NHL EDITION – REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK 

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – Salary cap restrictions forced The New York Rangers to be very frugal during the NHL Free Agency market. Only time will tell if they spent wisely or foolishly.

It was a tornado-like free agency for the rest of the NHL, where billions of dollars were exchanged even in a tight salary cap market. There are still a few moves left to be made for the Hartford Wolf Pack for their upcoming late September training camp. The best two words to describe the coming 2023-24 Wolf Pack campaign would be “Younger” and “Change.”

Turner Elson is expected back for the second year of his deal, but one contract is still outstanding. The team believes that it will be signed shortly. That is the contract of Tanner Fritz. He is said to be close to signing it. He needs to secure and finalize medical care for his son. His return is, however, open-ended since it’s still not signed.

In September, the team saw a bevy of new players coming through the shipping and receiving doors at the XL Center. Alex Belizle (Montreal/Laval), Connor Mackay (Calgary/Arizona), Mac Holwell (Toronto AHL/NHL), and Nikolas Brouillard (San Diego) on paper will be here. It is possible that Riley Nash (Charlotte) could be headed to Hartford if he doesn’t make the team in New York.

Departed from Hart City are Tim Gettinger (Detroit/Grand Rapids), Ryan Carpenter (San Jose AHL/NHL), Will Lockwood (Florida/Charlotte), and Wyatt Kalynuk (St. Louis/Springfield).

NOTES:

The Wolf Pack has released five secured playing dates without a full schedule. There are no times or opponents named yet.

The guaranteed dates are October 20th, November 25th, January 13th, February 10th, February 16th, and March 1st.

A full schedule will likely be released during or following the AHL Board of Governors’ (BOG) annual meeting in mid-July.

The Chicago Wolves are operating as an independent team. “GM Wendell Young is free to negotiate with anybody, so I think it’s likely and won’t be surprised if a player or two is sent to them by an NHL team and not their AHL team. If and when that happens, there will be some bruised feelings,” said a long-time industry source.

Since they’re out of Chicago, there is no word on where the Carolina Hurricanes will place their prospects next year. That is likely to be high on the AHL BOG agenda.

One thing to keep a long-term eye on is what the Ottawa Senators, under the new ownership of Michael Andulauer, will do with the Belleville Senators.

Howlings was told it’s a three-step process in Ottawa. Step 1 is to secure ownership in Ottawa (Check)—step 2. Secure the land, building the new 21st-Century downtown arena, the Canadian national capital Step 3. Turn to secure a closer farm team relationship. They’re looking at the possibility of Gatineau or another Western Quebec location to extend their brand.

The cap future our source remains bullish on.

“Many are saying a three-or-four million bump next year. I’m more conservative, we have an unknown future economically. I think two million seems more likely.”

The never-ending drama-fest in Arizona is likely to continue.

“Gary Bettman has shown no appetite for relocation, so I think in the near future they will remain there. To be honest, there are two issues; one, the Coyotes need a better building and likely better ownership. Realistically, look, the NHL and the league ownership don’t want to jeopardize future expansion fees, so they will continue to accept Arizona as is.”

One-time Wolf Pack and former Ranger forward Julien Gauthier has left Ottawa, where he was traded to, after starting the season in Hartford. He signed a free agent deal with the New York Islanders for a two-year, one-way money deal for $775K/ Year 1/$800K Year 2.

Ex-Pack Adam Cracknell moves from Tucson to Henderson. Joining him is ex-Pack Mason Geersten on a one-way deal at $775K.

Chase Priskie (Quinnipiac) moves from San Diego to Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.

Goalie Strauss Mann (Greenwich/Brunswick School) heads from San Jose (AHL) to Laval next season.

Ex-Sound Tiger Cole Coskey re-signs with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL).

Former UCONN Husky (HE) Ben Freeman signs another deal with Greenville (ECHL).

The Bridgeport Islanders signed three players. Two of them are from last year, Cole Bardreau and Jeff Kubiak. The third is Joey Cipollone (Loomis Chaffe) from the national champion Quinnipiac University Bobcats, making 25 ECACHL players to have signed pro deals.

Cipollone’s cousin Anthony, a sophomore, returns to Quinnipiac and is also a Loomis Chaffe-Windsor grad.

The number of signees by conference: Hockey East-37, NCHC-36, the CCHA-31, the Big 10 has 30, the AHA-20, Division I Independents-13, Division III-32, and Europe bound Division I and III-54.

Undergrads that left early 38, going to Canadian colleges four, and back to US juniors two, and nobody has left for Canadian major junior yet.

The transfers at the grad level are 44, and at undergrad, in-school transfers are 59. The total number of players signing pro deals in North America and Europe across the board are at Division I and III; 284.

The son of new Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette, III, the namesake of Peter Jr., signs a one-year deal with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), where his father started his coaching career in 1997.

Jarrod Gourley, the former UCONN defenseman, goes from Utica/Adirondack (ECHL) and heads home to Alberta after signing with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).

Graham McPhee, the son of one-time New Haven Nighthawk/Ranger and current President of the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, George McPhee, signs a new deal with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Ex-Sound Tiger Mason Jobst re-signs with Rochester.

The former UCONN captain, Miles Gendron, signs with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland-EIHL).

Another former teammate, UCONN forward Carter Turnbull, signs with HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL).

Ex-CT Whale Christian Thomas signs a new deal with HC Bolzano (Austria-IceHL).

Ex-Pack Nick Merkley re-signs with Dynamo Minsk (Belarus-KHL).

Martin Kaut leaves San Jose for HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czechia (Czech Republic)-CEL).

As expected, Zach Fucale, the former #1 draft pick of Montreal and a Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears member, joins Vitali Kravtsov with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia-KHL). He makes 42 AHL players, with 23 of 32 AHL teams affected by players signing in Europe.

Leon Gawanke’s transfer back home to Germany was canceled as he signed a new deal with Winnipeg/Manitoba.

With 22 signees, Sweden is far ahead of the countries players are heading to.

The Arizona State Sun Devils have shed their independent label. Starting next season, the school has chosen to become the ninth member of the NCHC conference. Surprisingly, there weren’t a part of a Western expansion, as part of a necessary Western presence that is required with the number of players in the western part of the US-the largest growth area is in Texas, Arizona, and Southern California.

Clarkson announces alcohol will be sold at games on campus this fall. Now that they have broken the barrier, colleges, and beer companies will make a significant money grab for beer sales and sponsorship deals.

James Shannon (Greenwich/Brunswick School) commits to Quinnipiac University. He played last year with Coquitlam (BCHL) and Sloan Farmer (Old Greenwich/Brunswick School). He uncommitted collegiately and departed for the Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL). Jake Kloss (Canterbury Scool-New Milford) migrates to Wilkes Barre/Scranton (NCDC).

Team dismantlement has even reached the high school level. The Taft (Watertown) Rhinos, the New England School champion, loses its star goalie Rudy Guimond, drafted by Detroit in the sixth round (169th overall) in last month’s NHL draft. He heads to Cedar Rapids (USHL) next year, then goes to Yale (ECACHL) the following year.

J.J. Lemieux goes to the Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL). Zave Greene moves on to Wesleyan University (NESCAC) in Middletown. Joining Greene are Hayden Haynes (Old Greenwich) and Henry Metz, both of Salisbury School.

Liam Kilfoil, despite a high pick in the QMJHL Draft (3rd overall by Halifax), heads to Dubuque (USHL) next year, collegiately still uncommitted.

Peter Unger departs Frederick Gunn School for the Northern Cyclones (NCDC) along with 6’7″ Will Reardon (Loomis Chaffe), who is a commit to the Holy Cross Crusaders (AHA) in 24-25. Then, teammates Dylan Thorn and Kyle Smyth both leave for the Grand Prairie Storm (AJHL).

Former player Mike Murtagh leaves Nanaimo (BCHL) and is expected to attend UCONN (HE) in the fall. He was drafted this year by Minnesota (NAHL) and last year by Sioux City (USHL).

Former Loomis Chaffe player Ryan Staple, who switched prep schools to St. George’s Prep (RIPREP) last year, heads to Yale next year. Matt Hanscom departs Westminster Prep (Simsbury) for the Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL), coached by ex-Pack Ryan Tobler. He’ll hook up at RPI (ECACHL) with current teammate Ryan Shaw 2024-25.

NEW YORK RANGERS

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