The American Hockey League (AHL) hockey season starts this weekend. For many hockey fans, it’s a league to keep a distant eye on and wonder when the prospects in it will be ready for the NHL. For the Hartford Wolf Pack, it’s about proving last season was a wash and they’ll be better this season.
That was the sentiment felt in Hartford on Monday during media day. The one-hour practice became two as the team focused on the small things, the things that left the Wolf Pack out of the playoffs last season. With Grant Potulny in his second season as an AHL coach and the team learning his system, things are expected to improve.
The Top-End Talent For The Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack had a few skaters who impressed in camp and made strong cases for the NHL. The New York Rangers sent them down anyway. Aside from Noah Laba, the Wolf Pack are returning the skaters who can take over games at the AHL level.
Dylan Roobroeck scored 20 goals last season and burst on the scene as a power forward center. He projects as a fourth-line center but for now, he’s the center to build the offense around. Likewise, Gabe Perreault, who has scoring instincts but isn’t a great skater, will start the season in Hartford and work on his scoring. With Brennan Othmann on the AHL team, the Wolf Pack have a top six that can constantly find the back of the net.
That’s the big plus for the forwards. The defense, meanwhile, finally has a two-way player to anchor the power play, a unit that struggled last season, and the team spent extra time on it in Monday’s practice. Scott Morrow was the defenseman the Rangers added in the K’Andre Miller trade, and he opens things up at the point.
The Wolf Pack have the key players at every position. Then there’s the bright spot from last season, who returns as their starting goaltender. Dylan Garand is back and entering a pivotal season as he looks to make the NHL roster as a backup to Igor Shesterkin. Until that happens, he’ll be the goaltender the Wolf Pack leans on.
The AHL isn’t a league where the best teams rely on top-end talent. The best teams have depth, not only at the AHL level but with ECHL reinforcements. The Wolf Pack don’t have the reinforcements but some of the regulars will keep them competitive regardless.
Potulny’s Adjustments
The key for this team is how their second-year head coach adjusts. It’s no secret that the first season overwhelmed Potulny behind the bench as he went from the college game to the AHL (where the roster additions are out of his control). Potulny noted on Monday how he was unprepared for the season and how he’ll come into this season prepared.
“For me, it’s about the messaging,” he noted in his availability, and part of that is how the team processes mistakes and losses. Last season, it was about the morning skates and practices the day after. This season, there will be a lot more film breakdowns for Potulny and the players. “I wish I had gotten to that sooner,” he added.
If there’s one thing for the Wolf Pack this season, it’s that they’ll be more prepared and situationally aware. They lost multiple games by one goal and came only five points shy of a playoff spot. That’s a thin margin, and this season, Potunly will understand the situations and make the adjustments to help the team win games that they would have lost last season.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton As a Tough First Game
The season begins for the Wolf Pack and most of the AHL on Saturday night. Their first game is against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. If there’s one team that can test the Wolf Pack early on, it’s the Penguins, a team not only with top prospects but plenty of depth and minimal weaknesses.
They are the Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate and are developing many of the team’s prospects with hopes of putting together a successful rebuild. On top of that, this is a team that was embarrassed in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season as they were swept by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and they look to come out this season swinging.
The Penguins can score, and they can score in bunches. This is the game that can show how far the Wolf Pack has come in one offseason as they’ve closed the gap. Likewise, the game can show how far they are from contending. It’s a road game but one that Potulny will have them prepared for.
For Both Teams, It’s About Setting The Tone
From an on-ice perspective, the Penguins love to play fast and generate multiple shots on the net. The Wolf Pack settles things down and wins with the forecheck. The teams play opposite styles and stick to the process, something both coaches have noted multiple times in the past two seasons.
The opening night game will likely be decided in the first period. The team that gets to their game will likely control the pace and end up on top. But it’s more than just the game for these teams. It’s about proving they can be a force throughout the season. For the Penguins, it’s about taking that next step and entering the Calder Cup conversation despite movement at the top of the lineup. For the Wolf Pack, it’s about returning to relevancy. It all starts on Saturday night.
