The Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters were a marriage made of convenience in 2015.

The Blue Jackets affiliated with the Syracuse Crunch in 2000. A partner that lasted for ten years before switching to the Springfield Falcons.

In Cleveland, the Monsters (previously Lake Erie) began operations in 2007 and teamed up with the Colorado Avalance. A partnership from the outset that appeared to be short-term with NHL organisations beginning a trend to have their affiliates close to home.

In 2015, Columbus and Cleveland agreed on a multi-year deal with very few other details surrounding the contract.

It could not have gotten off to a better start.

The then Lake Erie Monsters posted a 43-22-11 record on route to capturing the first Calder Cup championship in franchise history.
It was also the first by a Blue Jackets affiliate.

In 2016 a name and colour change ensued with the team becoming the Cleveland Monsters and switching to a ‘wine, white and blue’ colour scheme that closely matches the Cleveland Cavaliers with whom they are tenants.

It has been a roller-coaster ride for Cleveland since the initial success as the Blue Jackets affiliate.
The Monsters missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons following the championship success but bounced back in 2018-19, making the second round of the post-season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters announced yesterday (December 7, 2021) that the organizations have reached a multi-year agreement for the Monsters to remain as the Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate.

From that, we can probably ascertain that the parties were in the last year of the current agreement and this probably ties them together for at least the next five years, if not longer.

Cleveland has been a notoriously difficult opponent during their time as the affiliate of Columbus. Notwithstanding a lack of talent on occasion, the Monsters have always been a hard-working, nose-to-the-grindstone outfit that will make you fight for every inch of the ice.

This current campaign has been no different as they have gotten off to a 9-6-5 start which is good for fourth place in the very competitive North Division.

As per the official press releases:

“The relationship between the Blue Jackets and Monsters has been very successful on many levels, including winning a Calder Cup championship,” said Chris Clark, the Blue Jackets director of player personnel and Monsters general manager. “Cleveland is a first-class organization and gives our young players an opportunity to develop, play and live in one of the great sports cities in the United States, in a world-class facility in Ohio. We are excited and proud to continue to build on our relationship and partner together to help grow the game throughout the region.”

“We are extremely proud and excited to continue our affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets,” said Mike Ostrowski, Cleveland Monsters team president. “Our partnership with Columbus is great on many levels and allows our players to play in a major league environment which provides them a taste of what the NHL experience is like. Monsters fans are the best in the AHL and now they’ll be able to continue seeing future Blue Jackets play right here in downtown Cleveland, as well as follow their careers as they head to the Jackets. This partnership is outstanding for hockey in the state of Ohio.”

Since 2016, Cleveland has recorded an average attendance of approximately 9,000.
Those kinds of numbers place them in the top echelon of best-supported teams in the American Hockey League.

The Blue Jackets have ultimate faith that their AHL affiliate is the perfect place to develop their future.
Cleveland currently has seven Columbus prospects aged 22 or under on the current roster.

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