[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Might as well start this thread considering we're probably going to hear a lot of news about this topic starting in March/April/May.

Here's an article from today written by Dan Kinvig:

Aquilini, on chances of Canucks farm team moving to Abbotsford: Ask Mayor Banman

Speaking with videographer Kevin MacDonald prior to a game between the Abbotsford Heat and the Utica Comets (see video above), the Canucks' co-owner was asked if there was any chance the Vancouver farm team might eventually end up playing out of the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

"I don't know – you've got to ask this gentleman right here," Aquilini said with a chuckle, gesturing to Abbotsford mayor Bruce Banman, who was accompanying him through the back entrance of the arena. "This is the guy to talk to.

"It's a great arena, great market. There's 800,000 people in this (Fraser Valley) area, so you know, Calgary got in at the right time."

Speaking with the News after the Comets' 3-2 win, Banman downplayed the notion that his interaction with Aquilini signaled that negotiations are ongoing, and chuckled at Aquilini's smiling assertion that the Canucks affiliate's potential arrival was up to the Abbotsford mayor.

"The mayor doesn't have a magic wand," he said.

"There's always hope, but to be honest with you, he (Aquilini) was just here to watch his team and see how his farm team's doing.

"There are not talks ongoing with the Canucks, other than we were just talking about hockey in general. But you never know. I believe that it's always good to be friendly, and they didn't know where their suite was . . . so I took them to their suite and showed them their way."