Quote:
Originally Posted by HansH
I wonder where those rumors of a jump to the AHL fit into this picture...
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The Sharks still have a bunch more years on 10-year lease agreement with DCU/Worcester, so I don't see them moving their AHL franchise until at least that time.
They selected the New England area so the kids could get a lot of practice time in, even if it is "inconvenient" to recall someone to California.
The last time it was considered that the three California NHL teams might want to move their AHL franchises closer, one reason given for *not* doing so would be the added travel (cross country) as there is not the same clumping that a New England-based franchise would have.
Yes, Abbotsford is a start, but you'd have to get Utah, Idaho, Colorado or other more-westernly states/provinces to host teams to make it "decent" travel for any Californian team.
AFAIK, there is no effort by the AHL or the Californian NHL teams to move their *AHL* franchises closer. But all three NHL teams have affiliation agreements with a Californian ECHL franchise now.