Places I'd love to see future AHL Franchises and thoughts

 I follow almost every league in North America. And my favourite things are the draft, and seeing the game grow. I think the AHL is a perfect start considering it's not that expensive, it's where most NHL stars get their start where a story begins for not just the player but the fans. But there are politics to the NHL and AHL. I personally prefer to see them in small markets before considering NHL being brought into markets that are succeeding. I mean, Utah has an ECHL team that remained once Utah got their NHL team. But one people don't know about is how Norfolk/Hampton Roads almost got the Hampton Roads Rhinos. I think it would've been awesome to see hockey in Norfolk personally. 

In this topic, I'll be addressing a few things. Some being who should be affiliated where, and at other times being brought into the league. But I'm going to mention my mixed views first:

Abbotsford Canucks - I think this is the best option for the Canucks right now and have no problem with it. But what I believe to be a better option would be the Canucks putting their AHL team in Victoria, but it's understandable because of the ferry. Though after the new arena in Surrey is finished, we may see the Abbotsford Canucks moved there. But I like Abbotsford where they are right now because it builds a huge footprint for professional hockey in the lower mainland. 

Bakersfield Condors - I think they're doing well with the Oilers affiliate, but if Edmonton decides they want to bring a team closer I could see it ending but the Condors staying. 

Belleville Senators - Belleville is more of an OHL town, but there's a rumour right now about AHL returning to Hamilton. Now, I think if Toronto were to get a second team Hamilton is the place and believe hockey would work there. Along with this rumour, it's believed to be that the Marlies or Belleville Senators would relocate there. I support it personally. 

Bridgeport Islanders - I miss their Sound Tigers name. But, the value of Bridgeport in the AHL is how close it is to Long Island and keeping the Rangers/Islanders rivalry in the minors with the Wolfpack being close by. Although, I think they could find a better market. 

Colorado Eagles - I think they're more for the ECHL, but I don't have a problem with them because their fans mostly sold out games in the past to watch the fights. After that, they 

Iowa Wild - Des Moines is a great place for the AHL, they have the arena, but I find Iowa isn't the worst choice for the Wild. Their affiliate was going well with Houston, but I won't return to the Houston topic due to the rumours of Houston getting NHL. But I think moving to Milwaukee would be better, although if not doable, I'm also fine with Des Moines.

Milwaukee Admirals - I find Nashville and the Admirals have had an excellent relationship, I love it personally but they mostly have Chicago fans in Milwaukee. Now, I don't think they should affiliate with the Blackhawks, but I think Minnesota could be a good one but think it won't happen because of how the Vikings/Bears/Packers rivalry is strong in Wisconsin. That being said, I think Nashville staying with Milwaukee isn't a problem. 

San Jose Barracuda - I am not a fan of this affiliation. San Jose was never the best with AHL teams, but I think some possible spots could be Sacramento, Bakersfield, Reno, or even Medford. 

Springfield Thunderbirds - Springfield will always be in the AHL due to their offices being there. Now, if you ask me Hershey should get the AHL headquarters because the Hershey Bears are the staple of the AHL. But I am not a fan of St. Louis being affiliated there. Florida being affiliated there wasn't too bad, but I can think of many better fits for them. That being said, Springfield and Tampa wouldn't be a bad fit, but I think if Carolina can't resolve things with Charlotte, they'd be a good fit. But I think Boston would be best, but I don't see them cutting ties with Providence. 

Syracuse Crunch - Their building tells me otherwise. Should it be demolished? Never, because it's a landmark of Syracuse. Good AHL city, but the Lightning need to find a place that makes playing for the Lightning more respectable. If you ask me, I thought their affiliation with Norfolk was excellent. Syracuse would be best suited with an ECHL team. 

Tuscon Roadrunners - I think if they are to have an AHL team it should be with the right owner. We already know they're going to Reno once the arena is complete. I'm not a fan of Utah being affiliated with them, in fact even when they head to Reno. But who I think should be affiliated with Reno is honestly Vegas, but knowing that's likely not happening San Jose would be. That being said, they should bring ECHL to Tuscon in its void. 

The NHL teams who I think should stay affiliated with their teams or best suited together where they're located are the Anaheim and San Diego, Boston and Providence, Buffalo and Rochester, Chicago and Rockford, Columbus and Cleveland, Dallas and Texas; sounded silly to write, Detroit and Grand Rapids, Los Angeles and Ontario, New Jersey and Utica, New York Rangers and Hartford, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre, Seattle and Coachella Valley, Toronto and the Marlies, Vegas and Henderson, Washington and Hershey, and finally I saved the best for last.

The Manitoba Moose were part of the IHL for may years. Some use them and San Jose as an example for NHL/AHL teams sharing a building. But I think the Moose are the only AHL team that can pull this off despite taking the void of NHL while the Jets were gone. But also, Winnipeg doesn't have a WHL team -- anymore. But in Calgary it's easy to get Flames tickets and they have a WHL team there. I don't have a problem with it because this case wasn't as silly as the Abbotsford Heat being affiliated with Calgary Flames, and it was a pretty poor choice by the Flames because nobody attended which led to them being relocated to Adirondack before being brought to Stockton. I don't hate the idea of Calgary bringing AHL in the same building, but the thing is for the Jets having the Moose in Winnipeg as well is mostly for two reasons. One, being the Jets sellout every game and not having WHL makes sense. It's good in the sense of Winnipeg's housing market not being too expensive compared to Calgary's, but they have WHL. But the upside to it is because of the lockouts they had over the years in the NHL, the AHL would step up as the top hockey league in North America. 

The Chicago Wolves are an independently owned team. They have previously been affiliated with the Atlanta Thrashers after the IHL folded. When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, they became the affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, and when Vegas came along you'd think it'd be a match made in heaven. You have flights coming in and out from Vegas and Chicago almost all the time, which was another factor as Atlanta worked with Chicago because they have some of the busiest airports in the world. The Wolves will never be affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks, some may argue it'd work like as I stated above. That being said, it's irrelevant to who is rivals with the Blackhawks as it's committed to being in the minors rather than the NHL. 

Now, the teams I think the Chicago Wolves should be affiliated with should be either:

1. Florida Panthers - They have lots of flights from Miami to Chicago daily, and with Florida now competitive while the Wolves also being competitive they'll be a match made in heaven. The only way I see it not working is if Florida decides them and Tampa decide to bring AHL teams down south for travel costs. 

2. San Jose Sharks - Lots of flights from San Francisco to Chicago. But also considering the Sharks could never get the hang of managing an AHL affiliate they'll work very well. 

3. Utah Mammoth - Not my first choice, but would be better than most teams in the NHL. 

HM: If Atlanta does come back to the NHL, I think they become affiliates again. 

But who should Carolina be affiliated with? Easy, the Charlotte Checkers to keep the love of the Carolina Hurricanes in not just North Carolina, but South Carolina too. So, Florida could be that team. 

Now, these are cities I want to see have AHL franchises:

1. Boise, Idaho - They show a generous amount of support for their ECHL team. But Boise is also growing at a high rate. The arguement made here is the airport there, which leads me to who I believe would be the best AHL affiliate for them is the Utah Mammoth. In fact, if Utah gets a hold of an AHL team I think this would be an endless relationship. I could also mention the Seattle Kraken because they had considered Boise before Palm Springs; only way I see the Kraken ending that relationship is if Palm Springs decides to bring NHL or would rather be affiliated with another team. I think the Steelheads name works perfectly. 

2. St. John's, Newfoundland - Being isolated, and now received a QMJHL team since they lost the Fog Devils. They did well supporting the IceCaps before they left for Manitoba and Montreal. I liked the Growlers as they were my favourite ECHL team, but that didn't last. But the IceCaps returning would be incredible, but I think Growlers should be the name if AHL returns to The Atlantic. As for teams, I think they'd be a good affiliate with Ottawa considering they have one-way flights from Ottawa to St. John's.

3. Thunder Bay, Ontario - They have a stable economy and lots of hockey players come from there. It's also a city super passionate about hockey, but the reason they don't have an OHL team is because of how isolated Thunder Bay is. But not just that, they don't have the arena for hockey. I did say the Moose and Jets being a match made in heaven. But, the Jets moving the Moose to Thunder Bay would make the most sense due to it being closer. But I believe they have a good amount of Winnipeg Jets fans in Thunder Bay too, they'd make more money being the Jets affiliate, also Toronto or Ottawa won't put their affiliate there. 

4. Jacksonville, Florida - They have shown the best support for a hockey team in the entire ECHL. Now, I had the idea to expand across Florida such as the Everblades and Solar Bears, but the reason they don't look too much into it is because of how most AHL teams are all the way up North and adding Jacksonville would make Charlotte the closest team. But I do believe it'd be the best place in Florida for an AHL team. And the team I believe should be their affiliate is the Tampa Bay Lightning because the Jaguars and Dolphins have more of a rivalry. I'd love to say the Florida Panthers, but wouldn't be a bad second choice to Tampa. 

5. Indianapolis, Indiana - Good sports city, but think if they get a higher-tier hockey team in Indianapolis, it could open more doors for NHL potentially coming to Indianapolis and a brand new arena similar with the Colts. But I also don't think they're ready for NHL just yet. The Indy Fuel and Fort Wayne Comets get good support and some of the best in the ECHL. But I think Detroit would be a good affiliate. I'd say Chicago but it seems them and Rockford are very much a good fit. But one that I could see being the most likely is Nashville. 

6. Omaha, Nebraska - They had the Omaha-Ak-Sar-Ben Knights once upon a time and I love that logo. But they didn't do too well and quickly moved. Now, I think they could be better since they support their USHL team. But I think what they need the most is the right affiliate. I would say Edmonton, Minnesota, or Colorado would be a good fit there. 

7. Kansas City, Missouri - Wouldn't hurt, but I think I'd rather they get PWHL before AHL because they need the best of the best in Kansas and believe they deserve NHL there but aren't ready just red. But either way, hockey can work there. Would be a no-brainer for the Blues to have an affiliate there. 

8. Memphis, Tennessee - I would start ECHL there first honestly, but spreading the sport across the state of Tennessee before considering a state like Alabama or Mississippi. I've read how Memphis and Nashville hate one another, so that leaves out the affiliation with the Predators. I'd say Tampa or Florida, but St. Louis if they aren't able to get Kansas City. 

9. Portland, Maine - AHL used to be in Portland, but being with Anaheim and Arizona weren't the best fits because of the long flights. Although, the fans gave good support and is a great city that the players won't be disappointed in being sent down to. But Boston being the affiliate is the only one that'd make the most sense which is why I don't see AHL returning there anytime soon.

10. Prince George, British Columbia - So, Prince George is unlikely but I think it's a great spot because I find it's not the best place for a junior hockey team due to the long travel, as the closest city is Kamloops which is seven hours away. But Prince George has a very stable economy in lumber and believe if the Canucks brought AHL to Prince George it's a relationship that lasts for a long time. Also they have lots of flights from Prince George to Vancouver, so I see this working. One thing I enjoy about this idea is how great quality their arena is. But I don't think we're ready for that just yet. It's working well in Abbotsford, but if not Vancouver I think one of Edmonton or Calgary could pull it off. 

HM: 

Victoria, British Columbia

Albuquerque, New Mexico

New Orleans, Louisiana 

The only cities I left out are the ones with both NHL/CHL teams.