Agree and I also have stated I feel there is collusion. .play through it..GO K's..
caprad
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 9:13am
Take it one step farther...
Who got sent down to Evansville to make room for Szyd?
So ECHL team get double screwed.
RCboater
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 9:14am
This is from the ECHL CBA :
Are ECHL Players allowed to play in the AHL or NHL?
In the event the League and team receive an executed contract/try-out agreement from an AHL/NHL team, the Player shall be allowed to report to that League. If the team or the Player receives a try-out offer from an NHL/AHL team with no affiliation with the ECHL team, the Player shall not accept the try-out offer until the ECHL team has received a $500 development fee from the non-affiliated NHL/AHL team for each call-up.
It looks like they are supposed to be paid a developement fee, although a small fee at that.
Klaus
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 9:39am
Good argument Blake! I'm happy in a way for the guys that get called up, maybe they can shine enough to be seen and maybe picked up for the "show". But to call them and not use their talents is rediculous! If you call a player away from their affiliate, then pay a development fee. If you call them and not use them, then the AHL team should pay a non-use fine or fee for wasting good hockey talent, or be suspended from calling up players for X-number of games. As a fan, it's frustrating having to check the transactions page before every game to see who has left and if any replacement takes their place. I love this team we have. With all the call ups, they still get the job done and play some fantastic hockey. I do feel sorry for the other teams in the league whose "talent" gets called up and the rest of the team struggles to keep in the standings.
RG2
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 9:51am
Maybe getting off topic here but staying on recent posts. Florida signed Matt Marquardt. In referernce to a previous post to Alan, this would be the apple that was not only missed in the tree but was hanging low. He is a player coming back from Europe(No idea why-team may be missing playoffs im guessing?) and Im sure he has a previous relationship with Florida, but this is that type of skill player most teams want.
back on topic- This article of Blakes should be on the desks of all pro hockey GM's and owners. Its going to be impossible to have 30 ECHL teams if this league plays to much of a subordination to the AHL. Your going to have attendence problems and it will create revolt by active owners to start another independant league. Here we go all over again.
With players in the stands you would think the AHL would want those players skating somewhere. Its counterintuitive to think its productive sitting in the stands. Ergo, when one of our players gets called up, you would assume they send one back. Thats not the case. I think we( paying fans) all feel it should be.
Anonymous
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 10:38am
Great column Blake! I just wish I was allowed to comment.
Muel
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 10:56am
Nice article Blake. It is very unfair to the ECHL teams when a non affiliated team plucks our best players away to maybe sit in the stands without sending a replacement player down. Like Blake said, they have an unlimited roster and surely have players setting when they could come down here and play. Heck our crowds are bigger then most AHL games are drawing based on the box scores I have seen. Last Sunday is a good example of the AHL not caring. We had 3 players re called and 2 on IR making us play short handed on the third game in 3 days! Thanks for the hlpe AHL teams. I am concerned that we may not see Nagle back for awhile as both Red Wing goalies are out for awhile. Oh well, like it has been said, the ECHL is just the plucing grounds for the AHL and until the owners take a stand it will not change. Look at what Pensacola and Peoria told Levine and Strang, they did not want them bouncing back and forth. Unfortunately, we cannot take that position.
Hoss
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 12:19pm
Great story and even better questions about the system as a whole!I wish there was something that could be done that would help everyone in hockey.
This is not a shot at anyone one blogger/fan, but just a question. Why do we get so upset when our players get called up to the AHL but as soon as they do we call for the Komets to call up someone from the SPHL? Isn't that the same thing? We say, "How dare so-in-so doesn't want to come up to play for us, even for a weekend to fill in!" but you fault the AHL for calling a guy up to help their team.
Now I know some of our guys get called up and sit, which makes no sense to anyone. I am just asking what is the difference between the A calling up and the E calling up...
Alan
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 12:32pm
Amen!
The ECHL brass doesn't seem to care anything at all about its member teams ( or fans). It always tries (to me, at least) to position itself more of a "partner" to the NHL and AHL than to its own teams.
To me, common sense would dictate some kind of an "agreement" between the leagues for teams losing players to call ups. Hockey hasn't really been known for using a lot of "common sense" though. I guess at the end of the day I'd be inquiring about the reasons some teams survive and others languish. Everything comes down to dollars. I'd like to think that most of the dollars come from the fan bases. (I know that's not true in every case, but I'm not sure ANY owner would intentionally turn down the extra money brought in by more fans).
But fans need something to cheer for, need something to equate the team (maybe familiarity?) with, that is beyond just the love of hockey. I think the world of hockey is starting to "get it". The upcoming rearranging of western cities to bring the NHL and AHL closer together is a start. Why are they doing it? Most likely to cut expenses (money).
After 63 years as a hockey franchise city, you'd like to think that we Fort Wayne fans have a special perspective on what makes a franchise and/or league succeed or fail. We've seen both, and you'd like to think that the ECHL would listen, at least, to the experience brought to the league by the Komets.
Not likely to happen, though. After all, this is the league the Komets have chosen. Good or bad. And this league only seems to respond to the whims of the NHL first, and the AHL to a lesser extent.
There has to be some way in which teams get compensated for players lost...and without costing players the chance of moving up and getting opportunities.
It will never happen as long as the current philosophy of the ECHL remains the same. Think about it. Why would the NHL-AHL ever want to change the "sweet" feeder system it enjoys?
Maybe its time for the governors to quit concentrating so much on what the NHL brings to the ECHL, and a little more on what the ECHL brings to the NHL.
Reasonable people can solve problems and shortcomings reasonably, can't they??
OLDGUY45
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 3:37pm
Totally agree with the article. The way callups are handled is the reason I am thinkig about staying home.
Bruce
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 5:39pm
Forward this article to ECHL,AHL, and NHL officials for comment. Input from other teams should be welcome.
Hoss
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 7:45pm
And Syd's not even dressed tonight!!!
RG2
Fri, 01/16/2015 - 9:14pm
Neither is Faille!!! Nagle is handling the bench door. Who are we trying to kid here? We can be honest or nice. Like when your wife or girlfriend asks if this dress makes her butt look big? " Honey you want honest or nice to that question? We are nice and state we are happy our players get a chance higher up. But honestly, I dont think we like to really see anyone leave. I really do see Muel and Oldguy45's point.
When Fleming came back last year after some time in the AHL , he was NOT the same player. He lost that fire/ jump
Okikibi
Sat, 01/17/2015 - 9:51am
Blake is right but there are other pressing problems the leagues are currently worried about. The west coast NHL teams want AHL affiliations closer to their cities. This means a few ECHL teams are going to get poached and move up and a few eastern AHL teams will likely find a new home in the ECHL. With the addition of the CHL teams this year, the ECHL had gotten better with the conference alignments. That looks like it will change next year.
Comments
Agree and I also have stated I feel there is collusion. .play through it..GO K's..
Take it one step farther...
Who got sent down to Evansville to make room for Szyd?
So ECHL team get double screwed.
This is from the ECHL CBA :
Are ECHL Players allowed to play in the AHL or NHL?
In the event the League and team receive an executed contract/try-out agreement from an AHL/NHL team, the Player shall be allowed to report to that League.
If the team or the Player receives a try-out offer from an NHL/AHL team with no affiliation with the ECHL team, the Player shall not accept the try-out offer until the ECHL team has received a $500 development fee from the non-affiliated NHL/AHL team for each call-up.
It looks like they are supposed to be paid a developement fee, although a small fee at that.
Good argument Blake! I'm happy in a way for the guys that get called up, maybe they can shine enough to be seen and maybe picked up for the "show". But to call them and not use their talents is rediculous! If you call a player away from their affiliate, then pay a development fee. If you call them and not use them, then the AHL team should pay a non-use fine or fee for wasting good hockey talent, or be suspended from calling up players for X-number of games. As a fan, it's frustrating having to check the transactions page before every game to see who has left and if any replacement takes their place. I love this team we have. With all the call ups, they still get the job done and play some fantastic hockey. I do feel sorry for the other teams in the league whose "talent" gets called up and the rest of the team struggles to keep in the standings.
Maybe getting off topic here but staying on recent posts. Florida signed Matt Marquardt. In referernce to a previous post to Alan, this would be the apple that was not only missed in the tree but was hanging low. He is a player coming back from Europe(No idea why-team may be missing playoffs im guessing?) and Im sure he has a previous relationship with Florida, but this is that type of skill player most teams want.
back on topic- This article of Blakes should be on the desks of all pro hockey GM's and owners. Its going to be impossible to have 30 ECHL teams if this league plays to much of a subordination to the AHL. Your going to have attendence problems and it will create revolt by active owners to start another independant league. Here we go all over again.
With players in the stands you would think the AHL would want those players skating somewhere. Its counterintuitive to think its productive sitting in the stands. Ergo, when one of our players gets called up, you would assume they send one back. Thats not the case. I think we( paying fans) all feel it should be.
Great column Blake! I just wish I was allowed to comment.
Nice article Blake. It is very unfair to the ECHL teams when a non affiliated team plucks our best players away to maybe sit in the stands without sending a replacement player down. Like Blake said, they have an unlimited roster and surely have players setting when they could come down here and play. Heck our crowds are bigger then most AHL games are drawing based on the box scores I have seen. Last Sunday is a good example of the AHL not caring. We had 3 players re called and 2 on IR making us play short handed on the third game in 3 days! Thanks for the hlpe AHL teams. I am concerned that we may not see Nagle back for awhile as both Red Wing goalies are out for awhile. Oh well, like it has been said, the ECHL is just the plucing grounds for the AHL and until the owners take a stand it will not change. Look at what Pensacola and Peoria told Levine and Strang, they did not want them bouncing back and forth. Unfortunately, we cannot take that position.
Great story and even better questions about the system as a whole!I wish there was something that could be done that would help everyone in hockey.
This is not a shot at anyone one blogger/fan, but just a question. Why do we get so upset when our players get called up to the AHL but as soon as they do we call for the Komets to call up someone from the SPHL? Isn't that the same thing? We say, "How dare so-in-so doesn't want to come up to play for us, even for a weekend to fill in!" but you fault the AHL for calling a guy up to help their team.
Now I know some of our guys get called up and sit, which makes no sense to anyone. I am just asking what is the difference between the A calling up and the E calling up...
Amen!
The ECHL brass doesn't seem to care anything at all about its member teams ( or fans). It always tries (to me, at least) to position itself more of a "partner" to the NHL and AHL than to its own teams.
To me, common sense would dictate some kind of an "agreement" between the leagues for teams losing players to call ups. Hockey hasn't really been known for using a lot of "common sense" though. I guess at the end of the day I'd be inquiring about the reasons some teams survive and others languish. Everything comes down to dollars. I'd like to think that most of the dollars come from the fan bases. (I know that's not true in every case, but I'm not sure ANY owner would intentionally turn down the extra money brought in by more fans).
But fans need something to cheer for, need something to equate the team (maybe familiarity?) with, that is beyond just the love of hockey. I think the world of hockey is starting to "get it". The upcoming rearranging of western cities to bring the NHL and AHL closer together is a start. Why are they doing it? Most likely to cut expenses (money).
After 63 years as a hockey franchise city, you'd like to think that we Fort Wayne fans have a special perspective on what makes a franchise and/or league succeed or fail. We've seen both, and you'd like to think that the ECHL would listen, at least, to the experience brought to the league by the Komets.
Not likely to happen, though. After all, this is the league the Komets have chosen. Good or bad. And this league only seems to respond to the whims of the NHL first, and the AHL to a lesser extent.
There has to be some way in which teams get compensated for players lost...and without costing players the chance of moving up and getting opportunities.
It will never happen as long as the current philosophy of the ECHL remains the same. Think about it. Why would the NHL-AHL ever want to change the "sweet" feeder system it enjoys?
Maybe its time for the governors to quit concentrating so much on what the NHL brings to the ECHL, and a little more on what the ECHL brings to the NHL.
Reasonable people can solve problems and shortcomings reasonably, can't they??
Totally agree with the article. The way callups are handled is the reason I am thinkig about staying home.
Forward this article to ECHL,AHL, and NHL officials for comment. Input from other teams should be welcome.
And Syd's not even dressed tonight!!!
Neither is Faille!!! Nagle is handling the bench door. Who are we trying to kid here? We can be honest or nice. Like when your wife or girlfriend asks if this dress makes her butt look big? " Honey you want honest or nice to that question? We are nice and state we are happy our players get a chance higher up. But honestly, I dont think we like to really see anyone leave. I really do see Muel and Oldguy45's point.
When Fleming came back last year after some time in the AHL , he was NOT the same player. He lost that fire/ jump
Blake is right but there are other pressing problems the leagues are currently worried about. The west coast NHL teams want AHL affiliations closer to their cities. This means a few ECHL teams are going to get poached and move up and a few eastern AHL teams will likely find a new home in the ECHL. With the addition of the CHL teams this year, the ECHL had gotten better with the conference alignments. That looks like it will change next year.