Devils AHL team moving back to Albany - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Flame19,289 · 06-10-2010, 12:45 PM

With the recent departure of the Albany River Rats to Charlotte, where the team will be known as the Charlotte Checkers (http://www.gocheckers.com/ahl/), the folks in Albany have been trying to lure another AHL team to the capital of the Empire State.

There was quite a bit of public talk going on with the Sabres affiliate, the Portland Pirates, in an effort to convince them to move to Albany, but that fell through when the Pirates re-signed their lease agreement with the arena in Portland.

Today, however, the official announcement came through that the New Jersey Devils are returning their AHL affiliate to Albany (http://www.thealbanydevils.com/) after playing in Lowell, Mass. for the past four seasons. This time, the Devils will own the team, whereas during their prior stay in Albany, the team was locally owned.

Here's a copy of the story from the Albany Times-Union for those that are interested:

It’s official: Devils announce AHL move to Albany

Flamesguy_SJ · 06-10-2010, 01:20 PM

So what does that mean for Lowell? If they're still playing at the Tsongas arena, I highly doubt they'd be able to lure another AHL team...then again, they've been in the league for over 10 years now (as the Lock Monsters first).

It seems every season there are 2 or 3 teams that move around in the AHL, which I guess is just the nature of the beast in a developmental league, but it's still kind of bizarre to see every year. Didn't the Phantoms leave Philly last season too? To go to Adirondak, of all places?

Eddie Bronze · 06-10-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

Didn't the Phantoms leave Philly last season too? To go to Adirondak, of all places?

Indeed. Adirondack though, has a history in the AHL, a fairly impressive one. The Red Wings had their farm them there for 20 years and they won four Calder Cups.

The Albany River Rats have moved to Charlotte for next season and now Lowell has moved to Albany in their place. That has to be one of the most unique situations of re-location in quite some time.

Jetsfan · 06-10-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

So what does that mean for Lowell? If they're still playing at the Tsongas arena, I highly doubt they'd be able to lure another AHL team...then again, they've been in the league for over 10 years now (as the Lock Monsters first).

It seems every season there are 2 or 3 teams that move around in the AHL, which I guess is just the nature of the beast in a developmental league, but it's still kind of bizarre to see every year. Didn't the Phantoms leave Philly last season too? To go to Adirondak, of all places?

Maybe the Manitoba Moose will be moving too!!!

Flame19,289 · 06-10-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

So what does that mean for Lowell? If they're still playing at the Tsongas arena, I highly doubt they'd be able to lure another AHL team...then again, they've been in the league for over 10 years now (as the Lock Monsters first).

It seems every season there are 2 or 3 teams that move around in the AHL, which I guess is just the nature of the beast in a developmental league, but it's still kind of bizarre to see every year. Didn't the Phantoms leave Philly last season too? To go to Adirondak, of all places?

My admittedly limited understanding of the situation in Lowell is that UMass-Lowell bought the arena for their college team and isn't too interested in sharing it with an AHL team. The Devils had apparently spent some money on new locker rooms and other such improvements and were a bit miffed at the college. With Springfiled moving to Oklahoma City, Massachusetts will have two less teams in the AHL next year.

The situation with the Phantoms in Adirondack is a bit different. The Phantoms desperately needed a new home because the Spectrum in Philladelphia was being razed. The team had interest in moving to Allentown/Bethlehem, but the arena that was being built there wouldn't have been ready in time for this past season. I think the current deal with the Glens Falls Civic Center is for 3 years, so it's possible that they may move again. But I agree with Eddie Bronze... there is a rich hockey history in that building from the Red Wing years and it's nice to see hockey being played there again.

604flames · 06-10-2010, 11:54 PM

I thought the attendance in Lowell has been woeful the last few years as well.

Flamesguy_SJ · 06-10-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flame19,289

My admittedly limited understanding of the situation in Lowell is that UMass-Lowell bought the arena for their college team and isn't too interested in sharing it with an AHL team. The Devils had apparently spent some money on new locker rooms and other such improvements and were a bit miffed at the college. With Springfiled moving to Oklahoma City, Massachusetts will have two less teams in the AHL next year.

The situation with the Phantoms in Adirondack is a bit different. The Phantoms desperately needed a new home because the Spectrum in Philladelphia was being razed. The team had interest in moving to Allentown/Bethlehem, but the arena that was being built there wouldn't have been ready in time for this past season. I think the current deal with the Glens Falls Civic Center is for 3 years, so it's possible that they may move again. But I agree with Eddie Bronze... there is a rich hockey history in that building from the Red Wing years and it's nice to see hockey being played there again.

Really? That's a shame. So who is left in Mass.? Worcester and...? And even Worcester aren't the IceCats anymore. Even for all the change that occurred when I followed the AHL closely, to see teams that had a significant history in the league being moved is kind of a shame. I'm very glad to hear that the Pirates (assuming that's still what Portland calls their team?) are still around.

I have nothing to substantiate this, but it really seems that the league has been in a heightened state of upheaval re: team location since the 2001 merger with the IHL. Personally, I don't think the league was near ready to expand so large so quickly.

EDIT: Just did some checking, and the Falcons aren't leaving Springfield. They've become the Blue Jackets top affiliate for 2010-2011, so the OKC team is a "reactivation" of the Oilers' farm team (the Roadrunners I think was their last wholly-owned affiliate). That brings the league to 30 teams, so each NHL team now has a dedicated farm club.

Flamesguy_SJ · 06-11-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 604flames

I thought the attendance in Lowell has been woeful the last few years as well.

Lowell has always had terrible attendance.

Hack&Lube · 06-11-2010, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetsfan

Maybe the Manitoba Moose will be moving too!!!

No, they have a long contract with GM Place

Flame19,289 · 06-11-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamesguy_SJ

EDIT: Just did some checking, and the Falcons aren't leaving Springfield. They've become the Blue Jackets top affiliate for 2010-2011, so the OKC team is a "reactivation" of the Oilers' farm team (the Roadrunners I think was their last wholly-owned affiliate). That brings the league to 30 teams, so each NHL team now has a dedicated farm club.

Thanks for the correction. I hadn't heard that the Blue Jackets were leaving Syracuse and moving to Springfield. After checking the Syracuse Crunch website, I see that they are now going to be the affiliate for the Ducks next year.

So much activity...

Flamesguy_SJ · 06-11-2010, 02:42 PM

All the activity and former AHL cities getting other teams really makes me wonder if Saint John could be successful luring maybe an Eastern Conference (NHL) team to town. It still really burns me that people were so horny for a QMJHL team that they let go the highest calibre of hockey outside the NHL. Obviously there was more to the decision (like Sutter not wanting a farm team so far out East, and the $$$ it would take for ownership to keep the team), but it still really irks me and I can't help but think of what might have been everytime I sit down and discuss the AHL.

Phew. Ok, rant over.

Vulcan · 06-11-2010, 03:44 PM

I thought the AHL St John franchise was shut down before Sutter took over?
Once a city has gone to the CHL, the AHL isn't too keen on moving back in. Sucks I guess but enjoy the QMJHL and good rant.

Flamesguy_SJ · 06-11-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I thought the AHL St John franchise was shut down before Sutter took over?
Once a city has gone to the CHL, the AHL isn't too keen on moving back in. Sucks I guess but enjoy the QMJHL and good rant.

From what I remember (and keep in mind I was...14 at the time?), Sutter had just been hired as GM to replace Button and was actually in charge of the negotiations with Saint John Pro Sports Inc., the local ownership group. The Baby Flames had signed a two-year deal with the arena and Calgary after their 40-day season ticket drive in late 2001.

I've really tried enjoying the Q, because I know how much I hated people railing on the Baby Flames for no reason, but I just can't get into it. When you go from watching professional hockey players to kids that are still learning the game, it's such a huge drop-off in skill and overall quality. I guess any kind of high-profile hockey in Saint John is better than none, but still...I'd much rather pay my money to see professionals than just kids. I can watch the local high school teams if I want that.

That's the last I'll talk about it, because I'm veering way off-topic, and because I don't really have much more to say about it haha.