Possible affiliation change ?
Anyone have info on this ? It showed up on an Oiler board. Scoob in Spfld.
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Your Online Source for Tampa Bay Lightning Prospect News
Norfolk Admirals Transactions/Rumors
- Keith Aulie (D) from Tampa Bay Lightning to Norfolk Admirals
- Brandon Segal (F) from Tampa Bay Lightning to Norfolk Admirals
- Maxime Langelier-Parent (F) from McGill Univ. to Norfolk Admirals
- Bryan Brutlag (F) from Norfolk Admirals to Gwinnett Gladiators
- Trevor Smith (F) from Tampa Bay Lightning to Norfolk Admirals
Tampa Bay Lightning Transactions/Rumors
- Riku Helenius (G) from JYP to Tampa Bay Lightning
- Roberto Luongo (G) from Vancouver Canucks to Tampa Bay Lightning
- Keith Aulie (D) from Tampa Bay Lightning to Norfolk Admirals
- Brandon Segal (F) from Tampa Bay Lightning to Norfolk Admirals
- Trevor Smith (F) from Tampa Bay Lightning to Norfolk Admirals
I hadn't heard that.
I'm not surprised though. From the Springfield press to the fans - it seems like people are by and large unhappy with the Lightning organization. It wouldn't surprise me that Landon would be looking for an organization that ahows more promise of having upcoming offensive stars.
Personally, nothing against Springfield or Johnstown, I'd like to see the Lightning asist in moving the AHL and ECHL in a little more southward direction. I'm not sure where that would be, but I liked it when we were in Atlanta and Pensacola.
There are a lot of rumors
There are a lot of rumors flying around Springfield right now as they have been around Johnstown. Nothing's going to be settled until the offseason.
Further evidence ?
Barber and Loiselle were to be guest speakers at an STH meeting before Saturdays game against Providence but have cancelled out even though they will be in the building. They have been replaced by our GM-Owner. I would speculate that either 1) They just don't feel like taking questions (the heat) or 2) What is being rumored may eventually turn out to be true.
Sounds like a clue
I seriously doubt it's reason No.1. If anything, Feaster is a stand-up guy that is fan-friendly. Sounds more like No.2, but nothing will leak out until there's an official announcement.
It will be interesting to see how Landon or whoever answers any change-of-affiliation questions.
The Rumor
The rumor is that the Lightning will end up in Norfolk and the Oilers will end up in Springfield.
The Blackhawks are taking over the new affiliate in Rockford, IL. Under one rumored scenario, the Admirals fold, Landon moves the Falcons to Norfolk and the Oilers buy into a new affiliate in Springfield.
The Admirals will NOT fold!
The Norfolk Admirals AHL franchise will not fold.
The most likely scenario will be (speculation):
The Chicago Blackhawks will move their AHL affiliation to Rockford, IL starting the 2007-08 season.
The Edmonton Oilers will move their AHL affiliation to Springfield, MA starting the 2007-08 season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will move their AHL affiliation to Norfolk, VA starting the 2007-08 season.
The Admirals will NOT fold!
Like Mike M I post on the Admiralszone.com web site. He is absolutely right. All the scenarios are that Mr. Landon and Springfield will affiliate with Edmonton and that the Tampa Bay players move to Norfolk next year under the current franchise.
It is not anticipated at all that Mr. Landon will relocate his franchise to Norfolk. When it first came apparent that the Hawks were going to move, President Andrews of the AHL went on record as saying he would help the current franchise in Norfolk get another affiliation. The primary owner of the Norfolk franchise is Ken Young who also is the primary owner of the AAA minor league franchise in Norfolk. It is ironic that the baseball group here just went through an affiliation change from the Mets to the Orioles.
Mr. Landon will probably regret the change when he has to fly to Edmonton in December and January next year rather than flying to Tampa-St.Pete. I know I would.
Happiness is a night at a hockey game
That's why they call them
That's why they call them rumors.
Rumor becomes fact
http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/2007/03/falcons_will_change_nhl_af...
It is Official
Tampa Bay has found a home for its AHL team. We look forward to being with you.
http://www.tampabaylightning.com/tbl/prdetail.cfm?pressreleaseID=1728&ca...
Let's hope...
... this works out better than it did for the fans in Springfield. Of course, it can't get much worse.
Springfield was the ground floor of the organization building, except the top (NHL club] was already built and Feaster - in finally securing a sole AHL affiliate - was trying to complete the bottom floors to support it.
It's been a painful process.
As it's been pointed out, the failure to produce a winner in SF wasn't for lack of trying. It just didn't work.
Hopefully now with multiple years of having secure ECHL and AHL affiliates, and knowing where mistakes were made, this can be viewed as a fresh start from all angles and go on to be a permanent, successful partnership.
And to the SF fans... thank you for your support and friendship over the years and hopefully you'll keep in touch and stop by to BP. It should be a real treat to watch some of the young Oilers as they pass through. Successful hockey should be back in SF. I'm just sorry TB couldn't provide that.
It will take some work
I for one am looking forward to our affiliation with Tampa Bay. I think Feaster is right, the emphasis is going to be on building within, especially when you have 4 (albeit very good players) taking up 23 million of your salary cap.
Feaster stated he was committed to putting a winning team on the ice. Coupled with his comments in the Tampa paper, he is looking for depth players. We in Norfolk have been very spoiled in having teams that have made the playoffs every year and I hope that tradition will continue with you.
Developing good young players in a winning environment is a win-win situation. We get to see a good product on the ice here in Norfolk and we are developing players that can hopefully come to you and produce at the next level.
I am not expecting this to occur overnight. It may be a lean year next year, every franchise has its ups and downs. You can't rebuild a minor league system that fast. What I want to see is the effort to address this and progress being made. It's not impossible. Also we in Norfolk expect to see our players put forth their best efforts. I can overlook some lapses as long as I think the players are giving 100%.
I know some from Springfield who are reading this are picking themselves up off the floor from laughing so hard. I am sorry that it didn't work out for you, but you have a bright future with your affiliation with the Oilers. I do want it to work for you. I hope you can put aside any hard feelings and hope it works out for us as well.
Randy
Those were the SAME words we heard from Mr. Feaster during his press conference 3 years ago, and in his letter to all season ticket holders over these past 2 seasons.
All I can say is good luck with this bunch! Remember that over the past 6 years the Tampa Bay Lightning have had the worst farm system in the NHL. Just look back at what the Vipers did in Detroit and carry that through these past 3 seasons with the Falcons.
Landon's thoughts on the Divorce
http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-ahlcol0330.artmar30,0,1656970.st...