Florida Panthers Agree to Full Affiliation With Rochester

[VodkaFish]

SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin announced today that the club has agreed to a full American Hockey League affiliation with the Rochester Americans. For the past three seasons, the Panthers and Buffalo Sabres shared an affiliation with Rochester.

“We are very happy to have reached an agreement and to be the sole affiliate with one of the most successful and storied franchises in the American Hockey League,” Martin said. “Over the past three seasons, we have been extremely pleased with how our prospects have developed in the Rochester system and we look forward helping the Americans achieve their ultimate goals of winning another Calder Cup championship.”

Many current Florida players including LW David Booth, G Craig Anderson, C Kamil Kreps and D Noah Welch all spent time with the Americans, prior to receiving the call to play for the Panthers. For the upcoming 2008-09 season, the Panthers will supply the Americans with a full roster of players.

The Americans have one of the most storied franchises in AHL history. Established in 1956, they are the second longest running franchise in the American Hockey League. The Americans have won six Calder Cup Trophies as AHL Champion, 14 Division Championships and great players and coaches such as NHL Hall of Fame coach Al Arbour, current CBC Hockey Night in Canada analyst and former NHL coach Don Cherry, current Calgary Flames Head Coach Mike Keenan and former NY Islanders GM and current NBC analyst Mike Milbury.

[ValJames]

The rumors around here are that Florida/Rochester are looking at bringing in a top notch heavyweight.

[chilly666]

one of the worst kept secrets is finally announced.

[theknuckler]

Hopefully the panthers can help return rochester where it belongs, at the top of AHL franchises... I feel bad for the portland fans who are stuck with buffalo.