Hurricanes sign 3-year AHL affiliation with Chicago Wolves
Until January, all seemed well with the American Hockey League affiliation between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Charlotte Checkers.
The Checkers had won the Calder Cup championship in 2019. Nothing seemed amiss between the NHL team and its top minor-league affiliate.
Then, as Don Waddell said Thursday, “Things fell apart.”
Waddell, the Canes’ president and general manager, was not specific in explaining how the relationship with Charlotte reached a breaking point. An announcement was made Thursday that the Canes had reached a three-year agreement with the Chicago Wolves to be their new AHL affiliate.
“We were trying to make a deal to move this forward but it wasn’t there to be, from either side, at that point,” Waddell said in a media call. “Then the season as it dragged on, we reached the virus and we got to a point where we had to look at our other options. And obviously we knew Chicago was going to be an option.
“It was a business decision we eventually had to make.”
As for the Checkers, they also have a new affiliation -- with the Florida Panthers. That also was announced Thursday although the Panthers ‘ new general manager, Bill Zito, said last week that Charlotte would be their new AHL base beginning in 2020-21.
“I’m not here to knock anything,” Waddell said. “We’ve been with Charlotte for a long time and won a championship last year. Every relationship has ups and downs in it and this one got to a point where it was time for us to move on.
“I can’t pinpoint anything or say Charlotte did anything wrong. They run a very good organization there.”
What factored into the Canes’ move? Dollars certainly did. Waddell didn’t say how much money was involved, saying much of the difference would be used in signing some veteran players for the Wolves to help in developing younger player.
“Financially the Wolves have stepped up and they share those costs with veteran players,” Waddell said.
There also is a longstanding business relationship between Waddell and Don Levin, the Wolves’ chairman and governor. The Wolves once were the AHL affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers when Waddell was the Thrashers’ GM, winning Calder Cup titles.
“When you work with people in the past you know you have a good relationship and it’s worked in the past,” Waddell said. “I think that’s the first thing you have to look at.
“Money is great but if you can’t work with somebody and it’s not going to be a good spot for your players then you can have all the money in the world. What we’re talking about is small peanuts when you talk about developing players for your National Hockey League team. So I think the part about financially, yes, there is more money and it’s not coming to us. It’s going out to pay the players to get there, the veteran players that they’re willing to step up and pay.
“Most importantly we think it’s a great opportunity for our players to be playing with those type of veterans and continue to mature not only as people but as players. So the working relationship, to me, is first and foremost, that’s for sure.”
The Canes moved their AHL affiliate from Albany, NY, to Charlotte in 2010 and stressed the importance of extending their hockey “footprint” in the state. Some of the Canes players who came through Charlotte, including forward Warren Foegele and defenseman Haydn Fleury, have been a part of Canes playoff teams the past two years
Checkers owner and CEO Michael Kahn, in a letter Thursday to Checkers fans, said the team “hoped to continue our affiliation with the Hurricanes.”
But Checkers’ COO Tera Black, speaking to the media Thursday, downplayed any contentious falling out with the Canes.
“I’m not really aware of any falling out. AHL affiliations can change rather quickly,” she said. “It’s been a great run, and we’ve enjoyed our relationship with the Carolina Hurricanes. But we’re going to focus on the future.”
The ease of movement for AHL player callups -- Fleury has said he made 12 round trips -- was easy enough. Jump in a car and drive to Raleigh.
But Waddell said enough non-stop flights to Raleigh are available -- although not as many as before the pandemic -- in and out of Chicago. And if the Canes are on the road, it could be easier to fly out of Chicago, he said.
“That isn’t an issue whatsoever,” he said of the travel.
The Wolves, who play their home games at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, were affiliated with the Vegas Golden Knights the past three years. They advanced to the Calder Cup finals last year before losing to the Checkers.
Ryan Warsofsky, the Checkers’ head coach in 2019-20, will continue to coach the team in Chicago, it was announced Thursday. Pat Dwyer, a former Canes forward, will continue as an assistant coach. Bob Nardella, a Wolves assistant coach the past three seasons, will remain with the team.
Because of the pandemic, the start of the AHL 2020-21 season is scheduled for Dec. 4. But like the NHL’s plans, that could change.
(Steve Lyttle contributed to this story)
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 12:55 PM.
