Coyotes AHL Could Move to San Antonio

If you’ve ever thought that some of the American Hockey League affiliates make no sense, you’re not alone. The league has finally decided to make a western division with teams in California. It’s at the expense of some decent hockey markets in the north east, but it makes sense for western NHL teams.

Some of the teams we are losing include the Manchester Monarchs, Worcester Sharks, and the Adirondack Flames. Norfolk and Oklahoma City will also lose their teams.

Teams have been relocated to San Diego, Stockton, Bakersfield, Ontario, and San Jose.

Yet, several western NHL teams still have their affiliates on the east coast. This includes the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, and Vancouver Canucks.

At least one of those teams is thinking about moving their affiliate.

The Coyotes’ AHL squad, the Portland Pirates, are located in Portland, Maine, about as far away as you can get from Phoenix. For them to relocate their team would make perfect sense.

According to FOX Sports, there is a possibility they switch affiliates with the Florida Panthers, whose team is located in San Antonio, Texas. The Pirates want to stay in Portland and are one of the more viable AHL markets, so it makes sense. The San Antonio Rampage are much closer and realistic for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes might also want a team closer to them in a market like Tucson or Prescott Valley, and if they added a new AHL affiliate, they’d want them with it in mind to move to Arizona at some point.