<P> The AHL's only alignment change was moving the Charlotte Checkers from the Central Division of the Western Conference to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, significantly decreasing their interdivisional travel and balancing the two conferences' members . Similar to the season scheduling in the previous season, the six California and Arizona based teams continued to have a 68 - game season while the rest of the AHL teams play a 76 - game season . </P> <P> The National Hockey League added the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2017--18 season . The Las Vegas management confirmed that the organization would also have an AHL affiliate in their first season, although it was not stated whether the AHL team would be an expansion or relocation . The organization looked into adding an affiliate on the West Coast with the leading candidates being Salt Lake City, Reno, or Fresno . However, as the season went on, they looked into co-affiliations with a pre-existing AHL team since the new NHL team would likely not have a large amount of drafted talent to fully stock an AHL roster . In February 2017, AHL commissioner David Andrews later stated that it was "50 - 50 chance" of a 31st team for the 2017--18 season . </P> <P> Other than the Golden Knights adding a team, there were also reports of the St. Louis Blues adding an expansion team in Kansas City in November 2016 . This would later be denied by the announced potential owner in Kansas City, Lamar Hunt Jr., in a press release from his ECHL team in the area, the Missouri Mavericks, and further denied by AHL commissioner, David Andrews, after the January 2017 Board of Governors meeting . In May 2017, the 30 team alignment was confirmed and there would be no expansion for 2017--18 . The Golden Knights signed a multi-year affiliation with the Chicago Wolves, replacing the Blues as their primary affiliate . The Blues also announced that they would continue to send players to the Wolves for that season, as well as to the San Antonio Rampage, the AHL team that they would affiliate with for 2018--19 . </P> <P> The league confirmed after the 2017 Board of Governors meeting that it had made a commitment to an expansion applicant for a 31st team for the 2018--19 season later revealed to be the Colorado Eagles . The Eagles had been a member of the ECHL prior to the promotion and the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche . The Eagles join other recent ECHL markets in the AHL such as Bakersfield, Charlotte, Ontario, and Stockton . </P>

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