It’s painfully obvious the Rangers have a colossal problem in Hartford

The Hartford Wolf Pack’s 9–0 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Monday raised more alarms regarding the direction of the Rangers organization.

While all eyes remain on Chris Drury and whatever we are calling this current direction — retool, reset, rebuild — the system under the New York Rangers is just as broken.

Roster construction on Broadway is only part of the equation. The Rangers’ AHL affiliate is supposed to be a development pipeline.

Right now, it looks like a dead end.

Hartford currently sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 17–24–4. Wins and losses alone don’t define AHL success, but culture, processes and performance are often intertwined. What’s happening in Hartford mirrors the inconsistency, identity crisis, and structural instability that has plagued the Rangers for the past two years.

The Post-Knoblauch Problem

Since former head coach Kris Knoblauch departed for Edmonton to fill the Oilers’ head coaching vacancy — Hartford has lacked continuity and identity.

The turnover behind the bench has created instability that can slow and derail the developmental momentum of young players within the organization.

Hartford has now cycled through three head coaches in just over three seasons. Under Grant Potulny, the Wolf Pack have routinely struggled in close games and have lacked a consistent defensive structure. Blowing leads and losing tight games late have become part of the team’s identity.

It’s difficult to place all of the blame on the bench boss. Development is organizational, but the instability is alarming.

The Talent Void

The conversation can also shift from structure to the players themselves.

Instability behind the bench matters, but these are professional athletes. If a player is truly NHL-ready, he will force the issue.

No one in Hartford is doing that.

No one on this roster has forced Chris Drury’s hand. There hasn’t been a call-up candidate banging on the door so loudly that management has no choice but to make the call.

With the Rangers starving for scoring and energy, the silence in Hartford is deafening.

The Rangers need an injection of youth and pace. The current state of the Wolf Pack suggests that help is not coming.

Jaroslav Chmelař is one player who arguably deserves a nod. His size, speed and a willingness to play north supplies what the Rangers lack. Giving him meaningful NHL minutes down the stretch may answer some questions about his future.

If the Rangers are counting on internal growth to fuel their next competitive window, someone in Hartford needs to force the conversation.

The Development Question

This is where the conversation becomes uncomfortable.

There have been some success stories.

Will Cuylle played his way into a legitimate NHL role.

Gabe Perreault has flashed.

Matthew Robertson has turned heads, showing promise as a pro.

The hit rate beyond that group is concerning.

Brennan Othmann’s transition to the pro game has been nonexistent, and his offensive confidence appears diminished from his junior dominance.

Brett Berard, who flirted with a point-per-game pace in limited AHL time last season, has regressed statistically and has struggled defensively all year.

Adam Sýkora’s ceiling appears to have been met, and his progression has plateaued.

Development isn’t linear, but stagnation and regression from multiple prospects suggests something is wrong.

The Coming Youth Movement

The Rangers are about to experience a waive of younger talent.

Liam Greentree, who was acquired in a franchise-altering trade that shipped out the most dynamic forward in Rangers history, cannot be rushed. He will need meaningful AHL time.

Drew Fortescue, Brody Lamb, Malcolm Spence and more will need seasoning when they make the jump to professional hockey. Add in the waive of younger assets Drury acquires at the trade deadline and beyond – Hartford becomes even more important to get right to ensure they’re ready for the pro jump.

Drury has to identify the problem and fix it. A retool can’t be preached in New York while the bridge from Connecticut remains unstable.

If Drury is serious about long-term success, Hartford must become a priority and not an afterthought.