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getbak · 06-08-2022, 06:22 PM

The AHL is supposed to be going to a 72 game schedule for every team next season, but it will still likely be a Division-heavy schedule.

I wouldn't be surprised if they make the Pacific Division 10 teams (the nine from this season plus Coachella Valley) and just have them play each other 8 times each. There's 72 games right there.

Also, people make a big deal out of how expensive flying everywhere would be, but I did some quick math on it...

72 games means 36 road games. If they took one round trip flight for every road game, that's 72 individual flights in a season. If 50 people travelled with the team and each single flight cost $500, that would work out to $1.8 million in air fare costs over the entire season. That would be the absolute extreme.

Of course, they don't fly home after every road game, they either play 2 or 3 games in one city in a row, or they make a few small trips between close cities on each trip. Also, the number of people who make each trip is probably closer to 30-40, and the cost per person per flight is likely much less than $500.

In reality, the cost of flying the AHL to every road game is likely less than the cost of two players making league minimum in the NHL.

I think what it boils down to is whether the AHL team is expected to stand on its own and operate profitably within its own means, or does the NHL team treat the AHL team as an expense related to making sure you have a proper development pipeline that can produce future NHLers and replacement players when needed?

06-08-2022, 06:22 PM	#73
getbak Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	The AHL is supposed to be going to a 72 game schedule for every team next season, but it will still likely be a Division-heavy schedule. I wouldn't be surprised if they make the Pacific Division 10 teams (the nine from this season plus Coachella Valley) and just have them play each other 8 times each. There's 72 games right there. Also, people make a big deal out of how expensive flying everywhere would be, but I did some quick math on it... 72 games means 36 road games. If they took one round trip flight for every road game, that's 72 individual flights in a season. If 50 people travelled with the team and each single flight cost $500, that would work out to $1.8 million in air fare costs over the entire season. That would be the absolute extreme. Of course, they don't fly home after every road game, they either play 2 or 3 games in one city in a row, or they make a few small trips between close cities on each trip. Also, the number of people who make each trip is probably closer to 30-40, and the cost per person per flight is likely much less than $500. In reality, the cost of flying the AHL to every road game is likely less than the cost of two players making league minimum in the NHL. I think what it boils down to is whether the AHL team is expected to stand on its own and operate profitably within its own means, or does the NHL team treat the AHL team as an expense related to making sure you have a proper development pipeline that can produce future NHLers and replacement players when needed? __________________ Turn up the good, turn down the suck!