NHL-AHL affiliation agreements are difficult to understand at the best of times and the agreement between the Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins is no different. In the end, the AHL is the top minor league in the world, a separate entity running a business and looking for profits just like the NHL.
But they are still a developmental league as well.
Boston is responsible for appointing (and paying) the general manager and coaches, in this case Evan Gold and Ryan Mougenel along with his assistants. They appoint (and pay) the developmental staff such as Mike Dunham and Adam McQuaid.
The reason is simple: It is so that Providence and Boston are on the same page and that everyone is prepared to play the way Boston Coach Jim Montgomery wants them to play should they be required to “come up” and play in Boston in the event of injuries.
But it goes beyond that. Without an affiliation agreement there will be chaos and confusion. Look no further than the summer of 2023 when the Chicago Wolves decided to go independent and leaving the Carolina Hurricanes without an AHL affiliate.
The decision by the Wolves left the Hurricanes scrambling to find a home for about 15 players under contract. A few of them were loaned back to European and Russian teams but the Canes were left scrambling and asking other NHL teams to allow them to loan others to their respective AHL affiliates. Now, those players aren’t learning the Canes system but those of other NHL teams.
But it goes even deeper. Without any place to play, the Canes had to walk away from all their prospects they had to sign this summer or lose their rights except for one; Justin Robidas. That itself was a huge blow.
Back to the Bruins.
Providence isn’t just a place to stash prospects to further develop. Boston will bring in veterans on NHL contracts, either one-way or two-way contracts and at their expense to help bring the younger players along and to show them the right way of doing things both on and off the ice. They will also bring in AHL vets under AHL contracts such as Justin Brazeau (at Providence’s expense) to do the same.
That doesn’t always lead to prime opportunities for Boston’s own prospects. The Bruins have created a culture that is the envy around the league. You’ve often heard players talk about hearing what it’s like and then get to Boston and are still amazed by it. James van Riemsdyk is the latest to talk about it. And it’s great that the prospects can begin to learn it at the AHL level.
Providence can offer things to a player’s development that Boston can’t. More one-on-one coaching. More time with the development staff such as skills or skating coaches. More video work. More practice time. And yes, even allowing them to sit for a game or two to watch and learn.
Some players just have it and catch on quickly. Others need more of that individual time to development or fine tune their game. And then there are others that just don’t make it. As the old saying goes, “not every player develops at the same pace.” Which is why the Boston-Providence affiliation exists.
And I trust the Bruins to make the right choices.
Dom - Hockey 