Osminator
Registered User
I really don't think poor performance at the ECHL-level indicates anything about the state of the organization. I mean, some NHL orgs don't even have an ECHL affiliate. The best thing ECHL teams usually get from their affiliates is their goaltender. If there are good young players with an NHL or AHL contract on an ECHL roster, they don't stay in the ECHL for long.
IIRC, the only Rangers/Pack contracted players that started the year in Maine were Halverson, Nell, Melanson, and Salvaggio. Once the season was underway, and Day, Ronning, and Gropp (and also Leedahl and Pedrie), were sent down for stints, the Mariners looked like worldbeaters.
Trickle down effect... not bottom-up of course.
Can't remember where I read this a while ago, but some GM viewed their ECHL team as a direct extension of their AHL farm team with a full dedication to develop players in that league too. Of course had Maine made the playoffs, it wouldn't have meant anything to the NYR organization.