Thirty seasons, one Calder Cup, and a long list of players who have made their way from Hartford to Madison Square Garden.
The Hartford Wolf Pack enter 2026-27 continuing one of the AHL's longest-running NHL affiliations, serving as the primary development affiliate of the New York Rangers. The partnership isn't going anywhere, either, after New York and Hartford extended their affiliation through the 2028-29 season.
There is one notable change to the Rangers' development system this year. Bloomington, New York's ECHL affiliate for the past two seasons, switched affiliations to the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose this offseason, leaving the Rangers without an ECHL affiliate entering 2026-27.
Here's what Rangers fans need to know about Hartford, the prospects who could be headed there and the storylines surrounding the Wolf Pack this season.
Who are the Rangers' affiliates?
The Hartford Wolf Pack are the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate and the organization's primary minor-league development team.
Hartford and New York recently extended their affiliation through the 2028-29 season. The Wolf Pack are entering their 30th AHL season, giving the Rangers one of the league's longest-running NHL-AHL relationships.
The Rangers do not currently have an ECHL affiliate for 2026-27.
Bloomington filled that role during the Bison's first two seasons before announcing a new affiliation with Winnipeg and Manitoba in July.
Why should Rangers fans care about Hartford?
Hartford has been a major part of the Rangers' development system for three decades.
During the 2025-26 NHL season alone, 22 players who had previously played for the Wolf Pack appeared in at least one game for the Rangers. Current Rangers Igor Shesterkin, J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle are among the players who have spent time in Hartford during their careers.
The relationship also produced the 2000 Calder Cup, the only professional hockey championship in Hartford history.
For Rangers fans, the Wolf Pack remain the primary team to watch for players trying to make the jump to Madison Square Garden.
Who are the Rangers prospects to watch?
Exactly who starts the season in Hartford will depend on Rangers training camp, but several prospects could factor into the Wolf Pack roster.
Cole Beaudoin, F: The No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft was acquired from the Utah Mammoth this offseason in a high-profile swap for fan-favorite Vincent Trocheck. Beaudoin recorded 88 points in 54 OHL games with Barrie last season and is expected to begin his first professional season in Hartford.
Liam Greentree, F: Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Artemi Panarin trade, Greentree was the No. 26 overall pick in 2024. He produced 74 points, including 38 goals, in 52 games as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires (OHL) last season and is expected to begin his first pro season in the AHL.
Drew Fortescue, D: The 2023 third-round pick appeared in nine NHL games last season after finishing his junior season at Boston College. He's expected to start in Hartford but could push for an NHL job with a strong training camp.
Dylan Garand, G: Garand went 16-15-2 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 36 Hartford games last season. He also went 2-0-1 in his first three NHL appearances and will compete for the Rangers' backup job.
Scott Morrow, D: Morrow recorded 19 points in 34 games with Hartford and appeared in 29 games for New York last season. He enters camp competing for a full-time NHL role.
New York's No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, defenseman Alberts Smits, is another major prospect to watch, but he has an opportunity to earn an NHL job directly out of training camp.
What's happening with the Hartford Wolf Pack right now?
The Wolf Pack enter their 30th season with a new head coach and plenty of motivation to improve.
Hartford finished 26-38-5-3 last season and missed the Calder Cup Playoffs, setting up an important reset for 2026-27.
Jay Leach was named the ninth head coach in franchise history in June. Leach spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins and previously served four seasons as head coach of the Providence Bruins.
His Providence teams went 136-77-26 over 239 games.
The coaching staff also includes associate coach Bob Woods and assistant coach John Stevens, giving Hartford an experienced group behind the bench as the Wolf Pack try to get back into playoff contention.
What happened to the Rangers' ECHL affiliate?
The Rangers entered the previous two seasons with the Bloomington Bison serving as the ECHL affiliate for both New York and Hartford.
That relationship ended this summer.
Bloomington announced July 8 that it had entered a new affiliation agreement with the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose for 2026-27. The Bison's announcement specifically noted that the club had been affiliated with New York and Hartford during its first two seasons.
As of now, the Rangers have not announced a replacement ECHL affiliate for 2026-27.
That means Hartford is currently the only formal minor-league affiliate in the Rangers' development system.
What's coming up?
The Wolf Pack's 30th anniversary season brings a new coaching staff, a potentially intriguing group of young players and another chance to return to the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Hartford's opener: The Wolf Pack begin the regular season on the road against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday, Oct. 3 at PPL Center.
Hartford's home opener: The Wolf Pack return to PeoplesBank Arena to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The prospects: Training camp will determine which players actually begin the season in Hartford. Beaudoin, Greentree and Fortescue are among the strongest candidates, while Garand and Morrow will try to earn NHL roles.
For Rangers fans, Hartford remains the place to watch the next wave of potential NHL contributors. And after New York and Hartford extended their partnership through 2028-29, one of the AHL's longest-running affiliations isn't going anywhere.
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