for the 2017–18 season, the national hockey league added the vegas golden knights as a 31st team. the approval of a new nhl team also led to discussions of adding a 31st team in the american hockey league. with the golden knights choosing to affiliate with the chicago wolves instead of adding their own ahl expansion team, talks with other organizations were opened. the owners and managers of the eagles began discussions with the avalanche with interests into becoming an ahl expansion for the 2018–19 season. on october 10, 2017, the avalanche and the eagles officially announced that the club would be promoted to the ahl in 2018.