Confirmed: Flames to relocate AHL affilate for 2022-23 season

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Ya, fair enough. I think my main point is that Calgary isn't a good spot for them. There are better markets in the area looking for good hockey. Calgary already has trouble filling the Dome when the Flames aren't red hot. You think people will be clamouring to also attend a prospects game during those down times?

When the team isn't good, people don't want to play the high price for NHL hockey. If the AHL is much more affordable, I can see it drawing well in those down years.

[corporatejay]

Flames seem to draw quite well even when they are for the 100/200s. The 300s are junk seats with terrible views, I'm not surprised they don't sell those out when they are bad, I'm more surprised they sell them out when they are good.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

He's 24, so it wouldn't be a shock to see Calgary part ways with him. It seems clear he's not in the Flames' long term plans.

Pending RFA who just finished eighth in league scoring and set basically every team scoring record in his age-23 season. He's staying.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Ya, fair enough. I think my main point is that Calgary isn't a good spot for them. There are better markets in the area looking for good hockey. Calgary already has trouble filling the Dome when the Flames aren't red hot. You think people will be clamouring to also attend a prospects game during those down times?

They already attend prospects games when they watch the Hitmen.

The AHL is professional hockey. Literally men, who are signed to contracts and assets for the best league in the world.

Not boys.

Do people pay to watch the Stamps play prospect football?

Paying to watch the Hitmen is like paying Stampeders prices to watch the Colts.

Men vs. Boys

[jayswin]

People are looking too deep on the arena side of things. The Hitmen slid to over 6000k average attendance before the pandemic, before that they were 8-9k. They are not playing at winsport and most certainly not on Tsuutina with like 1500 seats, lol.

I think many might be overestimating how many dates the Saddeldome gets a year and then coming up with a solution where's there's no problem? 110 tops between the Roughnecks, Flames and Hitmen and like 15 concerts a year. So like 170 events adding in the heat, and the Saddleome would still sit empty for over half the year.

[BlindMilwaukee]

I agree with Boreal. I totally get supporting the Hitmen and they’ve been here almost my whole life.
But having the AHL and the Flames affiliate in town is very cool. Like has already been said but to see guys like Pelletier, Zary, And Wolf is fantastic. I’ll definitely be going to games.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Boreal

They already attend prospects games when they watch the Hitmen.

The AHL is professional hockey. Literally men, who are signed to contracts and assets for the best league in the world.

Not boys.

Do people pay to watch the Stamps play prospect football?

Paying to watch the Hitmen is like paying Stampeders prices to watch the Colts.

Men vs. Boys

Paying to watch the Hitmen is like paying Stampeders prices to watch NCAA football and basketball. It's the best players at their age of development, not a second tier.

Stamps and Heat are a very good comparison. Men playing in the second best league in the world.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Pending RFA who just finished eighth in league scoring and set basically every team scoring record in his age-23 season. He's staying.

I get that the Flames often like to have good non-prospect type players around to fill out the AHL team and make them respectable, but you are placing too much emphasis on his scoring and not enough on him being projectable as a contributing NHL player.

I'm suggesting he needs to play a top 6 role due to his skillset, but it seems clear the Flames aren't seeing him as that calibre of player.

[TheScorpion]

This isn't the thread to discuss this, but he'll be re-signed. He's six months younger than Walker Duehr, who people still seem to have hopes for, and three times as productive. He'll get a shot in camp to make an impact as a cheap option to drive possession in a third-line role.

[djsFlames]

The only question really on every one's mind:

Does this move also come with the resurrection of Scorch???

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The only question really on every one's mind:

Does this move also come with the resurrection of Scorch???

It BETTER!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The only question really on every one's mind:

Does this move also come with the resurrection of Scorch???

YES!

Bring back Scorch!

https://chng.it/tTLSKMqSW2

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

YES!

Bring back Scorch!

https://chng.it/tTLSKMqSW2

Plus can update his reign of terror backstory that he was constantly wreaking havoc on all the former AHL cities to bring the team to its rightful home in Calgary.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by browna

Well, don't the Flames also have to subsidize other AHL teams flying here now? So economics are out the window, they pay more for travel costs for them and others, maybe make a bit more money and some less expenses than Stockton by hosting on home rink and synergy with the CSEC, but they aren't coming out ahead.

But I agree with T99, and as I said earlier, imo this is a shorter term solution until a more viable long term solution presents itself or can be developed.

And really, each time this team has moved going back to Quad Cities days there's always been discussion on bringing them to Calgary, and the CSEC never has.
I don't think anything has changed to make it more viable here now, outside of just not having a solid option anywhere else next year and in combination with not forcing itself into another situation like Stockton that isn't ideal but then be stuck with it.

How about 8 other teams in the Mountain/Pacific Time zones? Before they moved to Stockton there were 0, aside from the brief experiment with Abbotsford or Utah in the early 2000s.

If they do a 'flying' division, then all of those teams will be in the same boat for travel. There are probably a few opportunities to mitigate those costs through scheduling/collaboration with those teams.

As getback says, it it gets within a million or two of breaking even, then it could be a justifiable investment in player development/general organizational effectiveness. Do we think this has been a more lucrative venture in Stockton or anywhere else in the last 20 years?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

This isn't the thread to discuss this, but he'll be re-signed. He's six months younger than Walker Duehr, who people still seem to have hopes for, and three times as productive. He'll get a shot in camp to make an impact as a cheap option to drive possession in a third-line role.

Well, Walker's size makes him a potential bottom line player, although I wouldn't bet the farm on him ever making any kind of impact.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by dino7c

2nd or 3rd best hockey league in the world...nice take

It terms of talent sure great, it terms of entertaining hockey.. no. It's not good hockey.

Anyone thinking this will push the long established WHL Hitmen out are smoking pot.

[TheScorpion]

Gonna be on CBC Radio One "The Homestretch" to discuss the move in just a couple minutes.