The Nashville Predators have officially terminated their ECHL affiliation agreement with the Norfolk Admirals. This news comes on the back of a few roster moves that were head scratchers. There is no longer a mystery as to why Rick Pinkston and Matt O’Connor are Atlanta Gladiators bound. This partnership, which was announced in early-May and is two months into its course during the 2017-18 season, is over.
Press Release via Norfolk Admirals:
NORFOLK, VA. – The ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals today announced the organization is no longer affiliated with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League and the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. The team will remain in Norfolk and continue to have a strong presence in the community.
“The affiliation change announced today does not affect the normal daily operations of the team or the Admirals’ organization as a whole, but is a sign of the commitment this organization has to do whatever it takes to ensure the team’s success here in Hampton Roads,” said Chief Revenue Officer Trent Ferguson. “The only thing that drives our business and team decisions is our continued mission to create a shining organization that this area can be proud of.”
The decision does not affect the status of Head Coach Robbie Ftorek and his staff.
The Admirals will continue the season on the road in Jacksonville with a pair of games on Thursday and Saturday against the Icemen.
What does this mean then for the Nashville Predators by way of their minor professional affiliates? Well, the best news, the Milwaukee Admirals as the partners in the AHL is still active and working tremendously well. As far as the bridge between the AHL and ECHL it would seem that Milwaukee could be utilizing Atlanta either for the time being or for the duration of the season. Time will tell how long that works for but those who could be in the ECHL are in Atlanta as of today.
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Admirals Roundtable 
Well that was fast.
It’s interesting how the affiliate agreement with Cincy seemed to end on a sour note and now this happens only two months into the season. It’d be quite interesting to know more, but I’m sure that will never happen.
“The only thing that drives our business and team decisions is our continued mission to create a shining organization that this area can be proud of.” That sounds like the Chicago Wolves organization. We want to win and everybody else can go jump in a lake.
How about “We will continue to strive for excellence and build up our team as part of the Predators organization.” That would be a better and less self serving statement.
Wow, you’re right. It does sound quite familiar to the spat between the Wolves and the Blues.
Short and sweet – the termination was connected to the prior dismissal of Michael Santos. He orchestrated the affiliation in the first place and they likely had little or no confidence once this immature ownership and their stooge Turd Ferguson made the idiotic decision to let Santos go – the only person in the front office who had any real hockey knowledge.