privately owned franchise that has threatened to fold at least 5 times in the last 15 years unless season ticket goals were met. The CBJ's steward into the NHL died. Not sure how dedicated the son is. Either way a new CBJ owner or current owner could see the Sound Tigers as a much more exciting option than Springfield.
Albany and the Devils is just a process of elimination relationship. The Devils have about as much loyalty as the Flames do. Utica, Springfield, Albany and anyone else who will give them a $1 better deal is where they will end up.
Glens Falls is just ridiculous. If they don't find an AHL team they are talking about mothballing or selling an arena they just put new seats and upgrades in. They got burnt by the UHL and killed AA hockey in that market forever.
I also don't get the argument for a flying team not being able to practice. It seems like sitting on a bus for 13 hours and skating on 2 hours of sleep is not better than flying for 2 hours, sleeping for 8 and then practicing.
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