How would you compare/contrast and ?
The ECHL and AHL are both important pro leagues in the North American hockey landscape. The ECHL, while competitive, is generally considered a developmental pro league that serves as a stepping stone for players aspiring to reach the AHL and NHL. The AHL is recognized as the top farm system (affiliate) for the NHL, showcasing a bit higher caliber of talent and a faster pace of play. Head to head, the AHL is obviously the stronger league in terms of overall skill and proximity to the NHL, but both leagues have direct NHL affiliations and they continue to get stronger each passing season due to the high quality of players in each league.
Our team has scouted hundreds of games in both leagues so our analysis is based on this first-hand experience. In addition for this blog, we also spoke with a number of current and former players and staff members in each of the two leagues for additional insights.
