Amid continuing speculation that the Canucks are in the process of moving their farm club to Abbotsford, Chicago Wolves GM Wendell Young is busy looking at his options and has already fielded inquiries from eight NHL clubs - including the St. Louis Blues - with regards to next season's affiliation.

The Canucks' two-year affiliation agreement with the AHL Wolves expires at the end of this season, and the NHL club has said only that it is keeping its options open.

This week another report surfaced regarding the Canucks' speculated move, this time with the NHL club purchasing the Peoria Rivermen and moving the franchise to Abbotsford. The ripple effect, said the report, would have the St. Louis Blues - who've been affiliated with Peoria - moving into an agreement with the Wolves. According to another report this week, St. Louis offered a tepid denial and speculated that Blues owner Tom Stillman may want to sell the AHL franchise as part of a cost-cutting initiative. Also, sharing an AHL operation with an independent, which pays for its own infrastructure such as the Wolves, is more cost effective.

Such a move might solve a problem for the City of Abbotsford, which signed a 10-year supply fee agreement, guaranteeing the Heat break-even revenue of $5.7 million annually - which has cost taxpayers $3.58 million over the past three seasons. Having the Canucks' prospects as a draw instead of the Flames' may tilt the business model into the black.

Of course, there are many moving parts in this scenario, not the least of which is persuading the Calgary Flames to leave their 10-year agreement with Abbotsford after four seasons and move their farm club to some other AHL affiliation - notably in Utica, N.Y.

The Flames, who denied the report, are reportedly happy with their situation in Abbotsford, however, with Calgary just an hour plane trip away.

"There's been no change (regarding Vancouver)," Young said.

Young admits he expects there is something to the rumours that the Canucks may be looking to move their farm team to Abbotsford, but says the relationship between the NHL club and the Wolves has been business as usual.

"I'll be coming to Vancouver on April 1 for meetings heading into the (NHL) trade deadline," he said.

"I've done this previously. It's just to have another voice in the room, someone else who's knowledgeable about the AHL."

But Young added: "If I didn't think there was any credibility to (the reports), I wouldn't be talking to other teams."

Abbotsford mayor Bruce Banman said he heard the same type of rumour at this time last year, but he knows nothing concrete about such a move currently.

"If would be exciting," said Banman.

"We've had a great relationship with Calgary. This team has made great inroads in the community here. But everyone in B.C. is a Canucks fan."

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