On May 30th, the New York Rangers announced the dissolution of their ECHL affiliation with the Cincinnati Cyclones and the formation of a new collaboration with the Bloomington Bisons. This shift comes after a one-year partnership between New York and the Cyclones. As a result of this move, numerous NHL teams, including Utah, Columbus, Carolina, Toronto, and St. Louis, will have the possibility to form a partnership with the Cyclones. Due to the departure of the Newfoundland Growlers, Toronto now need an ECHL affiliate, and it appears that the ECHL will have a total of 29 teams by next season. In my opinion, however, this is an excellent time for three Ohio hockey clubs to finally join forces.

The Cleveland Monsters, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Cincinnati Cyclones are all located along I-71, making it easy for players to move between the AHL (Cleveland) and the ECHL (Cincinnati). Fans have long hoped that bringing these teams together will benefit everyone involved. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ recent change of affiliation from the Kalamazoo Wings gives an interesting opportunity. Having a solid ECHL affiliate is critical for player development and roster versatility. A three-team system in the same state makes practical sense, and I believe Columbus management should seriously consider partnering with Cincinnati.

With the recent appointment of Don Waddell as the new GM in Columbus, there may be a focus on other personnel matters. However, passing up this opportunity would be frustrating to all three fan bases. I hope the Columbus Blue Jackets take advantage of this opportunity to bring together Ohio’s hockey clubs. Furthermore, the Blue Jackets are likely to make significant roster changes this summer, with several fresh prospects entering the system, and having an ECHL team in place would be critical.

The Cleveland Monsters have recently dominated the AHL North Division, but they are currently down 1-0 in the AHL Eastern Conference Finals to the Hershey Bears. The Monsters have a talented roster, and any players who do not make the cut can travel to Cincinnati to hone their abilities if this scenario occurs. Many Monsters players are expected to step up to the NHL to compete for full-time roster berths. Jet Greaves, for example, played a lot for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. Furthermore, several defensemen and forwards were called up to the Blue Jackets last season because to their difficult season, and this experience has greatly aided their development.

The Cyclones struggled last season, finishing with a 31-34-7 record, placing them sixth in the Central Division and missing the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2016-2017 season. However, the club boasts a brilliant youthful core that shows great potential for the future. Next season, they are expected to return stronger and be a serious force in the Central Division. As the NHL Affiliate extension is pending, it is unclear which players will return or move up to the AHL, but there is a lot of interest in their prospective transfers.