BY” Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The New York Rangers announced that the club had assigned forward Lauri Pajuniemi to the Hartford Wolf Pack from the active roster while also reassigning forward Justin Richards and defenseman Zac Jones to the Wolf Pack from the taxi squad. In addition, the Wolf Pack has released defenseman Brandon Fortunato from his PTO.
Pajuniemi, selected in the fifth round (132nd overall) by the Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has scored 15 points (7 g, 8 a) in 27 games during his rookie AHL season. Pajuniemi scored his first career AHL goal on opening night against the Bridgeport Islanders at the XL Center. He has yet to make his NHL debut.
Richards, signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth on April 2nd, 2020, was assigned to the taxi squad on January 12th. He has skated in 26 games in his second season with the Wolf Pack, scoring four points (2 g, 2 a).
JONES
In the third round (68th overall) by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Jones has skated in 21 games with the Wolf Pack in his rookie professional season. Jones has scored 17 points (4 g, 13 a), including his first professional goal, with the Pack in 2021-22. He’s also skated in three NHL games with the Rangers on the campaign.
Fortunato, signed by the Wolf Pack to a PTO on December 28th, skated in three games for the club. After that, he has reported back to the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, scoring nine assists in 13 games so far this season.
The Wolf Pack return to action tonight when they visit the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The Pack is back at the XL Center tomorrow night when they host the Laval Rocket on ‘Decades Night’! Please note that puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
