Roadrunners nach Hamilton?
Zitat von Edmonton Sun
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Road Runners back to Steeltown?[/size]
By By ROBIN BROWNLEE
Are the Edmonton Oilers AHL prospects destined to be Bulldogs again? Is there a return to Hamilton and a split affiliation in partnership with the Montreal Canadiens?
With the Oilers planning to announce today they are suspending operation of the Road Runners franchise after one year in Edmonton, history and logic suggests Steeltown will be at the top of list of potential affiliates.
The Oilers know the city of Hamilton, having spent seven seasons at Copps Coliseum before moving their top farm team into Toronto for the 2003-04 season, and they've worked with the Habs before.
The Oilers and Canadiens split the affiliation in Hamilton and went to the Calder Cup final in 2002-03. And, with the Habs without a partner now that the Dallas Stars have pulled up stakes to operate their farm team in Omaha next season, there's an opening.
In addition, Montreal coach Claude Julien was originally hired by the Oilers to replace Walt Kyle after Kyle left to take a job with the New York Rangers. Julien and Geoff Ward of the Road Runners not only coached together in Hamilton before Julien was hired by Montreal, they're friends. They attended a golf tournament together in Edmonton last weekend.
Makes sense, doesn't it?
"Teams have to look at things on a year-to-year basis," said Road Runners president Stew MacDonald, talking in general terms about split affiliations and changing partnerships at the AHL level.
"It's like, 'What do we have to do to accommodate ourselves?' If that's 12 players, then you potentially have eight open spots. If you've got 18 players and it's not negotiable, then you've only got two open spots."
Montreal isn't the only NHL team that might be in the market for a partner because of the departure of Dallas. The Stars had the balance of their AHL players in Houston this season, splitting the Aeros roster with the Minnesota Wild. That would seem to make Texas a candidate.
The Phoenix Coyotes are also shopping for a new affiliate after putting the Utah Grizzlies in mothballs for next season. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks suspended operations in Cincinnati, but have signed on with Portland.
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