By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The housecleaning of the Hartford Wolf Pack began Tuesday, on a hectic day of hockey transactions just days before the NHL and AHL trade deadlines.
Even after winning four straight, and with the Pack embarking on a three-in-three weekend, including two big games Friday in Springfield against the Thunderbirds and Saturday in Bridgeport against the Islanders.
Austin Rueschhoff, playing in his second season and one of the few holdovers from last year’s team, was dealt to the Nashville Predators for future considerations. Rueschhoff was a free-agent collegiate signee out of Western Michigan (NCHC). In Hartford, he has been in and out of the lineup. He will stay in the AHL and play for the Milwaukee Admirals.
The Admirals are short of players so Rueschhoff will be put right into the lineup. In addition, the move will put the 6’7, 229-pounder nearer to his native Michigan.
The knock on Rueschhoff is that his play is consistently inconsistent. He was a streaky goalscorer in Hartford but was surpassed on the team depth chart by another big player, 6’7, rookie Matt Rempe.
The Nashville organization is transitioning as Barry Trotz was named the new GM this week to replace retiring GM David Poile after the NHL Draft in Nashville in June.
IN OTHER MOVES
Another departing player is defenseman Andy Welinski, who was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of the Patrick Kane trade for defenseman Cooper Zech.
Welinski was recently scratched for the last three games and for the second time this season. He’s a right-handed shooting rearguard and was an off-season signee in the makeover after last year’s disaster. Welinski was a team-worst minus-16. He was on a one-year contract paying him $400K in the AHL.
Zech was with the Indy Fuel (ECHL) at the time of the trade and was assigned to Hartford.
IN THE FINAL MOVE
Finally, another D-man came from the Chicago organization. He is Rockford’s Adam Clendening, who was moved for forward Zach Jordan. He played one game in the Connecticut capital and was another off-season signee last summer. He spent most of the year with the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL).
Jordan was assigned to Indy (ECHL) by Chicago (NHL).
Ryan Carpenter was reassigned by the Rangers, who acquired Kane, as mentioned above earlier in the day. “Recalled” Braden Schneider was assigned as a paper cap transaction. He never left New York.
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