Overview
- A multi-year affiliation announced Monday between the Minnesota Wild and Jacksonville Icemen will place the NHL club’s ECHL prospects in Florida starting in 2026–27.
- The deal ends Jacksonville’s three-year partnership with the Buffalo Sabres and their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
- Minnesota sought a new ECHL home after the Iowa Heartlanders received league approval in March to suspend operations for 2026–27.
- Team leaders expect more NHL- and AHL-contracted players and visiting development staff in Jacksonville, which has led the ECHL in sellouts at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
- The agreement maintains the Wild’s NHL–AHL–ECHL pipeline as the ECHL realigns for next season with Utah moving to Trenton and a new expansion team set for New Mexico.