For the vast majority of players in the NHL, they're going to need a stop playing within the farm system of the club that either drafted or signed them. Some will get their start in the ECHL, the premier "AA" hockey circuit, while many will spends some time in the American Hockey League, the last step for most players before they realize their NHL dreams.

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After a player is drafted or signed graduates from either junior hockey or college hockey, or a player has spent the bulk of his career in Europe, the ECHL and AHL serve as vital development arms to help prepare players for what's to come in the NHL. The AHL has been one of the top professional circuits in North America since its inception in 1936, while the ECHL, which was formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League but now just goes by its acronym, has helped develop pro players since 1988-89. 

Both leagues span North America, with 32 AHL teams mirroring the 32 in the NHL. The ECHL has 29 teams. Each AHL team is affiliated with an NHL team as are all 29 in the ECHL.

Here is the break down of each affiliate for each of the 32 NHL teams.

Anaheim Ducks Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: San Diego Gulls
• ECHL: Tulsa Oilers

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 

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: Savannah Ghost Pirates

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: Bloomington Bison

Ottawa Senators Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Belleville Senators 

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
• ECHL: Florida Everblades

Tampa Bay Lightning Minor League Affiliate  

• AHL: Syracuse Crunch
• ECHL: Orlando Solar Bears

Toronto Maple Leafs Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Toronto Marlies 
• ECHL: Cincinnati Cyclones

Utah Hockey Club Minor League Affiliate

• AHL: Tuscon Roadrunners
• ECHL: Allen Americans

Vancouver Canucks Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Abbotsford Canucks
• ECHL: Kalamazoo Wings

Las Vegas Golden Knights Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Henderson Silver Knights
• ECHL: Tahoe Knight Monsters

Washington Capitals Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Hershey Bears 
• ECHL: South Carolina Stingrays 

Winnipeg Jets Minor League Affiliate 

• AHL: Manitoba Moose 
• ECHL: Norfolk Admirals

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