West Valley City • When the Utah Grizzlies were affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks, there wasn’t much movement of players between the parent club’s two minor league teams.
The Ducks mainly brought players up from their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, or sent them down. The Ducks’ Utah players, meanwhile, largely stayed with the Grizzlies and didn’t have much of opportunity to play themselves up to a higher level.
But since the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche joined forces with the Grizzlies, things have changed. The Avalanche sign many more players than the Ducks do, coach Tim Branham said, which makes it possible for more movement throughthe ranks.