2026 Hartford Wolf Pack Team Awards

The 2025-26 season was one to forget for the Wolf Pack, finishing in last place league-wide for the first time in a decade. Despite the disappointing finish, there were still players, games, and moments to celebrate from the season. Today, we're giving them recognition as we hand out our annual team awards.

Just like last season, we'll have 11 awards to hand out:

• Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Goaltender of the Year: These are self explanatory. We'll highlight the best forward, defenseman, and goaltender of the season. One of these players will also earn the Team MVP Award as the best overall Wolf Pack player.
• Rookie of the Year: Again, self explanatory. We'll highlight the best Wolf Pack rookie this season.
• Most Improved Player: We'll highlight the player that had the biggest jump in overall performance and perception this season.
• Best AHL-Contracted Player: You can't build an AHL roster without them. We'll shout out the best Wolf Pack player on an AHL contract.
• Best Single-Game Offensive Performance: The best single-game offensive performance by a Wolf Pack player will get a shoutout.
• Best Single-Game Goaltending Performance: Similarly, the best single-game goaltending performance by a Wolf Pack player will get a shoutout.
• Game of the Year: We'll relive the best Wolf Pack game of the season.
• Moment of the Year: Lastly, we'll relive the single best moment from the Wolf Pack's season.

Let's get into the awards!

Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP: Trey Fix-Wolansky

Of all the Wolf Pack's offseason additions leading up to the 2025-26 season, veteran forward Trey Fix-Wolansky was easily the most exciting. The longtime Cleveland Monster has been a prolific scorer at the AHL level throughout his career, which is something the Wolf Pack desperately needed.

Fix-Wolansky filled the net at will this season. He posted a career-high 31 goals, becoming the first Wolf Pack player to reach that plateau since Nicklas Jensen potted 32 goals in the 2016-17 season.

Fix-Wolansky became the second player in as many seasons to record multiple hat tricks in a season for the Wolf Pack, following Alex Belzile last season. His first trio of goals came in a 5-4 overtime win over the Hershey Bears on January 20, before potting three more goals in the Wolf Pack's dramatic 7-5 comeback victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds on April 17.

Fix-Wolansky was far and away the Wolf Pack's best player this season. He's an easy choice for both the Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP awards.

Defensive Player of the Year: Casey Fitzgerald

When Casey Fitzgerald was named the 15th captain in Wolf Pack history, it was clear the role meant a lot to him. He frequently mentioned wanting to be a leader on and off the ice and regularly praised the Wolf Pack faithful for their dedication to the team.

Naturally, Fitzgerald's first full season wearing the C for the Wolf Pack saw him post one of his best professional seasons. Fitzgerald set new career highs in assists and points while appearing in all but one of Hartford's games.

Fitzgerald's impact went beyond scoring, however. He was almost always the first one to step up and defend his teammates when necessary. For example, when Carey Terrance was elbowed in the head by Bridgeport's Luke Rowe on April 3, Fitzgerald dropped the gloves with Rowe as soon as the in-state rivals met for their next game. That's a role a captain should play, and Fitzgerald played it well.

The Wolf Pack's defensive corps struggled throughout the season, but Fitzgerald turned in a quality campaign, earning him Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Goaltender of the Year: Dylan Garand

Coming into the season, Dylan Garand finally got the opportunity to be the Wolf Pack's number one goaltender after three years of sharing the net. A strong performance in the starting role would help Garand build his case to make his long-awaited NHL debut.

Garand's numbers took a step back from his phenomenal 2024-25 campaign, but he by no means turned in a bad season. Garand gave his team a chance to win every time he stepped on the ice, keeping the Wolf Pack in plenty of games and outright winning them others, even if he wasn't getting support.

Garand's solid season with the Wolf Pack eventually led to his NHL debut on March 22. He'd appear in three games with the Rangers, posting a 2-0-1 record, a 1.62 GAA, and a .948 SV%. With Jonathan Quick retiring at the end of the season, Garand now looks poised to break camp with the Rangers in the fall.

It's been an absolute joy to watch Garand on the ice and get to know him off it over the past four seasons in Hartford, and I'm heavily rooting for him at the next level. For the second straight year, he takes home the Goaltender of the Year award.

Rookie of the Year: Carey Terrance

When the Wolf Pack kicked off the 2025-26 season, Carey Terrance was one of just three rookies to get consistent playing time. The former Erie Otter, acquired over the summer from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Chris Kreider, often skated as Hartford's fourth-line center, tasked with bringing energy on the forecheck.

As recalls and injuries began to pile up, Terrance got an opportunity to move up in the lineup and take on more responsibility. The increased ice was beneficial to the rookie forward, who ended the season with eight points over his last eight games.

Terrance got more comfortable and played better as the season progressed. He worked hard on his game and earned the increased ice time towards the end of the campaign. Now, Terrance will enter the 2026-27 season as one of Hartford's more intriguing forward options.

Terrance's play improved throughout the season as he adjusted to professional hockey. He's my choice for Rookie of the Year.

Most Improved Players: Adam Sýkora and Jaroslav Chmelař

At the start of the 2025-26 season, Adam Sýkora and Jaroslav Chmelař sat fairly low on the organizational depth chart. Players like Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, and Brett Berard, all of whom had previous NHL experience, would likely earn promotions before either of the two.

By the end of the season, however, Sýkora and Chmelař had not only made their respective NHL debuts, but looked like legitimate bottom-six options for the New York Rangers moving forward.

Chmelař got off to a strong start in Hartford, skating alongside Perreault and Justin Dowling on the Wolf Pack's top line. He earned his first recall to the NHL in early November and made his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on November 7, highlighted by a fight against Travis Hamonic.

Sýkora, meanwhile, spent much of the season in Hartford. He turned in his best campaign yet, scoring a career-high 12 goals while remaining an elite forechecker and penalty killer. Sýkora's shining moment of his AHL time came on January 10, when he scored the Wolf Pack's Teddy Bear Toss goal in an eventual 5-1 win over the Providence Bruins.

Chmelař went on to play 28 games with the Rangers, while Sýkora drew in for 11 contests. They brought energy and fun to the bottom six over the final few games of the season, and both seem to have an inside track to break camp with the Rangers next season.

The two have been attached at the hip ever since they became teammates in Hartford, and a pair of strong AHL seasons has turned them from depth pieces to legit NHLers. Sýkora and Chmelař both deserve the Most Improved Player award.

Best AHL-Contracted Player: Brody Lamb

Am I bending the rules a bit with this pick? Sure. But I also made the rules for this piece. Brody Lamb, who inked his entry-level contract with the Rangers and an amateur tryout contract with the Wolf Pack in March, technically played on an AHL contract this season, and was a joy to watch.

Lamb made his professional debut on March 14 and went on to appear in 15 games with the Wolf Pack this season. He went on to tally four goals and five assists across that stretch, which included a six-game point streak, tied for the longest streak by a Wolf Pack player this season.

The Wolf Pack struggled as a team over those final 15 games, but Lamb stood out in a good way. He looked totally comfortable playing pro hockey in a way few players on ATOs do at the end of the season. He'll be a big piece of Hartford's offense next year, unless he pulls a Victor Mancini or a Noah Laba and forces his way onto the Rangers' roster for opening night.

He might get this award on a technicality, but it's a deserving award nonetheless. Lamb is my choice for Best AHL-Contracted Player.

Best Single-Game Offensive Performance: Trey Fix-Wolansky, April 17, 2026 vs. Springfield

He's already claimed the Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP awards. Now, Fix-Wolansky makes it a hat trick of honors thanks to an incredible game on April 17 against Springfield.

In that game, Fix-Wolansky posted three goals and two assists in a thrilling comeback victory over their rivals from western Massachusetts. His second goal of the night was his 30th of the season, while his empty net dagger sent the hats flying for the second time this season.

With the performance, Fix-Wolansky became the first Wolf Pack player to tally five points in a single game since Jonny Brodzinski notched a goal and four assists in a 6-5 win over the Thunderbirds on March 24, 2023.

"Just wanted to give the crowd something to cheer about and go out with a bang," Fix-Wolansky told Blueshirt Banter when asked about his performance in the game.

Fix-Wolansky's performance contributed to an incredible ending to the 2025-26 season. It's an easy choice for Best Single-Game Offensive Performance.

Best Single-Game Goaltending Performance: Dylan Garand, February 28, 2026 at Lehigh Valley

It's no secret that goaltenders are creatures of habit. Their pregame routines are rigorous and even odd at times. Garand is no exception, something he and his three head coaches - Kris Knoblauch, Steve Smith, and Grant Potulny - have all mentioned to me at one point. He has a strict pregame procedure he goes through before every start in order to dial himself in for action.

That's part of what makes this performance from Garand so incredible. Garand didn't start the game, dressing as the backup to Spencer Martin. However, after Martin allowed two goals on four shots through just 5:33 of action, Potulny opted to swap his goaltenders, sending Garand to the cage.

Garand settled the game down, allowing the Wolf Pack to tie the contest. Connor Mackey got them on the board just over the halfway point of the first period, with Sýkora tying the contest 27 seconds later.

Lehigh Valley struck two more times in the middle frame, but goals from Juuso Pärssinen and Othmann knotted the score at four and eventually sent the game to overtime.

Neither side could find the winner in the extra session, sending the game to a shootout. It was here where Garand elevated his performance from a great one to the best one of the season.

Alex Bump gave the Phantoms the advantage in the top of the second round, but Othmann responded in the bottom of the third. The next eight shooters failed to convert before Christian Kyrou and Dylan Roobroeck traded goals in the eighth round.

Garand made four more stops, allowing Dowling to cement the victory in the bottom of the 12th round.

Altogether, Garand came off the bench, played nearly a full game's worth in relief, and stopped 10 of 12 shootout attempts to help will the Wolf Pack to victory. That's an easy nod for Best Single-Game Goaltending Performance.

Game of the Year: April 17, 2026 - Wolf Pack 7, Springfield 5

Heading into the last weekend of the season, I was sure the aforementioned February 28 game against Lehigh Valley would end up being winning the Game of the Year honors. I even said as much on Twitter after the game. I couldn't see how a 12-round shootout win could be topped.

Then April 17 happened.

In the Wolf Pack's final home game of the season, they found themselves trailing to their rivals, the Springfield Thunderbirds, 5-2 after two periods of play. Springfield had taken the lead thanks to a four-minute double minor against Anton Blidh, where they scored twice, and a goal off a wild bounce in the final seconds of the middle frame.

Wanting to treat their fans to one last incredible memory to end the season, the Wolf Pack turned in their best period of the campaign. It started with Lamb potting a power play goal just 35 seconds into the final frame to cut the deficit to two.

Kyle Jackson followed up just over two minutes later, notching his first AHL goal after a brilliant feed from Scott Morrow to make it a one goal game.

Fitzgerald tied the game just under eight minutes into the period, floating a shot on goal from the top of the zone that sailed past Vadim Zherenko. The PeoplesBank Arena erupted as their team came all the way back.

Springfield slowed things down for a bit, but they couldn't stop the inevitable. With just four and a half minutes to play, Terrance put the Wolf Pack ahead, beating Zherenko from an impossible angle to complete the comeback.

Springfield pulled Zherenko as they sought the equalizer, but Fix-Wolansky potted his third goal of the night to deliver the dagger, send the hats flying, and secure a 7-5 victory.

If you watch the highlights above, you'd have no idea this Wolf Pack team ended up finishing in last place this season. The Hartford faithful were loud all game, cheering on their team even though they had nothing but pride to play for. The Wolf Pack responded by delivering an improbable comeback and cementing this contest as Game of the Year.

Moment of the Year: Wolf Pack, Islanders Rack Up 212 Penalty Minutes, March 6, 2026

In the final year of the Battle of Connecticut, the Wolf Pack and Islanders gave us some memorable moments. However, none were better than the 212 penalty minute affair the sides played at the PeoplesBank Arena on March 6.

The Wolf Pack controlled through 40 minutes, leading 5-0 thanks to Fix-Wolansky, Sýkora, and Brendan Brisson combining to tally four goals and eight points.

Tensions exploded five and a half minutes into the final frame. The rivals engaged in a massive scrum that saw ten players sent to the penalty box with two minutes for roughing and a ten minute misconduct - Fix-Wolansky, Sýkora, Brisson, Morrow, and Cooper Moore for Hartford, and Travis Mitchell, Cam Berg, Matthew Maggio, Cole McWard, and Alex Jefferies for Bridgeport.

The Wolf Pack would tack on another power play goal to make it 6-0, but the action was far from over. Just under the halfway point in the frame, another scrum erupted. Bridgeport's Hunter Drew charged at Martin, but Jackson Dorrington stepped up and took the fight. However, after Drew and Dorrington wrestled each other to the ground, Drew immediately went after Martin, who was more than willing to respond.

Drew would ultimately collect 32 penalty minutes on the night, while the scrum took the sides up to a combined 212 penalty minutes, topping the 160 combined penalty minutes from the Wolf Pack's line brawl with the Rochester Americans on January 25, 2025. As the chaos settled, Martin did his best Gladiator impression, asking the Hartford faithful if they were not entertained while soaking in their thunderous applause.

The Wolf Pack would go on to win the game 6-0, capping off an incredibly fun game with a dominant win.

"I honestly didn't expect any of that tonight," Martin noted to Blueshirt Banter after the game. "But it's been super consistent since I've been here, that we stick up for each other. If there's an issue, everybody's in."

That mentality led to a game I'll remember forever and this moment easily earning Moment of the Year honors.

The 2025-26 season was a tumultuous one for the Wolf Pack. Their last place finish was disappointing, something player and coach would agree with. That said, this season was still an incredibly fun ride, even with an ending that nobody is satisfied with.

As the calendar turns to July and the 2026-27 league year gets underway, we'll be getting prepared for the Wolf Pack's 30th season here in Hartford. Before that happens, I want to thank all of you who took this ride with me. It's an honor to be able to share this passion with you.

You'll hear plenty from me over the summer, and before you know it, we'll be back at the PeoplesBank Arena come October!