Renewed NHL affiliation opens many possibilities again for Chicago Wolves
Independence isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be, at least in the minor-league hockey world.
After a season as an independent franchise, the Chicago Wolves are happy to again be affiliated with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes with a fresh three-year agreement after a one-year trial separation. The Wolves open the season at 7 p.m. Saturday when they host Milwaukee at Allstate Arena in a game televised on Fox Chicago Plus (WPWR).
“The talent pool gets a lot smaller, yes, when you’re an independent,” Wolves Governor/Vice Chairman Wendell Young said.
An independent team is the second choice for most players who aspire to play in the NHL. Last year the Wolves had little to entice top players to sign. No hopes of an NHL training camp, no hopes of a prospects camp, no NHL contract to offer.
“So basically my call to agents would be, I’ve got an American (Hockey) League deal, no NHL camps or whatever,” Young said. “What clients would be interested?”
Now the Wolves have prospects on their way up, rather than has-beens on their way out.
“Really last year was basically a bunch of guys that were American Hockey League players and that’s basically their career or they’re on their way down from the NHL, whatever,” Young said. “Being an affiliate, you get a chance to see these guys when they’re just starting pro hockey. It’s a much easier sell. And some guys get called up and then you can see them play in Carolina, so that selling point to the fans is big.”
New coach Cam Abbott sees a group of humble but motivated players who could contend for the Wolves’ sixth league championship.
“Talent for me is a part of it but not a big part, not as big as the readiness to compete,” Abbott said Wednesday. “It’s a journey, right, and you want to make sure you’re starting off the right way with the work we’ve put in the last 10 days together.”
Abbott sees young players like right wing Felix Unger Sorom, forward Bradly Nadeau, defenseman Scott Morrow and defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault to set the pace for the Wolves. Morrow and Legault are 21; Sorom and Nadeau are just 19 years old.
Abbott hasn’t named a captain yet, but he likes the mix of prospects and veterans on his roster.
“There’s a number of experienced pros that we’re going to need to lean on, pointing towards maybe our goaltender in (29-year-old) Spencer Martin. He’s going to be somebody who’s had some veteran experience in net,” Abbott said.
Every player is starting from scratch with Abbott and his staff, he said.
“This is a great opportunity for a fresh look for every player. The whole staff is new. We’ve got three or four returning players, but we know the roles within the team are yet to be determined, so I’d like to see a bunch of guys challenge to see how effective they can be for this team,” Abbott said.
And if the Wolves lose those players during the season because they’re called up to Carolina, that’s something Abbott will cheer, not fret about.
“That doesn’t make it hard,” Abbott said. “That’s something that we will celebrate when it happens and it means that we’re doing a lot of what our objectives are, which is to help develop players to win hockey games, to compete hard for the Chicago Wolves jersey that we’re pulling on. If and when that happens that will be an exciting time for the whole team, because each guy plays a part in helping their teammate on to the next level.”
It’s all part of the renewed relationship with Carolina.
“Like any marriage, you’re going to have your ups and downs, but it’s good,” Young said. “We have some good prospects. We want to put an entertaining team on the ice. I know the Chicago Wolves are always shooting not just for the playoffs but to win the Calder Cup and win the championship.”
Daily Herald Sports Editor Orrin Schwarz can be reached at oschwarz@dailyherald.com.