Portland update:..

[Bay Side]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=88551

The Anaheim Ducks announced Tuesday the team has signed a multi-year agreement to move its American Hockey League affiliation from Portland to Des Moines, Iowa.


The Iowa Stars, purchased by Bob and Kirby Schlegel in October 2005, made their AHL debut as an affiliate of the Dallas Stars in 2005.

"We are thrilled to be affiliating with the Schlegel family in a great hockey market such as Des Moines," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. "The Ducks are very excited to have an opportunity to work with an ownership and management team that's as committed to winning as we are. We would like to thank the Portland Pirates and their fans for their tremendous support over the last three years."

Iowa is scheduled to announce its new team name, logo and colors next month.

The Ducks have been affiliated with the Portland Pirates for the past three seasons. In that time, 18 players have graduated from the Ducks' AHL affiliate to make their National Hockey League debuts with Anaheim.

The move leaves Portland without a team, but that may change very soon. The Buffalo Sabres are expected to announce they will move their American Hockey League team to Portland. They are currently located in Rochester, New York.

[pigpen65]

I visited a Pirates message board today and saw they have been tracking the Sabres prospects since Butler signed. Most of them were pretty pumped about the recent developments with Enroth and Kennedy. There's also a general concern, which definitely has some merit, that the Sabres aren't very good about supplying vets to the farm club. i said that a big reason for that in the past couple years has been the dual affiliation and the lack of roster spots for genuine prospects, though thinking back before that, the Sabs have never been all that good about supplying vets.

[Bay Side]

I know before the duel affil. with Florida....The Sabres had alot of vets like Pittis, Taylor, Cullen, Botterill, Houda..... They really need to get a hold of some minor league vets!!

[Dockwalliper]

Dallas has announced that "the team will assign its minor league players to two AHL teams next season. Those two teams being the Portland Pirates and Iowa Stars."
So were going to share again? How could this be? Quinn has said “We want to have an affiliate where we’re the only team, have control of the players, the coaching staff, the trainers, the whole process,”

Could it be that Dallas and Florida will share Portland and Buffalo will keep Rochester?
Probably wishful thinking.

http://letsgoamerks.com/2008/06/03/sabres-affiliation-days-away-from-being-over/#more-458
http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/1111

[Dockwalliper]

I forgot to add, the sale of the NightHawks removes the barrier of Galisano owning two NLL teams if he purchased the Amerks.

http://nll.com/article.php?id=3506

[Buffalo87]

Dallas has announced that "the team will assign its minor league players to two AHL teams next season. Those two teams being the Portland Pirates and Iowa Stars."
So were going to share again? How could this be? Quinn has said “We want to have an affiliate where we’re the only team, have control of the players, the coaching staff, the trainers, the whole process,”

Could it be that Dallas and Florida will share Portland and Buffalo will keep Rochester?
Probably wishful thinking.

http://letsgoamerks.com/2008/06/03/sabres-affiliation-days-away-from-being-over/#more-458
http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/1111


Well right now we have about 5-6 spots open on our roster, and we'll probably get about 5-6 prospects from Dallas so it's not really going to effect any of our prospects other than the fact that there won't be any room for vets, yet again.

[pigpen65]

Dallas has announced that "the team will assign its minor league players to two AHL teams next season. Those two teams being the Portland Pirates and Iowa Stars."
So were going to share again? How could this be? Quinn has said “We want to have an affiliate where we’re the only team, have control of the players, the coaching staff, the trainers, the whole process,”

Could it be that Dallas and Florida will share Portland and Buffalo will keep Rochester?
Probably wishful thinking.

http://letsgoamerks.com/2008/06/03/sabres-affiliation-days-away-from-being-over/#more-458
http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/1111

I saw this mentioned on a Pirates board the other day. It's not really going to be a split, Buffalo is still going to be responsible for the majority of the roster, the coaches, the staff, and all the rest.

[Bay Side]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/st...90682&ac=PHspt

What about the Dallas Stars?

"We're looking to start a new (AHL) affiliate next year in Austin (Texas)," said Jason Rademan, manager of media relations for the NHL team. Dallas hopes to move its new AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, into a 6,800-seat arena currently under construction in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park in time for the 2009-10 season.”

But where in the AHL will Dallas place its prospects next season?

"We'll be sending players to a couple of places next season," Rademan said.

One of those places could be Portland, but the Pirates' front office won't talk about that either.

[Wing Eater]

I forgot to add, the sale of the NightHawks removes the barrier of Galisano owning two NLL teams if he purchased the Amerks.

http://nll.com/article.php?id=3506

First off they are the Knighthawks. Second Donner is still 40% owner of the team, and the Mayor of Rochester said there will be no lease agreement as long as Donner is associated with the ownership group. There is still a lot of work to be done in Rochester...

[Ralonzo]

i said that a big reason for that in the past couple years has been the dual affiliation and the lack of roster spots for genuine prospects, though thinking back before that, the Sabs have never been all that good about supplying vets.

Hah? Any of these ring a bell: Chris Taylor? Randy Cunneyworth? Jody Gage? Scott Metcalfe? Jim Hofford? Mal Davis? Bobby Mongrain (Billy Inglis' favorite!)? Kevin Kerr? Steve Dykstra? Gates Orlando? Bob Halkidis? Geordie Robertson? Jere Gillis? Mark Ferner? Dean Melanson? Dane Jackson? Jason Botterill? Claude Verret? Bob Logan? Ken Priestlay? Dave Fenyves? Darcy Loewen?

David Cooper? ;)

[SabresFan220]

I think we will get the Amerks back when Donner is forced out, it may take a season or 2. But if the city refuses to grant the Amerks a lease at the Blue Cross they may be inactive next season. Once Donner is forced to sell and Golisano can buy the Amerks himself we'll be set. I don't see it being next season though unfortunately. Maybe this deal with Portland will only last 2 seasons or so until Golisano can buy the Amerks. The Sabres and Amerks may have filed for divorce sighting irreconcilable differences and the Sabres may be in line for a 2 year affair, but I don't think these 2 have shut the door completely.

[Southside]

There's a couple of misconceptions taken as fact here:
First, Generally-the NHL club provides prospects and some depth. Veterans are not the sole responsiblity of the parent organization, thats the AHL club's job.
Remember some of those longtime faces of the Amerks, Jody Gage, Jason Botterill, Houda at the end was property of the Amerks, Not Buffalo.

Lets also remember--we're assuming its going to be Portland. As close as Darcy plays things to the vest, that might not be the case, and nobody has ruled out a buyout of Donner.

Should be very exciting--one way or the other.

IMHO
Southside

[Chrispy56]

Yes very exciting :)

[amerks22]

First, Generally-the NHL club provides prospects and some depth. Veterans are not the sole responsiblity of the parent organization, thats the AHL club's job.
Wrong. NHL teams provide veterans. AHL teams generally can't afford them. And most want 2 way deals anyway, which only the NHL team can provide.

Remember some of those longtime faces of the Amerks, Jody Gage, Jason Botterill, Houda at the end was property of the Amerks, Not Buffalo.
All were signed by Buffalo. None were ever on just Amerk deals.

[amerks22]

I think we will get the Amerks back when Donner is forced out, it may take a season or 2. But if the city refuses to grant the Amerks a lease at the Blue Cross they may be inactive next season. Once Donner is forced to sell and Golisano can buy the Amerks himself we'll be set. I don't see it being next season though unfortunately. Maybe this deal with Portland will only last 2 seasons or so until Golisano can buy the Amerks. The Sabres and Amerks may have filed for divorce sighting irreconcilable differences and the Sabres may be in line for a 2 year affair, but I don't think these 2 have shut the door completely.
It's not going to happen. If the city couldn't push Donner out the past several months, there's no way they do in the near future.

[Buffalo87]

There's a couple of misconceptions taken as fact here:
First, Generally-the NHL club provides prospects and some depth. Veterans are not the sole responsiblity of the parent organization, thats the AHL club's job.
Remember some of those longtime faces of the Amerks, Jody Gage, Jason Botterill, Houda at the end was property of the Amerks, Not Buffalo.

Lets also remember--we're assuming its going to be Portland. As close as Darcy plays things to the vest, that might not be the case, and nobody has ruled out a buyout of Donner.

Should be very exciting--one way or the other.

IMHO
Southside

As amerks22 pointed out, a lot of times the vets are in fact signed by the parent club, or they will provide money for the AHL team to sign some players.

[jlpubarch]

Its gotten to the point where if you don't mention something about your "commitment to winning" you're considered a loser franchise that is just trying to rake in bucks at the lowest possible overhead, observe:

"We are thrilled to be affiliating with the Schlegel family in a great hockey market such as Des Moines," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. "The Ducks are very excited to have an opportunity to work with an ownership and management team that's as committed to winning as we are. We would like to thank the Portland Pirates and their fans for their tremendous support over the last three years."


...horseshit

[ksl66]

Anyone familiar with how many prospects the Sabres will be responsible for supplying, that might impact whether or not they offered a new deal to a guy like Mancari? Not a major issue, but was just wondering if anyone knew I've been in Nazi Germany (AKA Disney World) for a week and good luck getting any Sabres info (no laptop).

[Wally]

Watch Enroth carry Portland to the Finals next year... I have a feeling about it.

[ddpderek]

Quinn this morning said Darcy is excited about signing some Vets for the AHL club should be interesting.

Also Eric Weinrich will only play in Portland (His Home Town) or he said last year he would just retire. I think he be a nice Vet to have in the system.