What a year can make regarding the ever-changing landscape of hockey affiliations. During the summer of 2023, the Carolina Hurricanes lost their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliation with the Chicago Wolves and entered a working agreement with the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals were their primary ECHL affiliate team before they switched over to become the official team for the Winnipeg Jets. The Hurricanes spent the 2023-24 season loaning their prospects out around the AHL, and ECHL, and even sending them back to Europe so their players could get playing time. That is a huge blow for teams hoping to see their players get the development they need.
However, the 2024 offseason was much more in the corner of the Hurricanes as the minor league landscape changed once again, and thankfully in their favor. Where do the Hurricanes stand now in their minor league hockey pipeline as the ultimate goal is to get to Raleigh, NC, and be in the NHL?
Bringing the Band Back Together
One of the main things that the Hurricanes needed to regain their pipeline for their own players was getting an AHL affiliate back under the umbrella. The previous offseason the Wolves went independent leaving the Hurricanes without an AHL team. Thankfully on May 2, that all changed. It was announced that the Hurricanes and Wolves would reunite on a new three-year affiliation deal. At the time of the announcement, then-general manager of the Wolves Wendell Young stated, “We’re looking forward to being affiliated again and moving forward. It’s for the benefit of the Chicago Wolves, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the American Hockey League that we have 32 NHL teams and 32 AHL affiliates. It’s good to be partnered with the Hurricanes.” Once that was taken care of and we are in the middle of the offseason, we have already seen the Hurricanes bolster the AHL squad with veterans and the incoming prospects who hope to one day play for the team in Raleigh.
Related: Hurricanes Reunite With Chicago Wolves for AHL Affiliation
In July, the Hurricanes added AHL veterans Josiah Slavin, Riley Stillman, Joakim Ryan, etc. to help the future young guys get ready to play professional hockey at the AHL level. Furthermore, bringing back former Wolf Ryan Suzuki will go a long way in developing the prospects. Getting the AHL affiliation back will pay off in dividends for both the Wolves who want to get back into the Calder Cup Playoffs. Even more so for the Hurricanes who want all of their top prospects in…
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