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Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Avalanche play musical chairs with AHL affiliates

Brendan McDermid / Reuters

Round and round we go.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche have all reached agreements with new AHL affiliates.

Columbus has announced a multi-year agreement with Lake Erie, formerly the AHL affiliate of the Avalanche. 

Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson is excited about the team's new farm club.

“The Blue Jackets couldn't be more excited and proud to have the Lake Erie Monsters as our American Hockey League affiliate,” Davidson said. “Both organizations are committed to winning and providing a great experience for hockey fans and we believe Cleveland, whose hockey roots date to the late-1920s, is the perfect place for our young players to grow, develop and have great success. 

"Our sport has grown tremendously throughout the state of Ohio in recent years and we believe this partnership between two great hockey markets will allow us to continue that growth.”

Colorado will turn to San Antonio as its new AHL affiliate club. The Rampage formerly served as the minor-league offshoot of the Florida Panthers, who in March took on the Portland Pirates as their new affiliate.

In signing an agreement with Lake Erie, the Blue Jackets left Springfield without an NHL partner - a void quickly filled by the Coyotes

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