Red Wings' ECHL Walleye protests against league bargaining agreement and cancels game
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The Detroit Red Wings ECHL affiliate has fueled a protest against the league's bargaining agreement after they've cancelled a game.
As the ECHL's strike moves forward, the Toledo Walleye have made an explosive choice. Without a new bargaining agreement, the players won't return to the ice.
Without ongoing negotiations between the players and owners, it appears that this could be the status quo for ECHL fans.
Walleye players wrote a letter to the fans of the ECHL before the strike to allay their concerns.
However, cancellations have begun, and the Walleye have made an announcement regarding their game against the Wheeling Nailers.
The Detroit Red Wings' ECHL affiliate players on strike against the league
This has happened with the latest development taking place:
The league had offered the players the PHPA (Professional Hockey Players Association) its best offer, which the players haven't submitted for a vote.
On December 25, 2025, the ECHL made its last, best, and final offer to the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA). The ECHL made clear to union leadership that this was the best offer and that any future offers likely will need to account for losses in revenue attributable to missed games from a player strike. While we did not receive a formal response, we have heard from certain players that they will not be reporting for their scheduled games. We strongly encouraged union leadership to submit our offer to a vote of its membership, but we do not believe that happened.
Without an agreement in place, teams will be forced to cancel games, lose revenue, and businesses surrounding the Huntington Center are beset with the worst outcome yet.
We've seen multiple players in the ECHL make an impact in the AHL, including Chad Hillebrand, who played for the Griffins on a professional tryout. He'd be assigned to the ECHL despite his positive performance.
Goaltender Carter Gylander, who was assigned to the Griffins, played his heart out and helped with the AHL's Griffins' historic start this year.
In the meantime, patience will have to be practiced by Red Wings, Griffins, and Walleye fans as the feeder system into the AHL now has a kink in the chain.
Negotiations will be the way out, but will the next best offer be the one to do it? We've seen one cancelled game on the Walleye's books.
Will there be more?
Who will the fans stand with? We've seen fans make statements in support of the players. Could this lead to significant actions from fans to support their favorite hockey players?
Previously on Detroit Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 26 | 53 ANSWERS Red Wings' ECHL Walleye protests against league bargaining agreement and cancels game Detroit Red Wings ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye, fuels a protest against the league, as bargaining agreement woes continue, and a cancellation has occurred. Do you support the players? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 83 % |
| No | 9 | 17 % |
| List of polls | ||