Ever since the Charlotte Checkers made the announcement that they were moving up to the American League from the East Coast League, the question has been who the New York Rangers would affiliate themselves with for their players at that level.
Howlings has learned from various informed sources that the franchise that the New York Rangers are in discussions with are the Florida Everblades.
Talks between New York and Florida and are said to be ongoing and moving along well, but sources did caution that there are still lots of things to work out and no official announcement is imminent and things can change.
The Florida Everblades have been affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes. Since there are only twenty teams in the ECHL and 30 in the NHL, obviously someone’s got to share. That might be the case or perhaps that situation could change.
As an aside, maybe it’s just us, but doesn’t it seem like a shame that former Rangers General Manager Neil Smith, who was forced to move the Johnstown Chiefs, the ECHL team he owns and the last remaining original franchise, out of Pennsylvania due to lack of support from the community. So life imitated art and the Chiefs have been relocated to Greenville, South Carolina. Wouldn’t it have been some sort of beautiful poetic justice if the Rangers could have entered into an agreement with their former GM and both parties would have been the better for it. We guess ultimately that, “Alls fair in love and hockey…”
FYI, last year the Panthers & Canes shared the Blades affiliation. Not sure of the Panthers/Amerks contract situation in Ft Myers for this year though.
I don’t have enough information to comment on what you’re saying. All I can tell you is this is the information that I have this from multiple sources who are really strong.
Oh I fully believe you, was just making sure all the facts were here. As a serious Checkers fan, I want nothing more for the Canes to shake the Blades. 🙂