Devils agree to five years in Albany

Sources inform the Albany Times Union and Schenectady Daily Gazette that the New Jersey Devils have agreed to relocate the team's AHL franchise to Albany next season.

Albany, Devils close to agreement

Sources tell the Troy Record a deal to bring the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils back to Albany is close to being inked. 

UPDATE: Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello says the report is not true and the team's first priority is to stay in Lowell. Read more at Fire & Ice. 

UPDATE: The Troy Record covers the latest. 

New Jersey Devils' AHL team courted

Fans last night were hoping for a wee bit of Irish luck when it comes to keeping AHL hockey in Albany next season. The Albany Times Union has the latest. 

TUC offers Devils 10-year contract

Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber chats with the Albany Business Review about the prospect of the Lowell Devils relocating to the Capital District. 

Pirates out, Devils in

After weeks of back-and-fourth negotiations, officials from the Times Union Center and the Portland Pirates have ended talks to relocate the franchise to Albany. 

The arena is reportedly now in discussions to move the farm team of the New Jersey Devils back to the Capital District. 

Bob Belber, general manager of the Times Union Center, said today he hopes to have a deal finalized with an AHL team within the next two weeks. 

Read more at the Albany Times Union.

Pirates back at the table in Portland

Over the past week we were told an announcement regarding the relocation of the Portland Pirates was imminent, but today the Portland Press Herald reports that managing owner Brian Petrovek is back at the negotiating table with the Cumberland County Civic Center. We hope to hear more this weekend. 

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates' negotiations nearing an end, WCSH6 Portland
  
• New offer, but still no deal for the Pirates, Portland Press Herald
  
• Pirates push for rights to more revenue, Portland Press Herald
  
• Why Albany? Location, location, location, Portland Press Herald
• Pirates: Civic center deal 'highly unlikely', CMSB Media
• Audio: CCCC Board of Trustees press conference, CMSB Media
• Pirates' statement regarding lease negotiations, PortlandPirates.com
  

Report: Negotiation tactics revealed

The Central Maine Sports Blog, a reputable online publication covering sports in Maine, offers a revealing inside account and perspective of the negotiations between the Times Union Center and the Portland Pirates. 

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates have deal in principle w/ Times Union Center, CMSB Media
  
• GM: Deal close for new team, Albany Times Union
  
• Pirates owner: 'No deal with Albany', Portland Press Herald
  
• Portland CEO denies deal with Albany, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Civic center pushes to keep Pirates revenue, Mainebiz
  
• Despite reports, Pirates say no deal with Albany, Maine Hockey Journal
• Rumors continue to swirl about Pirates' move to Albany, WMTV-8 Portland

Deal inching closer

A deal to bring a new AHL franchise to Albany could be signed in the next 7-10 days and may be officially announced on March 10th. Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the story.

Arena GM: AHL deal 'potentially close'

Times Union Center General Manager Bob Belber tells the Albany Times Union that a deal to bring a new AHL team to the city could be in place by the first week of March. 

Pirates' owner talks about the future

Managing owner of the Portland Pirates Brian Petrovek sits down with Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union to discuss the possibility of the franchise relocating to the Capital District. Read the full interview here. 

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates' future in Portland uncertain, FOX 23 Portland
  
• Schumer wants Pirates to skate their way to Albany, Buffalo News
  
• Misinformation can cause more harm than good, LetsGoSabres.com
  
• Senator Collins releases statement on Portland Pirates' relocation rumors, Maine Hockey Journal
  
• Pirates moving is becoming political, Maine Hockey Journal
  
• AHL affiliation changes coming, SportsTalkBuzz.com

(A source with an inside track tells us a deal is close to being completed!)

Senator Schumer wants AHL in Albany

Senator Charles Schumer has joined the fight to keep AHL hockey in Albany. Go to the Albany Times Union to read more. 

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Portland owner denies team moving to Albany, Troy Record
  
• Portland CEO won't discuss Albany move, Albany Times Union
  
• Portland Pirates: 'We're not looking for alternatives', WCSH-6
  
• Pirates keep move to Albany an option, Buffalo News
  
• Pirates owner insists team committed to Portland, MPBN
  

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates may ship to Albany, Albany Times Union
  
• AHL deal not on hold, but could take awhile: arena GM, Albany Times Union 
  
• Large turnouts this month could help keep AHL hockey here, Albany Times Union
  
• River Rats players, coaches ponder move to North Carolina, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Fans react to River Rats' departure, WTEN-10
  

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Letter from President and CEO Garen Szablewski, AlbanyRiverRats.com
• Arena GM: New team could be in place by Thursday, Albany Times Union
  
• River Rats sold; Albany closing in on new team, Troy Record
  
• Replacement sought after team sale, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Departing Rats will always have Albany, Albany Times Union
• Former Rats react to move to Charlotte, Raleigh News & Observer
• River Rats on the way out of town, Saratogian
  
• Rats officially sold, FOX 23
  
• Rats' departure likely to send a dozen seeking new jobs, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats show the risk of hockey in Albany, Albany Times Union
  
• 'Let's go Rats' or let go of 'Rats', Albany Times Union

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• River Rats to be sold, relocating to N.C., Albany Business Review
  
• Getting ready to replace the Rats, Albany Times Union
  
• Szablewski: 'Better than 50-50 chance' of AHL in Albany, Albany Times Union
• No matter what, it's a sad day for River Rats fans, Albany Times Union
  
• 'River Rats' moniker won't follow show to Charlotte, Albany Times Union
• Rats sale confirmed, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Times Union Center searching for replacement for River Rats, Schenectady Daily Gazette
  
• Capital District Sports announces River Rats sale, Capital District Sports

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Rats to Charlotte a done deal, Troy Record
  
• River Rats uncertain future looks more certain, WTEN-10
• River Rats sale could become official, Albany Times Union
  
• Future of River Rats questioned again, FOX 23
  
• Billy Fuccillo looking to own AHL team, WNYT-13
• News Wednesday on Rats future?, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Report: River Rats sold, Game Misconduct Hockey
  
• Confirmed: Rats moving to Charlotte, WSOC-TV

Source: Sale of Rats to be announced Wednesday

From WNYT 13:

ALBANY - The future of the AHL hockey in Albany is in question now more than ever.

NewsChannel 13 has learned that a news conference is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte for a major hockey announcement.

A couple of weeks ago a North Carolina newspaper reported that the sale of the Albany River Rats to a group in North Carolina was imminent.

A source tells NewsChannel 13 that the news conference will announce the sale has been finalized.

That means that when the season ends, the River Rats in their current form will no longer exist.

UPDATE: NewsChannel 13 has also learned that car dealership owner Billy Fuccillo is looking to buy the New York Islanders' AHL team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and move them from Bridgeport, Conn. to Albany.