By BRUCE BERLET, Courant Staff Writer
A deal between a group headed by Hartford real estate developer Larry Gottesdiener and Madison Square Garden that would keep the Wolf Pack in Hartford is expected to be announced Tuesday, according to sources.
The AHL spring meeting ended with the board of governors unanimously approving the relocation of the franchise owned by the Calgary Flames from Omaha, Neb., to Moline, Ill. The team will be renamed the Quad City Flames.
No other action was taken, but the league announced that Quad City is one of 29 AHL teams active for next season. Spokespersons for Gottesdiener and MSG said talks on a multiyear deal continue to progress. The announcement is expected to be at the Civic Center, which MSG will no longer run after 10 years. Gottesdiener's Northland Investment Corp. and AEG Facilities will take over management of the building.
AHL vice president of communications Jason Chaimovitch said the Calgary franchise transfer was the only item on the board of governors' agenda. No other team is expected to relocate or suspend operations. The Rangers, owned by MSG, would have the Wolf Pack remain as their top affiliate in partnership with Gottesdiener.
"We didn't get any notification from the other 28 teams that they're moving," Chaimovitch said. "It's incumbent on [Gottesdiener and MSG] to strike any deal they need in order to play, but we're moving forward with division realignment and scheduling and have no reason to believe there's not going to be a team in Hartford next season. As of now, we have the 27 teams we had this season, plus Rockford [Ill.] and Cleveland."
Quad City is expected to take Omaha's spot in the West Division, which will add Rockford as an eighth team. Cleveland will join the North Division. The Wolf Pack will remain in the seven-team Atlantic Division. Bridgeport stays in the East Division.
