Before the start of the 2004-05 NHL season the Edmonton Oilers moved their AHL affiliate from Toronto to Edmonton. Normally this would look like a stupid move. But knowing that an NHL lock out was coming that could eliminate the whole season they didn’t want to be hockey less in Edmonton. The choice proved to pay off as the whole 2004-05 NHL season was erased. The Road Runners only played in Edmonton for 1 season before dissolving and Edmonton splitting an AHL franchise in Springfield when the NHL resumed. Then resurrecting the Road Runners in Oklahoma City but this time as The Oklahoma City Oil Barons. Then they moved again and are the Bakersfield Condors. It is only a matter of time before the Oilers relocate them again. Calgary Flames got the hint to get out of Northern California, the Oilers should too and we could have a Wranglers-Road Runners battle of Alberta👍👍
With no NHL hockey for the season, the team proved highly successful at the gate, finishing third in the AHL in attendance at 8,854 fans per game despite a disappointing season plagued by injury. The Edmonton Roadrunners of the American Hockey League ended the 2004-05 season with a record of 32 wins and 33 losses (and 4 overtime losses), with a 0-11 showing in shootouts for 79 points in the AHL’s North Division.
There was a plan for when NHL resumed play that the Oilers would move the Road Runners to Saskatoon. Then the Saskatoon Blades would move to Edmonton. (This was before the Oil Kings). But that never panned out.