New York Rangers: Wolf Pack rebuild begins as coaching staff let go

The need to rebuild the New York Rangers’ top farm team was evident from their last place finish this season.  The Hartford Wolf Pack season ended this weekend with three straight losses and Monday the coaching staff was let go.

The New York Rangers are engaged in a highly publicized rebuild, purging the team of veteran players and stockpiling young talent and prospects.  While rebuilding the NHL franchise is front and center, it is essential that the Rangers rebuild the Hartford Wolf Pack as well.

That rebuild was jump started Monday when the Rangers fired coach Keith McCambridge and assistant coach Joe Mormina.   They guided the Wolf Pack to a last place finish in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, the fourth straight year the team missed the playoffs.

When you look at successful NHL franchises, most have one thing in common when it comes to their organizations.  The best teams have successful AHL affiliates that  play the same system as the parent organization.   Prospects learn how to play the same way the NHL team plays so when they get their opportunity, the transition is seamless.

Keith McCambridge was hired as head coach in July 2017, but he wasn’t a new face. He had served as assistant coach to longtime coach Ken Gernander whom he replaced. Gernander was a former Wolf Pack player and coached the team for ten years.

In their first year under McCambridge, the team finished in sixth place with a 34-33-9 record. This season, they dropped to eighth place with a record of 29-36-11.  With a bad record, the Pack didn’t serve as a feeder network for the Blueshirts.  Ranger prospects like Steven Fogarty, Tim Gettinger and Vinni Lettieri did little when they were promoted.  Libor Hajek actually did better at the NHL level than he did while playing in Hartford.

Chris Drury is the Rangers assistant general manager and the GM of the Wolf Pack.  He is busy putting together Team USA for the World Championships, but has to add finding a new coach to his to-do list.

Considering the importance that the Wolf Pack will play in the future development of Ranger prospects, it is essential that the Blueshirts get the right management team in place.

Prospects on Amateur Tryouts

There were a number of young players in Hartford on Amateur Tryouts who played in the Wolf Pack’s final three games.  They included three players signed to entry level contracts: Goalie Adam Huska, forward Jake Elmer and forward Patrick Newell.   There were also several players signed by Hartford to amateur tryouts.  They included Harvard captain Lewis Zerter-Gossage, winger Ryan Dmowski from U.Mass-Lowell, North Dakota center Nick Jones and AIC center Shawn McBride. How did they do?

On Friday night, Hartford closed out their home schedule with a 6-3 loss to the Hershey Bears.  The good news is the most highly regarded prospect, Jake Elmer, finished with two goals and an assist.  On his second goal, the primary assist was to Patrick Newell, another prospect on an ELC. .  Adam Huska replaced Brandon Halverson in net and allowed one goal on ten shots.

Saturday night, the Pack lost in a shootout 3-2 to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Both Hartford goals were scored by prospects on tryouts.  The first was by Ryan Dmowski and the second by Lewis Zerter-Gossage.  Adam Huska started in goal and had 35 saves.

In their season finale, the Wolf Pack lost 3-1 to the Hershey Bears.  Adam Huska got the start again and allowed only two goals while making 30 saves.

Jake Elmer, who was signed after his season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, ended up with two goals and two assists in five games and will get a long look this summer at the prospects camp andat the  Traverse CIty tournament.

Patrick Newell ended up with one assist in six games.

Adam Huska appeared in nine games with a 3.45 GAA and save percentage of .889.

Of the players signed to tryouts by the Wolf Pack, it appears that Zerter-Gossage, Dmowski and Nick Jones could have a future with the team.  While most of these players will never make it Madison Square Garden, they will hopefully raise the level of play in Hartford and set the stage for a development system that will compliment the Rangers NHL style of play.