So what happens after an NHL team drafts a player?

Well, it’s very likely that draft pick is sent to the minor leagues for more player development. 

The American Hockey League and the ECHL serve as important prospect development levels for young hockey players looking to debut in the NHL. Every NHL team has an affiliate team in the AHL. While ECHL teams aren’t required to have an affiliate NHL team, only four NHL teams are currently without an ECHL affiliate. 

That makes sense, though, since there are 32 NHL teams and only 28 ECHL teams and one of those teams was founded in 2022, the Savannah Ghost Pirates. 

The AHL is typically viewed as the highest-level of minor league hockey with many teams having the same ownership as their NHL affiliate and some NHL players are signed to two-way contracts, meaning they can be sent down to and called up from the AHL.

So which teams are associated with one another? Here’s a breakdown. 

Anaheim Ducks Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: San Diego Gulls
• ECHL: Tulsa Oilers

Arizona Coyotes Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Tucson Roadrunners

Boston Bruins Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Providence Bruins
• ECHL: Maine Mariners

Buffalo Sabres Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Rochester Americans
• ECHL: Jacksonville IceMen

Calgary Flames Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Calgary Wranglers
• ECHL: Rapid City Rush

Carolina Hurricanes Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Chicago Wolves 
• ECHL: Norfolk Admirals 

Chicago Blackhawks Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Rockford IceHogs
• ECHL: Indy Fuel

Colorado Avalanche Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Colorado Eagles
• ECHL: Utah Grizzlies 

Columbus Blue Jackets Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Cleveland Monsters

Dallas Stars Minor League Affiliate  

• AHL: Texas Stars
• ECHL: Idaho Steelheads 

Detroit Red Wings Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Grand Rapids Griffins 
• ECHL: Toledo Walleye

Edmonton Oilers Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Bakersfield Condors
• ECHL: Fort Wayne Komets 

Florida Panthers Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Charlotte Checkers 
• ECHL: Florida Everblades 

Los Angeles Kings Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Ontario Reign 
• ECHL: Greenville Swamp Rabbits 

Minnesota Wild Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Iowa Wild 
• ECHL: Iowa Heartlanders

Montreal Canadians Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Laval Rocket
• ECHL: Trois-Rivières Lions

Nashville Predators Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Milwaukee Admirals 
• ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators

New Jersey Devils Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Utica Comets
• ECHL: Adirondack Thunder 

New York Islanders Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Bridgeport Islanders
• ECHL: Worcester Railers

New York Rangers Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Hartford Wolf Pack 
• ECHL: Cincinnati Cyclones

Ottawa Senators Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Belleville Senators 
• ECHL: Allen Americans

Philadelphia Flyers Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• ECHL: Reading Royals

Pittsburgh Penguins Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 
• ECHL: Wheeling Nailers

San Jose Sharks Minor League Affiliate

• AHL: San Jose Barracuda
• ECHL: Wichita Thunder

Seattle Kraken Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Coachella Valley Firebirds
• ECHL: Kansas City Mavericks 

St. Louis Blues Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Springfield Thunderbirds

Tampa Bay Lightning Minor League Affiliate  

• AHL: Syracuse Crunch
• ECHL: Orlando Solar Bears

Toronto Maple Leafs Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Toronto Marlies 
• ECHL: Newfoundland Growlers

Vancouver Canucks Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Abbotsford Canucks
• ECHL: Kalamazoo Wings

Las Vegas Golden Knights Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Henderson Silver Knights
• ECHL: Savannah Ghost Pirates 

Washington Capitals Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Hershey Bears 
• ECHL: South Carolina Stingrays 

Winnipeg Jets Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Manitoba Moose