The Daily: Carolina Influenced Chicago Wolves Independence

Back in 2022, the Chicago Wolves captured the Calder Cup, making the Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliate a champion. But aside from the championship, strife was swirling.

Carolina Hockey Now included a story of how the Hurricanes brass nearly fired then coach Ryan Warsofsky because he chose to play one goaltender over another during the Calder Cup run. The story, which originally appeared in Inside AHL Hockey, is one of the main drivers for the Wolves’ choosing to be unaffiliated with an NHL team.

The Wolves will be independently operated for the first time since 2001-02, when they joined the AHL. Winning will take precedence over developing prospects, something that will certainly give the Chicago Wolves the sole chance to call the shots instead of being told from the highest point of the organization.

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