Unfortunately, the 2017/18 season wasn’t just disappointing as far as the NHL and AHL went in the Montreal Canadiens organization. The Brampton Beast, their ECHL affiliate, had a bad year after having made the playoffs the season before finishing last in the North Division. It was tough to see considering the optimism from a renewed affiliation, but that’s the way things played out.
The thing is though, the ECHL, in many ways, is a developmental league as well. The Montreal Canadiens can have players in Brampton which allows them to grow and at the same time strengthens the team.