Quote:
Originally Posted by erikthered
I would love that, too, but I'm curious as to how players' rights/NHL contracts would be handled. Let's say the Hurricanes send a player to the Checkers, and then the Checkers get promoted. Would players contracted to the Hurricanes be allowed to play for the Checkers in the NHL? Would the Hurricanes have any options to "call-up" players from the Checkers during the season? Would they get a different AHL affiliate? Would there be some sort of exclusive loan option?
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Promotion/relegation of necessity means all the clubs in all the leagues are effectively independent organizations. The lower-tier league's teams are not minor league clubs of the higher tier teams, at least, not in any league where the team can be eventually promoted to the top tier.