Eklund: NHL Teams May Have b-Team Games Prior to Regular Season Games

LOVE THIS .....

Eklund: NHL Teams May Have b-Team Games Prior to Regular Season Games
- Eklund

What about double headers? Any new information there? What are you hearing?
Can you please enlighten/bring us up to speed please oh fearless leader.

Thanks

If the AHL cant make money who pays the B-Team players?

NHL owners already going to be in the red, doubt they will want to foot bill for AHL games as well.

What about double headers? Any new information there? What are you hearing?
Can you please enlighten/bring us up to speed please oh fearless leader.

Thanks
- DrunkFan

I have even wondered if teams would carry a B squad of 9-10 forwards, 3-4 Defense and 1-2 goalies and play 3 periods of 15 minute 3 on 3 games that would happen prior and between the 1st & 2nd periods and between the 2nd and 3rd periods. These players would be available for call ups for injury and cover infections.

If the AHL cant make money who pays the B-Team players?

NHL owners already going to be in the red, doubt they will want to foot bill for AHL games as well.
- Gerk

I would suspect they would only include players with NHL contracts, will suck for those on AHL deals.

The ice is bad enough in a lot of rinks, now it will be worse if the NHL teams play the 2nd game.

I saw enough of the Devils B team last season, especially since it was our NHL roster I was watching.

Love it ... more hockey the better... But sometimes the Gulls in San Diego outdraw the Ducks.. .. Hell they might even have a better team.

I don't think someone's going to identify a perfect solution. This at least gets players on the ice playing.

I don't know what it is like in other markets but here in Pittsburgh we never get the Pens' AHL affiliate, the WBS Penguins, on TV broadcasts (with a handful of exceptions in the past).

It would be nice for the upcoming season if the AHL schedules could be structured such that all their games are on days in which their NHL affiliates are not playing. Then, the broadcasters who have the rights to their NHL affiliates could also pay for the rights to the AHL broadcasts, in the corresponding NHL affiliate markets. I am not sure if that would be enough to prop up the AHL teams but it might help. It would be great for fans because we would get hockey on most nights.

Would the games be televised? That could be difficult, since it would require new contracts/scheduled with the networks. And if they're not televised, then it's the same problem that the AHL is having where there's no revenue to pay the players.

If they were televised, I like the idea. But maybe the games need to be much shorter. Maybe 20 minutes of playing time, instead of 60. I don't think many fans would be up for a 3-hour B-team game before another 3-hour A-team game. That's 6 hours to carve out of your day. Of course, if they're shorter games, they could change it up (maybe 4 on 4), so that there's more scoring in 20 minutes. Also, shorter games would be easier to accommodate with the networks for TV airing.

They have to do something.

So the Bgame would get the good ice. And the money making NHL game will get the bad ice.

Gotcha

Eklund: NHL Teams May Have b-Team Games Prior to Regular Season Games
- Eklund

I hope this keeps the ahl viable, having watched up close some Laval Rocket games I'm quite satisfied with the level of play.

What should happen is the AHL should be a true development league this year.....
If no fans, then set the payroll threshold to 100K per player...basically have 5 year pro's and under participating......The career minor leaguers should find spots in Europe or take the 100k.
The guys on 2 and 3 way contracts that are farmed to the ECHL should take those spots-and the NHL teams should fund the endeavor. It is really the similar to B squad concepts. Its should be a true NHL prospect league that the NHL funds...

Eklund: NHL Teams May Have b-Team Games Prior to Regular Season Games
- Eklund

My question then is how operating a B Team would differ from just going out and backing/supporting an AHL Team?... Just finance your minor league team and be done with it. Where is plays makes basically little difference beyond having the players travel with the big club and practice with it--which would actually gum up the works with the A Team's development--and tie up a major venue that could book other cost producing shows...Just have the B Team train and play in your AHL City and Arena and financially support it...or better yet, just let it handle its affairs as usual and give it money so it stays afloat.

If they are to do it the other way, I suppose they could have the B Team practice separately and play games in the A Team Rink before the NHL Games with fans having the option of watching it with the same paid admission... and ice quality be damned... or maybe right after A Teams, and worry about providing workers OT Pay as they stay late. I'd prefer my earlier idea of regular AHL Teams being supported though.

Eklund: NHL Teams May Have b-Team Games Prior to Regular Season Games
- Eklund

Will these “B teams” participate in double headers as well? What are you hearing Ron your double header source?

Makes perfect sense

Doubleheaders sound like a great idea. Like JV and V in high school.

A Team back on telly!!!

So what was cooking in Philadelphia? Whys he twitt poop than no follow up?

The cost of travel and hotel?
I’d be shocked. Seems unrealistic.
But who knows?

No the Flyers don't want Jason Demers... slow, old.. and need to shed salary not add it