The AHL, ECHL, CHL reshuffle and what it means for the NHL

Each of the NHL's 30 teams can have a up to, and no more than, 50 players contracted in the clubs system. With a maximum of 23 of those assigned to the NHL team there has to be somewhere else for all the other players to play, providing they are signed to a two-way contract. This is where the AHL (American Hockey League) & ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) come in. The vast majority find themselves playing for their NHL's AHL affiliate team compared to a handful who play in the ECHL. One problem the NHL teams find is the location of AHL teams. As the premier minor league for player development it is staggeringly lopped sided geographically. With 20 of the 30 AHL teams playing in the East and Central timezones plus St Johns who are in Newfoundland time.

NHL loses court motion to dismiss TV rights lawsuit

Two years ago 6 NHL fans filed the lawsuit in New York. The lawsuit centres on the relationship between the NHL's TV broadcast rights, nationally and locally, and the NHL Centre Ice package. The aim of the case is allow NHL teams to sell broadcast rights to stations outside of their local market.

NHL Centre Ice is a subscription service offered by cable and satellite providers in the United States and Canada that allows viewers to watch out of market NHL games for $179 a season. Primarily aimed at fans, like one of the plaintiffs Thomas Laumann, who lives in Florida and is a fan of the New York Islanders. His argument in the case is that if he wants to watch Islanders games he has to pay the fee for a Centre Ice subscription but in market games are not broadcast on Centre Ice meaning he has to pay $10 a month for access to the local TV station that broadcasts either Tampa Bay Lightning or Florida Panthers games. The claim that the restrictions on broadcasting are inappropriately driving up the price of sports cable TV packages.

Stanley Cup Final Review

Stanley Cup Final Review

After eight weeks of battle we are down to the last two. The Los Angeles Kings, vying for their 2nd cup in franchise history (and in three seasons), up against the New York Rangers, going for their 5th cup (2nd in 74 years). Coming into this post season the common opinion was whoever wins the West will win the cup. As that goes the Los Angeles Kings were heavy favourites with the bookmakers.

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Finals Review

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Finals Review

We entered the second round with many predicting a repeat final four of Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. Two out of the four are heading home, for a holiday retreat or golf course. Chicago and Los Angeles are heading for the Conference finals again and if Chicago repeat as Western Conference champions they'll defend their Stanley Cup against a team whose last appearance in the cup final ending with them lifting the legendary trophy, Montreal in 1993, when they beat LA, and the New York Rangers in 1994, when they beat Vancouver.

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Second Round Review

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Second Round Review

Round one was so good it's hard to imagine how the second round could ramp up the intensity. Before we get started on the second round matchups we must say goodbye to eight teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, St Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and, like the inevitability of a Tim Peel intent to blow call we say goodbye to the true nearly men of the league, the San Jose Sharks.