The Colorado Avalanche are parting ways with their AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters. The two teams have been affiliated since Lake Erie started playing in the AHL in the 2007-08 season.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Columbus Blue Jackets are taking over the affiliation with the Lake Erie Monsters starting with the 2015-16 season. Lake Erie, near Cleveland, is much closer to Columbus than their past affiliate in Springfield, MA. Indeed, it’s apparently only a 2.5-hour drive between Cleveland and Columbus.
The move now has been for NHL teams to be closer to their AHL affiliates.