The Vegas Golden Knights have entered into an ECHL partnership with Quad City.
Just two weeks ago the Vegas Golden Knights named the Chicago Wolves their AHL affiliate. The team made it clear they will have full control of operations even while sharing with the Blues prospect pool. And now with an ECHL affiliate in place, the Golden Knights minor league system is set.
The Quad City Mallards have entered into a multi-year agreement to serve as the ECHL affiliate to the Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Wolves. The Golden Knights will be able to transfer players of their property to Chicago and now Quad City. Another successful day for the Golden Knights franchise.
So it appears that the Golden Knights minor league system is all squared away. The Golden Knights will be the big club while the Wolves and now the Quad City Mallards will serve as the Junior Varsity squads.
Now let’s talk about the Quad City Mallards. The Mallards are based in a little town in Illinois called Moline. The three other cities in the Quad City district are Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf. It’s good to know that the Mallards and Wolves are so close to each other so it shouldn’t be an issue calling players up and down.
One person that’s excited for the partnership with Quad City is Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee. He had nothing but good things to say, check out his response:
“We are excited to add the ECHL’s Quad City Mallards as an affiliate.”—George McPhee
— 🏆 - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 1, 2017
“We believe that between the Mallards & our AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, our players will effectively develop.”—McPhee
— 🏆 - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 1, 2017
From a Quad City Mallards perspective, they will keep their current Head Coach Phil Axtell and all of their hockey operations staff. It looks as if Mallards President and General Manager Bob McNamara is also very excited about the near future.
"“I am very familiar with people in both organizations, so I am confident this affiliation will be a great fit for the Mallards. “We’re very excited to have the unique opportunity to work with the Golden Knights from day one and equally thrilled to affiliate with one of the AHL’s flagship franchises in the Wolves.”-Bob McNamara"
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With the minor league system finally taken care of, the Golden Knights will be hard at work over the next few months. Not only to fill their own NHL roster but their AHL and ECHL rosters as well. Busy times are coming for the NHL’s newest franchise.