Hartford Wolf Pack Sign Defenseman Parker Gavlas to PTO, Release Owen Gallatin
The Hartford Wolf Pack continue to tweak their blue line, announcing the signing of defenseman Parker Gavlas to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). In a corresponding move, the team has released fellow blueliner Owen Gallatin from his PTO. Gallatin will return to the ECHL’s Maine Mariners.
For Gavlas, 26, this marks another step in a winding hockey journey that’s taken him through the ECHL and Canadian university ranks. He’s been skating with the Bloomington Bison this season, where he’s quietly put together a solid campaign-posting 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) across 35 games. That production ranks him third among Bison defensemen in scoring, a sign he’s been finding ways to contribute at both ends of the ice.
Last season, Gavlas split time between the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL and the University of Saskatchewan. He suited up for five games in Norfolk before logging 26 games with the Huskies, where he added seven points (1 goal, 6 assists). While not flashy, his steady presence and ability to chip in offensively have made him a reliable option on the back end.
As for Gallatin, his stint in Hartford was brief, but that’s often the nature of PTOs in the AHL. The move allows him to return to Maine, where he’ll look to continue his development and potentially earn another shot at the next level down the line.
These kinds of in-season roster moves are part of the constant shuffle in the AHL, especially for a team like the Wolf Pack, who serve as the primary development pipeline for the New York Rangers. Every transaction is a chance to evaluate talent, plug gaps, and potentially uncover a player who can rise through the system.
Gavlas now gets his opportunity to show what he can do in Hartford. And if his game continues trending upward, this could be more than just a short-term look.