Brampton? The OHL didn't survive in Brampton, and the OHL is the absolute focus of the non-NHL hockey world in the GTA. This can only end badly. What amounts in reality to Class-A hockey will be a disaster in Brampton.
I can only imagine how screwy the schedule's going to be for Brampton. Wouldn't be surprised if they played their entire home series against a team in the span of a week to make only one prolonged road trip.
All those teams you've mentioned subsidize the visiting teams' travel in and out - I doubt Brampton will be doing that.
The Battalion haven't averaged above 2,500 since 2007-08 and have been under 2,000 the last two seasons. Numbers like that combined with 1000km++ travel every single road trip will sink this team in a year.
So with Bloomington and Quad City on the verge of folding, that leaves the expansion St. Charles as the closest team at 1, 219 Km (11h 40 min) away. How is that even logistically possible?
If the Leafs are going to have an affiliation making this their 'AA' team, it will be the only thing that will make sense with this endeavour.
Even the Leafs, one of the worst organizations in the NHL, wouldn't stick their Class-AA players in a Class-A league. They've managed to develop a number of regular NHL players through the ECHL and AHL over the past five or so years. They're not going to stick players in the Class-A Central Hockey League if they can avoid it - especially if it has ridiculous travel after the CHL loses more teams this offseason.
Even the Leafs, one of the worst organizations in the NHL, wouldn't stick their Class-AA players in a Class-A league. They've managed to develop a number of regular NHL players through the ECHL and AHL over the past five or so years. They're not going to stick players in the Class-A Central Hockey League if they can avoid it - especially if it has ridiculous travel after the CHL loses more teams this offseason.
Actually, the CHL is still AA--the CHL cap is $11,000/wk, a pinch lower than the ECHL's $12,400, but about double the SPHL's $5,600 and FL's $5,050. In fact, the Avs use the Cutthroats as their sole AA affiliate.
Actually, the CHL is still AA--the CHL cap is $11,000/wk, a pinch lower than the ECHL's $12,400, but about double the SPHL's $5,600 and FL's $5,050. In fact, the Avs use the Cutthroats as their sole AA affiliate.
It's Class-AA in salary cap numbers only. The quality of play is way lower than the ECHL. There's a reason only the Avs have an affiliation in that league...
So with Bloomington and Quad City on the verge of folding, that leaves the expansion St. Charles as the closest team at 1, 219 Km (11h 40 min) away. How is that even logistically possible?
Don't worry.... if the CHL's clearly not worried about reality, why should the rest of us fret over it?
It's Class-AA in salary cap numbers only. The quality of play is way lower than the ECHL. There's a reason only the Avs have an affiliation in that league...
Actually I don't think that is true...
Having seen both ECHL and CHL games, I would say they level play is pretty much on par, if not the ECHL is just a tad better, but not by much. If you look at the rosters of ECHL and CHL teams, you will see pretty much the same player history.
ECHL players are mostly guys out of college, and juniors, their are prospects, and some guys on cusp of the AHL.
CHL players, also lots of players out of college, and juniors, thier are former prospects, and I believe there is a handful of former AHL players. The CHL has also helped developed players and sent them to higher levels. David Schlemko (PHX) played a full year with the Arizona Sundogs back in 07-08 the next year he made the AHL, then the NHL, actually during this past lockout he went back to the Sundogs for 14 games.
Every year the CHL has plenty of guys called up to the CHL, and ECHL. Plenty of players jump between the CHL and ECHL year to year.
And affiliations while they are not common do exsist in the CHL
Denver Cutthroats= Avalanche, Allen Americans= Dallas Stars, Missouri Mavericks= Chicago Wolves, Arizona Sundogs= Pheonix
Both Pheonix and Dallas are affiliated with ECHL teams as well. And I'm not really sure about how many Sundogs players advance, I know that I've heard of plenty of Americans players move up, this year I know the Cutthroats and Mavericks have been sending and recieving players from thier respective affiliates.
And lastly the quality of play is just as exciting as the ECHL. There might be a slight edge in the ECHL but the CHL is just as good in my opinion. The biggest problem the CHL has is the stability of its franchises.
It's all about recruiting, and the players mostly prefer to go to the ECHL if possible.
Ergo, the ECHL's quality of hockey is superior to the CHL's.
While I'm not a professional hockey scout, I believe ALL of the CHL's top players could play in and contribute in the ECHL.. and all of the ECHL's top players would be top players in the CHL..
Meanwhile, there are probably zero players in the ECHL who would look out of place in the CHL - however there are plenty of players in the CHL who couldn't make ECHL rosters.
There definitely is a talent gap... and it's created by the players themselves, who look toward the ECHL first before the CHL.. (granted, this is a generalization and there are exceptions)
It's Class-AA in salary cap numbers only. The quality of play is way lower than the ECHL. There's a reason only the Avs have an affiliation in that league...
And look how badly their AHL affiliate has fared since the NHL season restarted (lack of AA depth).
I'll have to look, but it's possible that the Monsters have filled more vacancies with PTOs than with AA callups of guys under Avs minor league contracts.
And look how badly their AHL affiliate has fared since the NHL season restarted (lack of AA depth).
I'll have to look, but it's possible that the Monsters have filled more vacancies with PTOs than with AA callups of guys under Avs minor league contracts.
Slightly more callups, 12 to 11.
However, IIRC, some (or even many) of the PTOs were from the CHL.
L's $5,050. In fact, the Avs use the Cutthroats as their sole AA affiliate.
