The Syracuse Crunch has declined to pick up its affiliation agreement option with the Anaheim Ducks for next season, possibly clearing the way for the AHL team to land a new parent club.

The Ducks-Crunch deal is in its second season. According to Syracuse owner Howard Dolgon, both sides had to agree to a provision that would have carried the deal an additional two years following this one.

Dolgon’s decision leaves the Crunch with two choices. It can negotiate a new deal with Anaheim that carries different terms than the current pact, or it can look for a new affiliate.

“We have not executed the option as it exists,” Dolgon said Wednesday afternoon. “At this point in time, we want to look out at what’s best for us. That option wasn’t the best for us. There’s a process we’re going through. There are things that need to be looked into further, and things that need to be finalized.”

Dolgon would not speculate whether the team is leaning toward renegotiating with Anaheim or switching parent clubs. If the Crunch goes for the latter, Tampa Bay is a strong candidate to be one of the NHL teams on Syracuse’s radar. The Lightning is currently paired with Norfolk of the AHL.

“There may be several deals out there,” Dolgon said of the potential NHL landscape. “Things always come up. It always seems to heat up.”

Anaheim General Manager Bob Murray told the Orange County Register that the opt-out didn't come as a surprise to him, and seemed to suggest the Ducks and Crunch are through as partners.

"This was not a surprise, we have known about this for quite some time,'' Murray told the paper. "We will have options for next year and are currently exploring the possibilities. We hope to have a strong finish to the season and certainly wish Syracuse well in the future.''

After hearing that quote, Dolgon stopped short of declaring a divorce final, however.

"I would not put that 100 percent,'' Dolgon said. "Nothing has been finalized from our end. We've made no announcement. We'd like to get something on our affiliation sooner rather than later.''

Syracuse has had three primary affiliates in its 18-year history: Vancouver (six years), Columbus (10) and Anaheim. The deal with the Ducks has been pockmarked with several issues, including a failure to make the AHL playoffs last season and what appears to be another postseason miss this year.

The biggest flashpoint came late last season, when the Ducks loaned forward Jason Jaffray to Manitoba instead of sending him to the Crunch because the Moose was willing to pick up some of his salary. Dolgon contended that his affiliation fee to Anaheim should require the Ducks to send all their minor leaguers to Syracuse and even fired off a statement of thinly veiled criticism toward Anaheim.

But Dolgon said he and Murray had constructive talks in the off-season and that the relationship is better this year.

“We don’t have any issues with them,” Dolgon said. “Whatever issues have existed last season, certainly we’ve addressed.”

Dolgon would not say whether Anaheim, too, wanted to opt out of the current deal. Murray could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.



Regardless of whom the Crunch partners with next season, the team will likely have an entirely new look. Dolgon said plans are in the works to revamp the team's jerseys, colors and perhaps even replace mascot "Al the Ice Gorilla.''



"We have some ideas of things we might want to do," Dolgon said. "What I eventually think is going to happen is going to be very well-received."



