The Wheeling Nailers have agreed to a two-year affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL and the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, a deal that will take effect for the 2026-27 season.
A Strategic Alliance for Ohio Hockey
Both the Blue Jackets and the Monsters bring recent success to the partnership; the Blue Jackets are completing their 26th NHL season after back-to-back 40-win campaigns, while the Monsters, in their 20th year, have reached the Calder Cup playoffs three times in a row.
The proximity of Wheeling to the two Ohio cities — about 128 miles from Columbus and 166 miles from Cleveland — creates a logistical advantage for player movement and reduces travel costs, a factor that was highlighted as a key reason for the affiliation.
The Nailers’ previous NHL ties stretched back to stints with Edmonton, Montreal, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the new arrangement marks their fifth such partnership, restoring an ECHL-NHL link that had been absent since the 2023 split with the Kalamazoo Wings.
Beyond player development, the alliance is intended to broaden the Nailers’ fan base throughout Ohio, leveraging the shared regional identity and the historic rivalry that has seen Wheeling win 27 of 51 meetings against the former ECHL Chill.
Local officials and hockey advocates say the collaboration could spark greater interest in the sport across the state, encouraging youth participation and community engagement.