The big issue with loaning players to other AHL teams is you basically lose control of their development.
An independent team will focus more on winning than development. If their coach decides his team will have a better chance healthy scratching your prospect for a stretch or giving him limited ice time, you really get no say.
If you put him on a team with an affiliate agreement with another NHL team, their priority will be to play and develop that team's prospects and your prospect will be an after thought.
IIRC with regards to Wahl being loaned to the Bulldogs, Feaster said that once you loan a prospect to a non-affiliated AHL team he is stuck playing with that AHL team for the rest of the season.
It is not something you want to do with a prospect if you are concerned about developing him.
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