As the AHL heads to west coast, the schedule will shrink

An official announcement on the American Hockey League's new west-coast division/pod could come as soon as the All-Star break. It's coming, and it will be sooner than later.

But besides seeing at least four NHL teams pulling up stakes from the east and relocating development operations closer to home, the AHL schedule could end up dramatically shorter.

Like 10 games shorter, to 66 total. That's by no means official, but it has been bandied about. So, too, has 72 games.

AHL president Dave Andrews said in October that many NHL teams were pushing for a reduction in games played, and that some AHL owners also had suggested it. Few teams can sell mid-week games before Christmas.

The league currently uses a 28-week template for the 76-game schedule. Slicing the season to 72 games would quite likely be an easier compromise for independent AHL owners to accept, though the Hershey Bears, Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins very likely won't be in favor of any cutback.

The NHL, however, continues to push development, and some teams believe a reduction to 66 would provide optimum time for practice as well as recovery.

By comparison, the NHL plays 82 games, while Canada's major junior leagues play either 68 games (Ontario and Quebec Major) or 72 games (Western).

Approval by the board of governors (75 percent) is required for any schedule template change.

The vote very likely will take place at the board of governors meeting during the Jan. 25-26 AHL All-Star Classic in Utica/Verona.

So who's moving to the West Coast?

• The Edmonton Oilers are leaving Oklahoma City for Bakersfield, Calif. That's done.

• The Los Angeles Kings will be leaving Manchester, N.H., for Ontario, Calif. That's a foregone conclusion.

• The Anaheim Ducks will be buying the Norfolk franchise and relocating it, perhaps to San Diego (as reported by The Virginian-Pilot on Thursday http://hamptonroads.com/2015/01/sources-admirals-being-sold-will-leave-norfolk#).

• The San Jose Sharks will leave Worcester, Mass., for ... Good question. Sacramento, Fresno and Long Beach all have been rumored. Another possibility: having the AHL team play in the NHL rink, the SAP Center.

• The Calgary Flames are reportedly willing to leave Glens Falls (where they landed just this season) for Stockton, Calif.

• The Colorado Avalanche have a year remaining on their lease in Cleveland but they are almost sure to find somewhere in the Mountain or Pacific time zone for AHL operations by the 2016-17 season. The Avs don't own an AHL franchise (Dan Gilbert, owner of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, owns the Lake Erie Monsters). At some point the Columbus Blue Jackets will then gobble up a chance to have their AHL operations in their home state.

• The Arizona Coyotes need to go west as well. They probably spend at least $1.1 to $1.3 million a year just keeping two extra players on the NHL roster, since getting a body from Portland, Maine, to Glendale in an emergency on game day isn't conducive to on-ice productivity.

Andrews, in a statement from the league, said today, "While progress is being made, there remains much work to be done and there is still no timeline for the establishment of a Pacific Division. Rumors of potential franchise sales and/or relocations remain simply speculation."

Clearly the one constant is change.