The model of one AHL team per NHL parent team is a good idea. It breaks down when you have a private owner and a team not controlled by its NHL partner. Player development suffers. The AHL would be better if they had 32 teams plus Chicago doing its own thing. Maybe just jettison the Wolves into the sun then.
The problem isn’t independent owners owning AHL teams. A lot of teams operate that way, including the Thunderbirds. The problem is specifically the Neanderthals owning and managing the Wolves. Every other AHL owner gets how it works. You scratch my back and I scratch yours.
Then you have this guy that complains how the Canes don’t develop their players. During an interview one period into the first game I might add! Like, does he seriously not get that’s the job of the Wolves?? Carolina supplies the players, pays their contracts (except for the ones on AHL only deals) and you develop the players and make whatever money you can on tickets. He and Wendell Young are simply insane IMO.
I’d be all for the AHL finding some loophole to take the Wolves away from these guys. Sort of like they did when they took away the team from the owners of the Iowa Stars/Iowa Chops in Des Moines about a decade ago. That said, there was no loophole there. The owners there violated the #1 rule of the league - they took out a loan and put the team down as collateral. Can’t do that. They were in way over their heads.
This forced marriage between the Wolves and Canes is going to get UGLY.