Honestly had no idea they could do that. Might try to go to the game on Wed night. Tickets are $26 for 3rd row lol
- Assman22

Indy Fuel regular season tickets for ECHL team are $72 in new arena. Crazy!

Got this from PHR
With Brantford’s season ending in a Game 6 loss to the Oshawa Generals in the second round of the playoffs, he’s now free to join Rockford. Vanacker just turned 19 earlier this month, though, so he won’t be eligible for a full-time assignment to the IceHogs next season. It’s either Chicago or Brantford again for him in 2025-26 with the latter seeming far more likely given his regression this season.
- Angotti

This stupid age rule for the AHL has got to go!

This stupid age rule for the AHL has got to go!
- rpeters01

Why? What do you think will happen to the junior leagues if the best players are immediately put into the AHL after being drafted? And further what do you think happens to the players themselves if they’re playing in the AHL as 18 year old under sized and under developed players? I have season tickets to the Oshawa Generals, if Ritchie, Sennecke, Barlow, Danford and Merelli were all immediately promoted to the AHL I wouldn’t renew my tickets next season and I’m positive most season ticket holders would so the same. Then what happens to the CHL, one of the prime hockey development leagues? And do you think an undersized Lardis is getting 10 goals in the AHL?

The only way to solve this age issue is to draft kids when they’re 20.

I love that a kid comes back from shoulder surgery halfway through the year and doesn't immediately put up better numbers than the previous year and it's a regression. He's for sure going back to Brantford, but that framing is silly.
- Chunk

Agree, I chuckled when I read that as well.
Edit - Bylsma is out and so is Tocchet.

Why? What do you think will happen to the junior leagues if the best players are immediately put into the AHL after being drafted? And further what do you think happens to the players themselves if they’re playing in the AHL as 18 year old under sized and under developed players? I have season tickets to the Oshawa Generals, if Ritchie, Sennecke, Barlow, Danford and Merelli were all immediately promoted to the AHL I wouldn’t renew my tickets next season and I’m positive most season ticket holders would so the same. Then what happens to the CHL, one of the prime hockey development leagues? And do you think an undersized Lardis is getting 10 goals in the AHL?

The only way to solve this age issue is to draft kids when they’re 20.
- paulr

Why do we care what happens to the juniors league? How about enter the draft at any age but once drafted, you start in college or AHL. CHL/USHL can remain as developmental leagues.

Why? What do you think will happen to the junior leagues if the best players are immediately put into the AHL after being drafted? And further what do you think happens to the players themselves if they’re playing in the AHL as 18 year old under sized and under developed players? I have season tickets to the Oshawa Generals, if Ritchie, Sennecke, Barlow, Danford and Merelli were all immediately promoted to the AHL I wouldn’t renew my tickets next season and I’m positive most season ticket holders would so the same. Then what happens to the CHL, one of the prime hockey development leagues? And do you think an undersized Lardis is getting 10 goals in the AHL?

The only way to solve this age issue is to draft kids when they’re 20.
- paulr

It would still be up to the big team just like in baseball where they start their players. Kirby Dach and KK for two, possibly Bedard as well would have been better off beginning in the AHL. And the junior teams can always find juniors.

It would still be up to the big team just like in baseball where they start their players. Kirby Dach and KK for two, possibly Bedard as well would have been better off beginning in the AHL. And the junior teams can always find juniors.

- rpeters01

You do know each Baseball team has four minor league teams, Single A, High A, Double A and Triple A. Players can be assigned to the various leagues based on age, physical development, skill development their progress etc.. Some 18 year old hockey players are small, physically weak with underdeveloped skills. I’ll use Lardis as an example again. When he was drafted he was 155 lbs. Do you think playing in the AHL as a small boy would have been good for his development? I’m betting he’d no longer be in hockey today if he had been moved to Rockford after the 2023 draft.

And how do you figure any of those players you mentioned would have been better off beginning in the AHL? All of the players you mentioned were small physically unready to be playing against men especially a tough league like the AHL.

The health of the CHL is vital to the future health of the NHL.

Why? What do you think will happen to the junior leagues if the best players are immediately put into the AHL after being drafted? And further what do you think happens to the players themselves if they’re playing in the AHL as 18 year old under sized and under developed players? I have season tickets to the Oshawa Generals, if Ritchie, Sennecke, Barlow, Danford and Merelli were all immediately promoted to the AHL I wouldn’t renew my tickets next season and I’m positive most season ticket holders would so the same. Then what happens to the CHL, one of the prime hockey development leagues? And do you think an undersized Lardis is getting 10 goals in the AHL?

The only way to solve this age issue is to draft kids when they’re 20.
- paulr

While you are probably right on your points, every player should be free to do what is best for them and their career.

I don't think NHL teams would have all their underdeveloped players in the AHL, but for the handful of guys who would benefit from it, they should be free to do so.

I've said for a year or so now that NIL is going to take most of the top players eventually anyway.

Bylsma is available, anyone interested?

While you are probably right on your points, every player should be free to do what is best for them and their career.

I don't think NHL teams would have all their underdeveloped players in the AHL, but for the handful of guys who would benefit from it, they should be free to do so.

I've said for a year or so now that NIL is going to take most of the top players eventually anyway.
- vabeachbear

I heard a podcast a while back and they were talking about Korchinski, one of the guys said the reason the Blackhawks brought him into the NHL at 19 was because the org was watching him develop in Seattle and saw he was so talented he was reinforcing his bad habits in the defensive end and was able to get away with it.

I also wonder in time if NHL teams will be able to sign their draft picks while they are playing in college or even before they go.

You do know each Baseball team has four minor league teams, Single A, High A, Double A and Triple A. Players can be assigned to the various leagues based on age, physical development, skill development their progress etc.. Some 18 year old hockey players are small, physically weak with underdeveloped skills. I’ll use Lardis as an example again. When he was drafted he was 155 lbs. Do you think playing in the AHL as a small boy would have been good for his development? I’m betting he’d no longer be in hockey today if he had been moved to Rockford after the 2023 draft.

And how do you figure any of those players you mentioned would have been better off beginning in the AHL? All of the players you mentioned were small physically unready to be playing against men especially a tough league like the AHL.

The health of the CHL is vital to the future health of the NHL.
- paulr

To add to your point, there are five levels of baseball, Rookie league comes before A ball. You are correct, some 18 year olds just aren’t ready for professional hockey, however some are, so it’s a catch 22. TBH, if I had an18 year old son that played hockey at a high level, I would hope that he would choose the college route.