Lockout Problem As a Fan of the AHL

[Phillyfan11]

This has been gnawing at me a bit lately but I just want to know if I'm alone in feeling like this. I'm getting annoyed at the way NHL fans seem to think the AHL is terribly inferior. Annoyed that they don't take the time to maybe follow the AHL team in general let alone now that their star prospects are playing down in teh AHL. I'm not saying go to games or order them on AHLlive but seriously, have a clue.

I like that Comcast is airing some Phantoms games but it is beyond frustrating that fans of an NHL team don't take any time to ever follow the AHL team. They're either narrow minded-as in Phantoms fans only worried about Gus, Schenn, Couts, Rinaldo, etc. or they think the AHL hockey automatically sucks (which honestly, is more entertaining and has more passion and heart half the time.) I'm not saying people need to spend all there time getting caught up on who's who but at least have knowledge of who your minor league team has and the guys on the team.

Case in point, Flyers fans have an affinity for Eric Wellwood bc he's soooooooooo fast. I like Welly but the guy's invisible half the time. In fact, he's such a great guy to have on the Flyers, he got H Bombed 4 straight games earlier this season. (This is even before a proven AHLer in Akeson was even called up.) He's an average player. Better yet, Flyer fight fans think Rinaldo's great bc of last season, but if they'd follow the Phantoms in any capacity this year they'd realize the kid may not be what they thought he was afterall. If anything I question Zac Rinaldo more because of how he's gone about this season.

As a Phantoms fan I honestly care more and am more interested in the guys who don't have the glamor because their top prospects but still legit prospects nonetheless. Guys like Tye MicGinn, Cullen Eddy, Ollie Lauridsen, or Brandon Manning. And of course guys liek Fitzy and Dimmen on AHL deals. It's following these guys that makes it more special to see them reach the NHL on a recall or earn that NHL entry level deal after a season or two on an AHL only deal. To be able, as an NHL fan to say, yeah, I know this player and what he's gonna bring.

It's just annoying when an NHL fan all the sudden starts talking like they know their NHL team so well and then during the lockout gives 2 rips about the AHL team but yet when a recall happens in the NHL season they have no idea who the recalled player is half the time.

[Phillyfan11]

Further more, in terms of player to fan interaction, half these NHL dudes in the AHL could care less about the fans in their AHL city during the lockout, even when they've played there before. The guys stickign it out and grinding hard to try and make it to the NHL as mid ranged prospects are the ones that will give you the time of day. I'll root harder for a guy like that than one who's ego nearly forces his helmet to pop off. (Example: Braden Holtby this year in Hershey)

Being fair, there are guys on the other end of this. As much as I've given him grief, Rinaldo's done a lot of things community wise in GF and Schenn's been just rolling along not acting bigger than that small town and treating fans well.

Granted he only had a little NHL time but PC Labrie's doing community stuff in Syracuse.

[Boston Garden]

As a Bruins fan I'd love too watch more AHL games, the problem is that all the teams around me are a ways away, and unfortunately we never get any games broadcasted in Mass, too bad considering our proximity to Providence,Springfield,Worcester,Manchester,Portla nd,Bridgeport,Hartford ect. I have tried to stream them but either the stream sucks or (more likely) my computer sucks and it's always buffering.

I really do wish I could watch more AHL games, and I have gone to way more AHL games than NHL when the drive was shorter plus tickets were half the price. Most of my fondest hockey memories were attending AHL games live....but I digress.

Even when the NHL returns I always keep an eye on what's going down on the farm.

[Phillyfan11]

Originally Posted by Boston Garden

As a Bruins fan I'd love too watch more AHL games, the problem is that all the teams around me are a ways away, and unfortunately we never get any games broadcasted in Mass, too bad considering our proximity to Providence,Springfield,Worcester,Manchester,Portla nd,Bridgeport,Hartford ect. I have tried to stream them but either the stream sucks or (more likely) my computer sucks and it's always buffering.

I really do wish I could watch more AHL games, and I have gone to way more AHL games than NHL when the drive was shorter plus tickets were half the price. Most of my fondest hockey memories were attending AHL games live....but I digress.

Even when the NHL returns I always keep an eye on what's going down on the farm.

You wouldn't fall into the people that I'm talking about. I rarely see any Phantoms games. I'll listen to them if I can but I'm normally resigned to twitter/box scores. But like you said, you at least keep an eye and know something about the Providence B's.

[Phila26Flyers]

This bugs me too, and I was just thinking about this very thing earlier when I was watching the Phantoms-Bridgeport game. I texted a couple of my friends to let them know it's on, and was met with apathy and "It's not the same as the NHL." To me, that's a good thing! Well, it's their loss and I move on, but it is a little annoying that some folks don't give it the time of day.

I love when people shout, "I want hockey back!" as if the NHL is the only way to see hockey.

[Boston Garden]

Originally Posted by Phillyfan11

You wouldn't fall into the people that I'm talking about. I rarely see any Phantoms games. I'll listen to them if I can but I'm normally resigned to twitter/box scores. But like you said, you at least keep an eye and know something about the Providence B's.

My bad.

Just wanted to get on my soapbox, and get that off my chest regardless.

[Phillyfan11]

Originally Posted by Boston Garden

My bad.

Just wanted to get on my soapbox, and get that off my chest regardless.

haha, I wasn't trying to shoot you down. I was trying to say you weren't the type of person I was talking about. I was actually trying to build ya up haha.

[acdcrocksno1]

I've always kept an eye on the AHL but the last two years ESPN America have been showing 2 or 3 games a week over here makes it a lot easier to follow

[R.Middleton]

I've been following Portland ever since the lockout and the team is so much more entertaining than their nhl club. The team is so much tougher too.

But I got to say, like the NHL, the ahl is much softer than what I used to imagine. I feel like most clubs are usually at thirty fighting majors by Christmas break yet there are plenty of teams in the teens still.

[xtylerx]

Come to the great white north phillyfan, most fans could tell you how their teams prospects are doing in junior! There's AHL or CHL (major junior) games on all the time!

[Killah_punk]

I use to follow the AHL but when all the teams started leaving Eastern Canada in the 90s I lost interest in the AHL. The AHL has gone soft over the years too which doesn't help either. I do watch the occasional game when televised and watch most of the fights too. Due to my geographic location I follow the QMJHL and attend games when i can. If it wasn't for work and travel i would probably be a season ticket holder for the Halifax Mooseheads.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by R.Middleton

I've been following Portland ever since the lockout and the team is so much more entertaining than their nhl club. The team is so much tougher too.

But I got to say, like the NHL, the ahl is much softer than what I used to imagine. I feel like most clubs are usually at thirty fighting majors by Christmas break yet there are plenty of teams in the teens still.

It's not just you. The AHL used to be tougher than it is now. Fortunately, it's still miles more physical than the NHL. You'll still see a couple teams hit 100 FMs like usual and a bunch more in the 80s and 90s. It doesn't seem to be as nuts during this lockout as it was during the 2004 lockout though. The top 12 teams had over 100 FMs that year. Definitely wont see that this year at this pace like you pointed out. It's cool you follow Portland though, especially since they're so far from you and there's no easy way to watch them.

[RayzorEdge]

I've been fighting that sentiment towards the minors for two years now, even on this site, but I think part of that is the lack of coverage. There are still teams that don't televise any games, and those that do rarely send telecasts to their parent market. The Amerks are an exception since Time Warner controls the cable systems in both Buffalo and Rochester. Any televised Amerks game can also be seen in Buffalo. I believe the same is true for the Checkers. And this has been going on for years before the lockout.

The NHL broadcasts these days also treat the AHL, and all minors for that matter, like a joke. If you're lucky, you may get a couple of notes how players that have been sent down are performing. I have never seen an Amerks highlight on a Sabres telecast since MSG took over. That's not to say that there aren't any other easy ways to follow the AHL, but when your primary source for hockey treats it as a joke, you left to make the same conclusion until you see it for yourself.

It's great Comcast is covering the Phantoms again, but they need to keep doing it after the lockout is over in order to open eyes to the minors.

[theknuckler]

you guys said it all. I hate those people who act like the NHL is the only hockey ever. I follow AHL, and always have, probably always will unless they reduce the Vet limit again (get rid of it FFS). The only thing I dislike is that some teams keep the ****tiest players around just because they're high picks or w/e, and let them get away with anything. Send their asses to the ECHL for a few days to wake them the **** up! bunch of whiny dicks.
Holtbys been a dick in the AHL this year? ha! A capitals rookie goalie doing decent in the playoffs? It's been the trend these past few years, he'll be backup or in the minors/overseas in no time if the NHL ever comes back.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by RayzorEdge

It's great Comcast is covering the Phantoms again, but they need to keep doing it after the lockout is over in order to open eyes to the minors.

Comcast used to televise a game or two a month when the Phantoms played in Philly if I remember right. Hopefully the coverage picks up a bit more when the team moves to Allentown in 2014, but I doubt it. At least the team will be in driving distance though.