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.

Posted by David M Singer on Mar 08, 2005 at 03:47 PM
AHL • Rumors

Comments

Yes, but the IHL has been gone for four years now and there's no reason not to give them credit because of their past. It'd be like taking a WHA swipe at the Edmonton Oilers when they won their first Cup, and unlike the Oilers the Wolves changed drastically from year to year. The Wolves had just two players on their roster last year from when they were in the I with only Steve Maltais returning this year. They may have built up a fan base in the I, but they've kept those fans and they've been a very successful AHL team.
Posted by David M Singer on 2005-03-09 13:23:51 I don't think the Wolves count as what you labeled them, "...one of the AHL’s more successful franchises..". They're one of the IHL teams that the league picked up since the "I" ceased opperations. I kind of see them as a "adopted" or "step brother" kind of franchise. You have to go back to St Johns vs. WB/Scranton to get two original AHL franchises in the finals. Don't get me wrong, Chicago, Houston, and Milwaukee are great teams.... but in my eyes... they cary over their IHL legacies also.
Posted by Michael on 2005-03-09 08:15:09

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AHL Loan Doesn’t Sit Right

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