Apparently, out of nowhere, the Anaheim Ducks suddenly ended their two-year affiliation agreement with the Iowa Chops. That leaves, according to the story, AHL hockey in Des Moines in a new state of disarray.
If you don't care to read the story, the organization hinted that the Chops did not meet certain financial obligations. Either that, or the Ducks and Wild have come to an under the table agreement to swap AHL affiliations. The story did not expand on either of those points.
Under the latter scenario, the Wild prospects would play in Des Moines and the Aeros would be the new AHL affiliate of the Ducks.
I love to stir the pot, and this is something that I don't believe, but I guess the evil person in me wanted to get a little rise out of Forecheck.
Stay tuned ... could be ONE less team in the AHL next season.
Posts
10 comments:
Wow - Anaheim porks the Chops and pulls out early.
I understand the AHL has some sort of agreement to keep an AHL team in Des Moines until 2012.
If Anaheim affiliates with some other AHL team, then that frees up a parent for Iowa. Edmonton just ended their agreement with Springfield, so that's a possibility however poor geographically.
What would complicate an affiliate swap with Minnesota is that the Wild own the Aeros, so the Ducks would need to by the Chops first, I would think, or buy the Aeros from Mother Minny.
We'll see. Silly season seems to be starting early.
Would it not make more sense that Dallas would pick up the team (Chops)to move to Austin?
But, the AHL has an agreement to maintain an AHL franchise in Des Moines.
Someone might have an agreement but I doubt "the AHL" would agree to that.
I believe David Andrews hinself made that agreement in Des Monies.... but that's only slightly better than saying Gary Bettman agreed to something.
Linky please ....
All I've seen is stuff like this ...
Schlegel Sports has a lease agreement with Polk County to play at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines through the 2014-15 season and has agreed not to relocate the team under any circumstance. Schlegel Sports also has agreed to pay from $7 million to $12.5 million to Polk County even if bankruptcy would cause the team to fold before 2015.
Reading Fred's quote, and I realize it's not the entire article, it seems that Schlegel Sports has the lease agreement NOT the AHL. Now,that would lead to the next question as to what agreement the AHL has to Schlegel Sports. Interesting, very interesting (in my best Sgt. Schultz voice, geesh I'm showing my age.)
B2, if it makes you feel better... "I know NOTHIIIING!"
This is nutty. Can't wait to hear the story behind this.
As a hockey fan in Des Moines, this situation sucks. We never wanted Dallas, especially with their condition that we name the team the Stars despite knowing that the affiliation was shorter than the lease. When the whole deal went down originally, Dallas & Minn shared the Aeros affiliation and the Wild had not yet purchased the AHL Club.
The Wild wanted DM but avoided decided not to pursue due to the crappy lease deal. If the Wild & Ducks swap, there will definitely be a lot of happy people here. Considering the high quality players we got from the Ducks, y'all should be happy too...
Post a Comment