The end is near in Springfield
by Derek Zona on Jan 30, 2010 9:57 AM MST
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The Copper & Blue member "Suffering in Springfield" writes
I was at a Springfield Falcons get together on Wednesday night. To nobody's surprise, President & GM Bruce Landon during his opening comments stated that:
"It won't be official for a couple of weeks, but the Oilers will not be returning to Springfield next season. They will be moving their AHL club to Oklahoma City."
And with that, we finally have someone in a position of authority admit that the deal we've talked so much about is done. I left a voicemail with the Falcons and Prodigal Hockey and will update the story if they have a comment.
The Roadrunners will be reactivated, likely renamed,and will begin play as the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate for the 2010-2011 season in Oklahoma City.
Take heart, Falcons fans. With Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon holding out hope for a Rangers affiliation, there is a possibility that the Columbus Blue Jackets will soon need a new affiliate. The Anaheim Ducks continue to look for an exclusive affiliate, though it would difficult to imagine the Ducks using an affiliate so far east, an affiliation swap may be in order. The Blue Jackets & Ducks couldn't possibly saddle Springfield with teams worse than the last six years, can they?
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My question is still, who is going to own this team? Because those are the purse strings that will be paying for the talent to make them better then this years Oiler’s triple A team, but also those that will be tighten if the team continues to lose.
one of the founders and most prolific writers of Bringing Back the Glory
Photos?
Derek,
Somewhat unrelated, by I always wondered how Copper N Blue adds photo albums that you can scroll through or how you get photos from the AP. I haven’t seen any other hockey blogs do this except SB Nation.
thanks,
Jay
It’s an agreement with SB Nation and AP. There are some additions coming to that feed, apparently.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Longer than six years I would think.
The first season the Oilers were in Springfield was their highest regular season point total (80 points) in almost 10 seasons. So the futility in Springfield goes back a lot longer than six years.
It just so happened in the past it did not always take as many points to make the playoffs. As they made it there twice with 72 & 74 point seasons.
oilerdiehard, you’re right…the futility has been longer than the past six years. I have been attending games in Springfield since 1967 and have been fortunate enough to be in attendance for 3 Calder Cup championship wins. Prior to the Lightning, the Coyotes were in town and were really bad too.
Last night a season high 6,200+ were in attendance as the Providence Bruins came to town and took advantage of a very poorly officiated game and waxed the locals 8-2. Ouch…a 4 pointer and we were only 3 pts. behind Providence. Out there this afternoon. Somewhat naively, I still think this club could sneak into the playoffs despite all the off ice BS.
Springfield ownership has committed to playing in the AHL again next season. There currently are rumors swirling (NJ very unhappy in Lowell; NYR/MSG wanting to use the building in Hartford for things other than hockey to make more $$$).
Bruce Landon said that he’s been negotiating with “several teams”, but could not disclose any of them until the league authorizes him to do so.
by Suffering in Springfield on Jan 31, 2010 7:19 AM MST reply actions
Falcons move to OKC
I love what I just read…OKC is ready for the next season… AHL will be a great addition to OKC… We had a CHL team here but no affiliation with the NHL so people here lost a lot of interest in that kind of Hockey…But being from Michigan originally and a lot of Northern and Midwestern transplants here.. It will be awesome to see real talent looking to get to the NHL and NHL players at the AHL level
WELCOME TO OKC!!!!
The falcons won’t be moving to OKC, they will be staying there. Edmonton is just going to activate and move their dormant AHL franchise to our fair city!
Edmonton needs to activate their dormant NHL franchise.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 31, 2010 2:15 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m sure they are waiting on the league to do what it needs to do, for them to activate the franchise. So that it can be moved from Edmonton to OKC.
You missed my drift. I’m not talking about the Edmonton Roadrunners.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 31, 2010 6:27 PM MST up reply actions
Gallows humour
It’s all we’ve got left.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 31, 2010 9:08 PM MST up reply actions
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