A partnership that always seemed to make sense has finally returned, as the Florida Panthers and Florida Everblades of the ECHL have signed a multi-year affiliation agreement. The deal brings the clubs back together for the first time since 2010 and comes on the heels of a Kelly Cup championship from the minor league club.
Brett Peterson, assistant general manager of the Panthers, released a statement:
We are pleased to announce a new affiliation with the Florida Everblades. We want to thank the Swamp Rabbits for two great seasons and look forward to beginning a new partnership just down the road in Estero, Fla. We look forward to the development of our young players in Florida and many opportunities together with this new pipeline plan.
As Peterson references, this will be the end of the Panthers’ agreement with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who will now have to find a new NHL partner. Perhaps that could be the Nashville Predators, who were previously affiliated with the Everblades before this change.
The ECHL club took home the league championship this season, winning the Kelly Cup for the second time. An exceptionally consistent organization, they have made the postseason in 23 of 24 years, and gone to the finals five different times.
The only championship team within the Preds organization is now gone. Boo! :(
Love those jersey’s!
@Gbear – Maybe GMDP is doing this to spite the two of us. :(
Rumor is he has a home near where the Everblades play. All I know is it’s a darn shame. :(
Booooo Everblades. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Orlando Solar Bears were much better choices but they screwed that up lol.