Carolina Hurricanes: The Pros and Cons of Affiliation with the Chicago Wolves

The Carolina Hurricanes are nearing a deal to replace the Charlotte Checkers with the Chicago Wolves as the next AHL affiliate. What are the benefits and detractors of this new affiliation?

This is not a fun article to write. The Charlotte Checkers have been a huge part of the Carolina Hurricanes family and this bitter divorce going on is not doing anything for the fans. But let’s look past that for a moment and look at the Chicago Wolves and what they can bring to the Carolina Hurricanes organization.

Let me get something out of the way first. All AHL players in the prospect pool and any staff that is currently considered part of the Carolina Hurricanes will move over to Chicago with the change of affiliation. That includes Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky. And any players affiliated with the prior NHL team, Vegas, will move on from the Wolves.

That will leave AHL level signed players who will not be moving from either team. But that really isn’t the value that we are looking at when it comes to both of these teams. Let’s look at what the Wolves can do for the Carolina Hurricanes.