Rangers and Flyers (aka Effers) Share ECHL Affiliate Greenville Road Warriors – Ewww, the Whole Thing Feels a Bit Dirty

The New York Rangers had to shop for a new ECHL minor league affiliate as their old affiliate Charlotte Checkers moved up to the AHL as the affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. They have come to terms with the Greenville Road Warriors who were formerly the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL.

On August 12th the Greenville Road Warriors announced they have entered into an affiliation with the Rangers:

"We are all very happy and proud to be the ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers," said Neil Smith, Road Warriors owner and president. "Glen Sather and Jim Schoenfeld are committed to player development and we will work hard to develop future Rangers here in Greenville."

On August 16th the Road Warriors announced they have entered into an affiliation with the Flyers (aka Effers):

"To be affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers and Adirondack Phantoms will greatly enhance what it means to be a member of the Greenville Road Warriors,” said Road Warriors president and general manager Neil Smith. “The Flyers are committed to winning at every level. We hope to help them with that commitment by developing their future AHL and NHL players.”

Do you see how "The Flyers (aka Effers) are committed to winning at every level.” Where was that in the Rangers’ announcement? The whole thing feels dirty, sharing anything with the Effers. Maybe Neil Smith and Glen Sather aren’t exactly pals as Sather replaced Smith as GM of the Blueshirts in 2000. Sather once ripped Smith by saying if he had the Rangers’ money he’d win the Stanley Cup every year in the pre-salary cap years.