Will Wolves join Vancouver?

Will the Wolves further distance themselves from the Blackhawks and join forces with the Vancouver Canucks?

TEAM 1040, the radio station that carries the Vancouver Canucks games, is reporting the Wolves are “rumored” to become the AHL affiliate of the Canucks, a rival of the Blackhawks. That report, however, said Vancouver officials would not comment or confirm they've even talked with the Wolves.

An editor with TheFourthPeriod.com, a hockey lifestyle site, tweeted Friday the deal is “done” but his tweet did not cite any sources or link to a fuller story.

Team officials for the Canucks and the Wolves have not yet confirmed the two clubs have talked, but the Wolves have scheduled a news conference on Monday morning, reportedly to announce a new affiliation with a different NHL club.

The Blackhawks and the Canucks have become bitter rivals in recent years as the teams have met three straight seasons in the playoffs.

At least six franchises showed interest in the Wolves, who lost their NHL affiliation when the Atlanta Thrashers folded and the franchise was awarded to Winnipeg. The new club in Winnipeg will align itself with a team in St. Johns.

Fans in Vancouver, however, want their club to partner with nearby Abbotsford, which has a deal with the Calgary Flames, a rival of the Canucks.