How does minor league hockey affailations work?

KevinWCP: How does minor league hockey affailations work?
How does minor league hockey affailations work? I know the NHL has a deal with the AHL, but can’t AHL teams sign and release players independentally as well? And are ECHL teams affailaited with the NHL, AHL, both, or independent? And what about lower level teams and leagues?

Answers and Views:

Answer by d0zer ————– GO WINGS
Each NHL hockey team has an affiliate team in the AHL. The NHL may also have affiliate teams in other minor professional leagues such as the ECHL, IHL, and CHL.

The AHL is the most highly-ranked minor league. The ECHL, IHL, and CHL are on the next tier below and act as feeders to the AHL, with the ECHL being the greatest of the three “equals” due to its more official ties to the NHL. The IHL would be considered second to the ECHL and slightly above the CHL due to higher allowance of veteran players and a higher salary cap. The SPHL in turn is a feeder to the ECHL, IHL and CHL. This tier is followed by several lower-grade and semi-pro leagues.

AHL – American Hockey League
CHL – Central Hockey League
IHL – International Hockey League
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
SPHL – Southern Professional Hockey League

Lower levels of hockey would include the Semi-Pro teams (LCH, PDHL) and Junior Teams. The Junior Teams are seperated into 6 categories, Major Junior, Juinor A, Junior B, Junior C, Junior D, and Junior Development. The most widely known Junior Hockey Leagues include the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL, which are all goverened by the CHL (Canadian Hockey League). Another level of hockey is college hockey, or NCAA hockey.