New York Rangers: Checking in with the new-look Hartford Wolf Pack
Last season was a rough one for the Wolf Pack. Finishing with a dismal 54 points, good for last in the AHL, change was obviously needed. With an overhaul in the front office, coaching staff, and some new players on the ice, there is reason for optimism in Hartford.
The Hartford Wolf Pack had an absolutely abysmal 2016-17 season, finishing with a record of 24-46-6. They were the worst team in the entire AHL, and the team clearly had gotten stale. The team needed changes.
They got rid of the head coach and general manager. They also added some fresh young talent on the ice. Because of this, the results have been better. Hartford currently has a record of 7-8-3, with 17 points, seventh in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference.
Out with the old, in with the new
The first steps Hartford took were to remove head coach Ken Gernander and general manager Jim Schoenfeld. The Rangers then brought in Keith McCambridge to coach the team. They also brought in former Rangers captain Chris Drury as the general manager.
Gernander had grown stale in Hartford and he apparently had trouble with developing young players. Schoenfeld had also been in Hartford for a while, and they had had little to no success.
Drury was a hot commodity on the GM market, as teams were interested in his services. He had been the assistant GM to Jeff Gorton for a little while. Drury seemed like an ideal candidate to take over the GM job in Hartford.
Now that Hartford had a front office and coaching staff in place, it was time to restock the players.
Fresh faces on the ice
To complement Wolf Pack mainstays such as Adam Tambellini and Ryan Graves, Hartford brought in some new players. Some of the new faces have been Filip Chytil, Vinni Lettieri, Cole Schneider, Neal Pionk, Anthony DeAngelo, and Alexandar Georgiev.
Filip Chytil was a first round draft pick of the New York Rangers this past June, 21st overall. He started the season as the Rangers’ second line center, but was then sent to the minors. In his time in Hartford so far, he has been tearing up the AHL. So far he has 11 points in 10 games, good for fourth on the team.
AHL veteran
Cole Schneider is a career AHLer, brought to the Wolf Pack for some veteran presence on a line with Chytil and Lettieri. It has paid off in spades. To date this season, he has 15 points in 19 games, the best on the team.
College free agents
Vinni Lettieri has been a pleasant surprise. He was signed by the Rangers out of the University of Minnesota back in March. So far, on a line with Chytil and Schneider, Lettieri has been great, posting 13 points in 18 games. His 13 points rank second on the team. He is a likely call-up option for the Rangers at some point this season.
Neal Pionk was signed by the Rangers out of Minnesota-Duluth after helping lead them to the Frozen Four NCAA Championship game. He was given a long look during the preseason. In fact, he scored a beautiful overtime winner against the Islanders in the preseason.
Despite all this, they sent him to Hartford, where he has played really well so far. Pionk has a bright future with the Rangers and will be hopefully be playing with the big club sooner rather than later.
Troubled trade acquisition
Anthony DeAngelo has been a polarizing player, to say the least. He was acquired along with the seventh overall pick in June from the Arizona Coyotes, in exchange for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta. DeAngelo has a lot of talent but has also had off-ice issues.
He played with the Rangers for a little while this season, at times being a healthy scratch, before he was sent down in late October. He has also been a healthy scratch quite a few times in Hartford. DeAngelo has real talent, and hopefully, he is able to put it all together and be a key defenseman for the Rangers in years to come.
Not Igor Shestyorkin
Alexandar Georgiev was signed by the Rangers as a free agent in July and has been Hartford’s starting goaltender. He has been alright, and should only get better.
Next: Kevin Shattenkirk is just what the Rangers needed
With the way last season finished for the Wolf Pack, there was nowhere to go but up. With a few tweaks in management and some new players to add some youth and skill, things are looking bright for the Hartford Wolf Pack.