AHL
American Hockey League
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Blackburn’s Future Still Undecided
NY Rangers goaltender Dan Blackburn, who was released by the ECHL’s Salmon Kings last week, will likely play again this season, probably again in the ECHL, but this time for the Charlotte Checkers, the Rangers’ ECHL affiliate.
Blackburn requested his own request last week in order to play for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ top affiliate according to the NY Daily News, but they also carry this:
[NY Rangers assistant GM Don] Maloney confirmed Blackburn’s assertion that the Rangers were seeking a special visa that would allow the Canadian-born goalie to play for a U.S.-based minor league team the rest of this season - but for Charlotte of the lower-level ECHL, not Hartford.
“There has been no discussion whatsoever about him playing in Hartford,” Maloney said.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
AHL Loan Doesn’t Sit Right
From the AHL:
The Chicago Wolves on Tuesday announced they have acquired forward Stephen Weiss and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on loan from the San Antonio Rampage.
While it’s not that uncommon to see minor league teams loan players to one another, the caliber of these two is a bit higher than that norm. The deal supposedly is the players for cash - and that for every round the Wolves advance in the playoffs, the Rampage will get more money. The Rampage, clearly out of the playoff race, decided to cash in. There’s something that just doesn’t feel right about that and the integrity of the AHL playoffs certainly can be questioned because of it.
The Chicago Wolves are one of the AHL’s more successful franchises, currently sitting at third in average attendance behind Manchester and Edmonton. Yes, Chicago is a good hockey market. Last year the Wolves outdrew the Blackhawks one Sunday afternoon last year. It might have just been one day, but it shows you Chicago’s desire for hockey, just not current Blackhawks hockey.
The Wolves are the AHL team that has been scouting Sidney Crosby a good amount. It is rumored they will offer him a contract if no deal between the NHL and NHLPA is reached and the draft cannot take place.