By BRUCE BERLET, Courant Staff Writer
Despite a longtime friendship with Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster, Springfield Falcons GM Bruce Landon knew an affiliation change was needed after three "ugly" seasons with the Lightning.
So while on the verge of missing the playoffs for a fourth year in a row and sixth in the past seven, Landon signed a three-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, who have most of their top prospects with five AHL teams and several in the ECHL because they couldn't find a place for them in the AHL.
"I had two years to go with the Lightning, but obviously things haven't been going well," Landon said. "I had conversations with Jay in January, and he understood the situation. We agreed if we could each find another partner, we'd mutually end the contract."
It will be the Oilers' first solo affiliation since 2004-05 and the 15th in Landon's 30 years with the Springfield franchise, including the Whalers, for whom he played goal in the WHA. Tampa Bay signed a five-year deal Thursday with Norfolk and will retain Falcons coach Steve Stirling and assistant Darren Rumble. The Admirals were affiliated with Chicago for seven years, but earlier this month the Blackhawks signed a 10-year agreement with Rockford, Ill.
"I don't want to be disrespectful to anybody because that's something I'll never be, but it has been three miserable years and it's hurting my business," Landon said. "This used to be a proud franchise drawing 5,000 people a game and we're down to [3,241, next-to-last in the league]. Sooner or later, we have to start giving the fans something to be proud of or this franchise won't last. It's our job to get a good product on the ice, and it hasn't happened with Tampa Bay."
Landon first squashed rumors the team was going to be sold because of declining attendance, so he met with the fan club and told them there was going to be a team in Springfield.
"The fans have hung in there with us as best they can under very trying circumstances, but we just have to have a good product," Landon said. "We're optimistic we can turn it around, as we were with Tampa Bay, which is why it hurts so much that it didn't work with Jay, who's still a friend. But I need to build the business, and I can't do that losing year after year. I think our fans have come to the point that if I didn't make a change, it would have been a very difficult off-season for us."
Oilers GM Kevin Lowe is happy to have a primary affiliate.
"The AHL has proven itself as the top developmental league in the world, and it is important to the Oilers to have our own affiliate in a competitive league where our young players can develop their skills for the NHL," Lowe said. "Springfield has a long and storied hockey history, and I always think keen fans in hockey environments are positives when players are in a development situation. And Springfield has a number of travel advantages, which mean our young players will receive more practice and coaching between games."
Springfield has had hockey for 80 years, and the Indians helped form the AHL and won seven Calder Cups, including a record three in a row in 1960-62 and back-to-back in 1990-91. After the Indians relocated to Worcester, the Falcons started in the 1994-95 season and came within a win of the Calder Cup in 1997.
Westlund Recalled
The Wolf Pack recalled goalie Alex Westlund from Charlotte of the ECHL to replace Al Montoya, who is nursing a groin injury and was replaced by Chris Holt after two periods of a 7-2 victory over Bridgeport Wednesday.
"The games now are critical, but we're not going to take any chances whatsoever," coach Jim Schoenfeld said.
Westlund will back up Holt for tonight's game in Bridgeport. Montoya hopes to return for a home-and-home with the Atlantic Division leading Manchester Monarchs Saturday and Sunday. ... Assistant coach J.J. Daigneault and wing Alex Bourret will be Bob Crawford's guests on "Wolf Pack Confidential" Tuesday (7-8 p.m., WPOP-1410) at Little Mark's Big Barbecue in Avon. ... The Monarchs have formed a Jason LaBarbera for MVP campaign and are urging fans to show support for the goalie at monarchshockey.com. A MVP rally will held April 7 at 1:05 p.m. before the Monarchs host Portland, but that's too late to influence voting, which ends Monday. LaBarbera is a leading contender to win the award he won with the Pack in 2004. ... The new Cleveland franchise next season will be called the Lake Erie Monsters. Dan Gilbert, owner of the NBA Cavaliers, bought the AHL's dormant franchise in Utah last year and kept it in storage this season before becoming the top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche this fall. The former Cleveland Barons are now in Worcester and affiliated with the San Jose Sharks. ... The Albany River Rats extended their affiliation deal with the Carolina Hurricanes for two years through 2008-09. ... Center Brad Mills signed an amateur tryout contract with Lowell after completing a four-year career at Yale, where he had 26 goals and 35 assists in 96 games. He has one assist in five games with the Devils.
Wolf Pack Week Ahead
March 30, 2007
Bruce Berlet
Tonight, at Bridgeport, 7:30: A rematch of Wednesday, when the Pack (42-26-3-0) won 7-2 to extend their winning streak over the Sound Tigers to seven games after an opening 6-3 loss. The Pack are 4-0 at the Arena at Harbor Yard, including a 5-1 victory in their last visit Feb. 25. The Tigers (33-31-1-5), tied with Albany for the final playoff spot in the North Division, are led by Jeff Tambellini (30 goals, 26 assists), West Haven native Eric Boguniecki (22, 32) and All-Star Wade Dubielewicz (22-12-5, 2.69 goals-against average).
Saturday, Manchester, 7 p.m.: The Pack are 2-3-1 against the Monarchs (42-20-6-1), who lead the Atlantic Division thanks largely to Jason LaBarbera (34-16-4-1, 2.23 GAA, league-high seven shutouts), a leading candidate to win the AHL MVP award. The Monarchs have several players on recall to Los Angeles who will return for the playoffs. Top offensive threats are Matt Moulson (20, 26), Marty Murray (11, 30) and Gabe Gauthier (13, 22). It's Guaranteed Win Night, so if the Pack lose, fans can redeem their ticket stub for Wednesday's game against Portland.
Sunday, at Manchester, 4:05 p.m.: The Monarchs are 23-8-4-0 at the Verizon Wireless Center, including 2-1 against the Pack.
Wednesday, Portland, 7 p.m.: The Pack are 5-1 against the defending Atlantic Division champions, who won 3-0 at Manchester Wednesday behind the first pro shutout of David McKee, one of many new faces since the Pirates last played the Pack Jan. 19. The Pirates (32-27-3-9), five points out of the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, are led by All-Star Joe Motzko (25, 33) and Mark Hartigan (27, 28), who were acquired at the trade deadline.
