Cole Beaudoin wasted no time making his presence felt in pro hockey.
The Rangers’ top center prospect opened his AHL career with a goal in his debut for the Hartford Wolf Pack, then followed it up with a five-point burst across his first five periods. That came while Hartford, after finishing last in the American Hockey League a season ago, strung together back-to-back road wins over Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Hartford had no shortage of contributors over the weekend. Nathan Aspinall also scored his first professional goal, and his came with the game-winner Sunday in a 3-2 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. But Beaudoin was the one who kept jumping off the sheet for the Wolf Pack’s revamped roster, which now includes several Rangers prospects along with veterans who have both NHL and AHL experience.
What stood out most to Hartford coach Jay Leach? He didn’t hesitate.
“The biggest thing is his work ethic. He’s a dog on a bone.
He’s relentless on the forecheck, he wins pucks, smart player, can certainly defend, and really has straight-line speed,” Leach told Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey after Sunday’s win. “So, he’s been very competitive, clearly has taken a step in his professional career to say ‘Hey, I’m here and I’m ready to compete.’
He’s been very impressive.”
Saturday’s 5-2 win over Lehigh Valley was the kind of opening night most young players dream about. The 20-year-old, who captained Barrie in the OHL in 2025-26, assisted on Hartford’s first goal of the season, a tally from veteran Taylor Raddysh in the first period.
Later, after Lucas Vanrobys put Hartford ahead 3-2 in the third, Beaudoin jumped into the rush and scored an unassisted goal at 8:23. He finished that game at plus-3 and added another assist on Vincent Iorio’s empty-net goal.
Sunday brought more of the same. Beaudoin set up Marc Del Gaizo for a power-play goal at 1:14 of the second period, sliding a soft pass right into the defenseman’s shooting lane to tie the game 1-1.
Then he made the kind of play Leach had been talking about. Beaudoin dove to poke the puck free behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton net, then spun and fed Raddysh with a blind backhand into the slot for another goal at 14:44 of the second, giving Hartford a 2-1 lead.
“Relentless is just the best word to describe him,” Leach explained. “He will not be denied when he sees a loose puck or anything he can get remotely close to him, he’s going to go grab that thing and try to make a play.”
That combination of speed, edge, physicality and defensive commitment made for a strong first impression for the player the Rangers acquired from the Utah Mammoth in the Vincent Trocheck trade on July 1.
There’s also a possible opening in New York. Joe Veleno left the win over Utah with a lower-body injury, and with the Rangers already at the 23-player roster limit, they would need to send someone to the minors before bringing up a center. If Veleno is out, Beaudoin could be in the mix, though Justin Dowling or Juuso Parssinen would be more experienced options.
The Rangers aren’t trying to force the 2024 first-round pick along too quickly. Still, he did have a strong training camp, and he even scored against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden - the same opponent and building the Rangers will face next Tuesday night.
For now, though, the story is simple: Beaudoin’s first weekend as a pro could hardly have gone much better.
In Other News...
Rangers Are Building Something At MSG And Fans Can Feel It
Madison Square Garden had a little extra edge to it Friday night, and the Rangers fed off it. New York beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 behind Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 27 shots and even picked up an assist, while the club closed strong with three third-period goals to turn a tight game into another convincing home result. Utah did get a power-play goal, but the Rangers kept their composure and found a way to finish on the right side of a game that felt like more than just another regular-season date on the calendar.
Vincent Trochecks return to the Garden added another layer to the night, with the former Ranger now skating for Utah after the trade that sent him out of New York. The matchup had the kind of familiar faces and late-game urgency that can make a building buzz, and the Rangers looked like a team comfortable playing in that atmosphere. For a club trying to keep building momentum at home, it was the sort of win that gives fans a reason to believe there is something taking shape at MSG. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Suddenly Have A Center Depth Problem They Can't Ignore
Joe Velenos night ended almost as soon as it began against the Utah Mammoth, and the Rangers were left sorting through the fallout of a lower-body injury that came early in the first period. Veleno was hurt while trying to slow down a Mammoth forward and needed help off the ice before being ruled out for the rest of the game, an abrupt exit for a team that has leaned on its center depth to keep things steady.
The concern for New York goes beyond one lost shift because the roster does not currently feature an extra center. If Velenos injury keeps him out longer than just one game, the Rangers may have to look to Hartford for reinforcements, turning a single in-game injury into a depth problem they cant really afford to let linger. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Win At MSG Came With One Immediate Concern
The Rangers got the kind of result they needed at Madison Square Garden, beating the Utah Mammoth 4-2 in a game that had plenty of scoring and just enough pushback to keep the crowd engaged. Vladislav Gavrikov, Gabe Perreault, J.T. Miller and Eeli Tolvanen all found the net for New York, while Nick Schmaltz and Andrew Peeke answered for Utah, giving the home side a win that looked comfortable enough on the surface.
Joe Velenos exit was the immediate concern, though, and it cast a shadow over an otherwise productive night. Veleno was hurt in the first period and had to leave the game, a development the Rangers will be watching closely as they sort through what the result means and what the next lineup decision might have to be. [Read more 🡒]