Talking Pack: Projecting the 2026-27 Hartford Wolf Pack

Welcome to Talking Pack, a weekly offseason column about the Hartford Wolf Pack, exclusively at Blueshirt Banter. Every week, we'll catch you up on what's going on with the Rangers' AHL affiliate as they prepare for their 30th season in the fall.

The New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack have been quite busy this summer. The Blueshirts have completely revamped their roster, highlighted by acquiring star winger Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights during the NHL entry draft in June. Other moves the Rangers have made include dealing veteran center Vincent Trocheck to Utah and trading for defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks.

At the AHL level, the Wolf Pack have been equally busy. They've hired a new coaching staff and made several depth signings as they aim to improve off a dismal last-place finish during the 2025-26 season.

The moves the respective clubs have made leave Hartford with a wealth of options to fill out their roster. From prospects beginning their pro careers to steady veterans, new Wolf Pack head coach Jay Leach will not be limited when filling out his lineup card for each game.

Today, we'll predict what the Wolf Pack's opening night roster might look like when they take the ice next month.

Forwards (15)

Note: players listed in bold are rookies and players listed with an underline count as an AHL veteran.

• Nathan Aspinall
• Jacob Battaglia
• Anton Blidh
• Cole Beaudoin
• Justin Dowling
• Glenn Gawdin
• Liam Greentree
• Zakary Karpa
• Brody Lamb
• Bryce McConnell-Barker
• Justin Nachbaur
• Dylan Roobroeck
• Adam Sykora
• Carey Terrance
• Aidan Thompson

Last season, the Wolf Pack lacked forward options and often used lineups consisting of 11 forwards and seven defensemen. That won't be an issue this season, with the club gaining plenty of new players up front.

There are five forwards I expect to be in Hartford that will play in the first year of their entry level contact—Nathan Aspinall, Jacob Battaglia, Cole Beaudoin, Liam Greentree, and Brody Lamb. Aspinall (159th overall, 2024) and Lamb (104th overall, 2021) were Rangers draft picks, while Battaglia, Beaudoin, and Greentree were acquired in trades for Brennan Othmann, Trocheck, and Artemi Panarin, respectively. Aspinall and Lamb have both played in Hartford on amateur tryout contacts, with Aspinall appearing in five games at the end of the 2024-25 season and Lamb getting 15 games under his belt during the 2025-26 campaign.

There's been quite a lot of excitement about this group, especially former first rounders Beaudoin (24th overall, 2024) and Greentree (26th overall, 2024). However, I'd expect both players to spend the season in Hartford, save for a cup of coffee if they perform well and injuries necessitate a recall.