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Photo by Joe Lovell
\nThe Wheeling Nailers’ Taylor Gauthier defends the net Wednesday during the Nailers’ Eastern Conference Finals game against the Florida Everblades inside WesBanco Arena.<\/p>\n
WHEELING \u2014 For nearly three decades, the Wheeling Nailers and Pittsburgh Penguins have shared one of the longest-running affiliations in professional hockey. Now, that relationship appears to be in doubt.<\/p>\n
The uncertainty surfaced Thursday when David Hoffmann, founder and chairman of the Hoffmann Family of Companies and the new principal owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, indicated the organization intends to make the ECHL\u2019s Florida Everblades its affiliate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they would run me out of Naples if they\u2019re not,\u201d Hoffmann said Thursday as he sat down with Pittsburgh media. \u201cWe already have people wearing Penguins jerseys at our games, so I think the high expectation level is that\u2019s going to happen. And we want to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hoffmann Family of Companies officially completed its purchase of the Penguins this week in a transaction widely reported to be worth approximately $1.7 billion. In addition to owning the NHL franchise, the family also owns the Florida Everblades, creating the possibility of bringing the Penguins\u2019 entire developmental system under the same ownership umbrella.<\/p>\n
Geoff Hoffmann, David Hoffmann\u2019s son, told reporters the organization plans to retain ownership of the Everblades and expects to have more clarity on its ECHL plans \u201cin the next couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Nailers, however, the comments have left the future uncertain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have not received any direct correspondence from the Pittsburgh Penguins in regard to our affiliation agreement,\u201d Brian Komorowski, president and governor of the Wheeling Nailers, said in a statement Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Penguins have been affiliated with the Nailers since February 1998, a partnership that has become one of the longest active NHL-ECHL affiliations.<\/p>\n
The relationship developed shortly after the NHL awarded Columbus an expansion franchise on June 25, 1997. Although the Blue Jackets did not begin play until the 2000-01 season, the Penguins moved quickly to establish a stronger presence in the Ohio Valley by making Wheeling their ECHL affiliate in 1998.<\/p>\n
Many longtime observers viewed the move as an effort to strengthen Pittsburgh\u2019s foothold in the Wheeling market before Columbus entered the NHL just two hours west along Interstate 70.<\/p>\n
As the Blue Jackets prepared to begin play, the Penguins further increased their visibility in Wheeling. Alain Lemieux, brother of Penguins legend and then-part owner Mario Lemieux, was hired as the Nailers\u2019 head coach and director of hockey operations for the 2000-01 season. Penguins general manager Craig Patrick and longtime executive\/coach Eddie Johnston also became familiar faces at WesBanco Arena during that era as Pittsburgh invested heavily in its ECHL affiliate.<\/p>\n
Before joining forces with Pittsburgh, the Nailers served as the ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.<\/p>\n
The proximity between Wheeling and Pittsburgh has long been considered one of the affiliation\u2019s greatest advantages. Located less than 60 miles apart, players can be recalled quickly when injuries arise.<\/p>\n
That convenience was on display this past season when Wheeling goaltender Taylor Gauthier, the ECHL Goaltender of the Year, received a same-day call-up after the Penguins suddenly needed emergency goaltending depth on Easter Sunday.<\/p>\n
A move to Florida would dramatically change that dynamic. Estero, home of the Everblades, is nearly 1,200 miles from Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
Ironically, the Everblades were also responsible for ending Wheeling\u2019s best season in years.<\/p>\n
Florida eliminated the Nailers in five games during the Eastern Conference Finals before advancing to the Kelly Cup Finals. The Everblades eventually captured another conference championship after defeating a Wheeling team that finished the regular season with a 46-20 record under first-year head coach Ryan Papaioannou.<\/p>\n
Should the Penguins end their affiliation with Wheeling, the Nailers would become one of several ECHL clubs searching for a new NHL partner. At the same time, a few NHL teams \u2014 including the Columbus Blue Jackets \u2014 currently do not have ECHL affiliates.<\/p>\n
For now, however, the future remains uncertain.<\/p>\n
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