Rangers Prospect Zakary Karpa Recalled from ECHL’s Bloomington Bison to Hartford Wolf Pack
The New York Rangers are bringing one of their young prospects back into the AHL mix. Zakary Karpa, a 23-year-old forward and rookie this season, has been recalled by the Hartford Wolf Pack from his loan stint with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison.
Karpa, a Greenwich, Connecticut native, has spent most of this season sharpening his game in Bloomington, where he put up ten points (four goals, six assists) in 26 games. While the numbers don’t jump off the page, they reflect a player finding his footing in the pro ranks - and now, he’s getting another shot to prove himself at the AHL level.
Drafted in the sixth round (191st overall) by the Rangers in 2022, Karpa’s development has followed a steady trajectory. After wrapping up a four-year collegiate career at Harvard - where he logged 117 games and tallied 35 points - he signed an AHL deal with the Wolf Pack in May 2025. Notably, Karpa captained the Crimson for two seasons, a testament to his leadership and maturity on and off the ice.
He made his AHL debut with Hartford on December 27 in a matchup against the Islanders and wasted no time making an impact, scoring his first career AHL goal in a 5-2 win. In total, Karpa has appeared in three games with the Wolf Pack this season, recording that lone goal.
While he’s not expected to be a top-line scorer overnight, Karpa’s recall signals that the organization sees continued potential in his two-way game and leadership qualities. With Hartford looking to build consistency in the second half of the AHL season, adding a player like Karpa - who brings a high compete level and a solid defensive mindset - could be a valuable piece in the lineup.
For the Rangers, this move is part of the broader development pipeline - a reminder that progress isn’t always linear, but every opportunity at the next level is a chance to grow. Karpa’s journey from Harvard captain to ECHL grinder to AHL contributor is still unfolding, and this latest chapter gives him another chance to show he belongs.