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Originally Posted by smiggy77
How about an Okotoks or Airdrie ECHL team?!
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Almost a certainty it won't happen. Flames would have to buy an existing franchise or get an expansion team.
ECHL teams aren't worth the investment of buying for NHL clubs. They only bought the Stockton Thunder for their arena lease so they could move their AHL team into the new Pacific division and quickly divested the ECHL team.
If a player on an NHL contract is not on an ELC, players can block assignments to the ECHL per the CBA.
There are only a handful of NHL prospects that get sent to the ECHL and usually it is just a short stint.
The most useful development spot on the ECHL team is the goalie position if the organization is deep in goalie prospects. At least a goalie can get playing time if the nets are crowded in the NHL/AHL.