Is the NHL like MLB? Whereas the NHL is the highest league, then the AHL, then the ECHL, then the IHL?

Question

and do each on of these teams have an affiliate team in the HNL? I know that the AHL does but do the ECHL and the IHL, have affiliate NHL teams?

Answer 1

No
MLB has a true hierarchical system

MLB
AAA: 30 teams to allow a 1:1 representation
AA: 30 teams to allow a 1:1 representation
A (Senior): 90 teams to allow 1:3 representation
A (rookie): 30 teams to allow a 1:1 representation

So, each major league team has 6 minor league teams which it is responsible for staffing.


NHL
Minor league: American Hockey League (29 teams so almost a 1:1 ratio)

NHL teams have a direct relationship with one AHL team (one AHL team has a direct relationship with 2 NHL teams). THis is the only OFFICIAL affiliate an NHL team has.

NHL teams are free to form informal relationships with teams in the ECHL, CHL, and IHL as they see fit.

In the case of a direct relationship...........an NHL team can legally wholly own, and/or staff an AHL franchise.
An NHL team can not legally own OR staff a franchise in any other league.

Answer 2

the AHL is the only true feeder league to the NHL, in the sense of having a minor league hierarchy like pro baseball. the majority of current NHL players played in the AHL before making the jump to the NHL, so it's a very important developmental league. it's considered particularly vital for the development of NHL-caliber young goaltenders.

the ECHL is a notch below the AHL, and the IHL is basically an afterthought. very few players who go from major junior to the ECHL ever make it to the NHL. most of them who pursue a career in pro hockey will look to jump to the european leagues. there are some NHL affiliations with ECHL teams, but they are loose and typically exist on a year-to-year basis.

for a couple of decades, the AHL and IHL co-existed as a two-league minor league system. now, it's just the AHL.

Answer 3

Yes its similar to MLB. Every NHL team has a farm system with an AHL and ECHL team. Some IHL teams have NHL affiliates but most just one with an AHL team not not directly with the NHL.

Laying Low - The IHL does exist. The UHL bought the name and renamed their league the IHL. They have 6 teams (5 of which were from the original IHL) playing in Michigan (Muskegon, Flint, Port Huron and Kalamazoo), Indiana (Fort Wayne), and Illinois (Bloomington). Yup its below the ECHL.

Answer 4

the IHL merged with the AHL and not all 30 teams has an ahl/or echl spot yet. While a part of it is it is not really like MLB. The better players do come out of Canada first (or at least go to school up there) play in teh juniors the better ones goes to national teams then they get drafted. The elite players aka crosby skipped the ahl entirely. You rarely see a high school age player go right to the show in MLB but more are coming up in NHL.

Answer 5

In a way. For example, Calgary Flames has the Quad City Flames in the AHL, which is a feeder for the NHL,and the Las Vegas Wrangles in the ECHL, which feeds the AHL. The ECHL even bills itself as "The Premier AA Hockey League" International Hockey League(IHL) folded a few years ago. doesn't exist anymore. When it did, it was like the AHL.

Thanks for the update on the IHL. I only knew it when it was like the AHL and Cujo was playing for the LV Thunder during his holdout, then we lost our team. So it does exist, but at a lower level of play?

Edit: The Flames have a player development relationship with the Wranglers, where the Flames agree to provide 9 players to the Wranglers. Dany Sabourin played 10 games for LV during 03-04 season.

Answer 6

Generally yes but it is slightly different in that most NHL teams park their best prospects in the AHL (like AAA) straight out of Junior if the feel they have a shot at the NHL.

Players that end up In the ECHL (like AA) rarely make it up as far as the NHL for any significant amount of time. The only exception I can think about offhand is Michael Ryder.

There is no A to AA to AAA to big league progression.

Answer 7

Kinda yeah. For example the Pittsburgh Penguins. There AHL team like the triple A but not really is the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, then ECHL "double A" Wheeling Nailers. The MLB has AAA,AA,and A but the NHL is only "AAA",and "AA" there is no single A. Also in hockey they don't say AAA, AA they say NHL,AHL,and ECHL. So yeah it is a little different.

Answer 8

Likely not the as the real IHL folded in 2001.