For the Hartford Wolf Pack, the offseason has dragged on forever. A last-place finish in 2025-26, a second straight year out of the playoffs, and plenty of roster and coaching turnover made sure of that.
But the turn of the calendar is finally here. The first day of fall is tomorrow, hockey is back on the horizon, and the Rangers are already in preseason action tonight with a game that includes both Wolf Pack alumni and players who could wind up in Hartford soon. The Wolf Pack open their season on October 3, then come home for their opener a week later on October 10.
That means the focus can shift to what actually matters for Hartford’s 30th season: whether this new-look group can pull the club out of the AHL basement. The coaching staff has been revamped, the prospect pool looks more intriguing, and there’s at least a path from worst to much better in 2026-27. One of the biggest reasons will be how quickly the rookies come along.
Hartford lost some established pieces this summer, including defensive stalwart Connor Mackey and 30-goal scorer Trey Fix-Wolansky, both gone in free agency. That opens the door for a big incoming rookie class, and the Wolf Pack are clearly banking on that youth to fill some of the holes.
Up front, the group to watch includes Nathan Aspinall, Jacob Battaglia, Cole Beaudoin, Liam Greentree, and Brody Lamb. Of that bunch, only Aspinall and Lamb have any pro experience, with Aspinall having five games in 2024-25 and Lamb appearing in 15 games in 2025-26.
The blue line could get two more new faces as well. Alberts Smits, the fifth overall pick in June’s NHL entry draft, and Drew Fortescue are both candidates to join the roster. Fortescue turned pro at the end of last season and played nine games with the Rangers.
There’s real upside in the mix. Smits, Beaudoin, and Greentree were all first-round picks, and Greentree already turned heads in the annual Rookie Series games against the Flyers’ prospects. Even so, the expectation is that this group will need time to adjust to the pro game.
If enough of those rookies can make the jump quickly and help replace what Hartford lost over the summer, the Wolf Pack will have a real chance to flip the script this season.
In Other News...
Matt Rempe Suddenly Has Real Pressure In This Rangers Roster Fight
Matt Rempe got one of the more telling looks of Rangers preseason so far when he dressed against the Devils, even as most of the regulars stayed home. For a player trying to carve out an opening night role, those are the kinds of games that matter because every shift feeds into how the staff sorts out the bottom of the lineup. The roster battle around him is no longer just about energy or size, but about who can actually fit into the teams plans when the games start to count.
Rempe is in the mix for a fourth-line right wing spot, and the decision is complicated by the practical side of roster building. The Rangers have to weigh not just what each player brings on the ice, but how easy it is to move him if he does not make the club. That reality gives the competition a sharper edge, and it leaves Rempe facing a familiar but very real preseason test as the opening night roster takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rangers First-Round Pick Just Had A Wild New Start
Brennan Othmanns first preseason appearance for Calgary barely lasted a couple of shifts, but it was enough to make an impression. The former Rangers first-round pick, traded to the Flames last March, got right into the action with a scoring chance and showed the kind of energy that can catch a coachs eye as he pushes for a spot on the opening-night roster.
The night also showed how quickly things can turn for a player trying to carve out a role. Othmanns aggressive play drew a major response and a game misconduct, leaving him with a stat line that was as eventful as it was brief, while Flames coach Ryan Huska still came away seeing a noticeable impact from the short stint on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rempe Has A Real Chance To Force The Rangers Hand
Matt Rempe is back in the picture for the Rangers at just the right time, cleared to dress for the preseason opener against the Devils after a thumb injury cost him the back half of last season. He has not played since February and is now fully healthy, giving him a chance to remind the coaching staff what he brings at a moment when roster spots are still up for grabs.
For Rempe, the assignment is straightforward: show he can help force the Rangers to make a harder decision. He is slated to work on the fourth line with Hartford center Carey Terrance and Jacob Battaglia, and every shift will matter as he tries to turn a healthy return into a serious push for a place in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]