Hockey fans critical of the Abbotsford Heat's affiliation with the Calgary Flames are again touting the idea that the Vancouver Canucks should move their AHL affiliate to Abbotsford.

The fervour began Thursday after a report surfaced that a deal had been agreed upon to move the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg and could be officially announced as early as today.

The report, however, has many skeptics and there has been no confirmation a deal is in place.

If the Thrashers do move to Winnipeg, the American Hockey League would be ousted from Manitoba.

This has prompted the question: What happens to the Canucks farm team?

Given the geography, it seems the easy solution would be to bring it to Abbotsford; however the local ownership group and the Flames still have another seven years left on their 10-year supply fee agreement after July 30, which was agreed upon in April 2009.

It's not impossible for the Canucks affiliate to come to Abbotsford.

The Vancouver NHL team would have to buy the rights from Calgary.

In March, Flames CEO and president Ken King dismissed the notion that will happen.