With the NHL season opener behind us, it's time for the AHL season to get underway this weekend. The Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced their roster ahead of their season-opening tilt with the Iowa Wild on Saturday.
Roster rules for the AHL are a little different than the NHL. Where the NHL has a set maximum of 23 players, there isn't one for the AHL. Instead, they have requirements for how many games at least 12 of their skaters must have played, with one player needing to have played over 320 games in the NHL, AHL, or Europe. The AHL rule book does a better job of explaining it than I can.
There is a considerable amount of retention for the team this season. They're returning 10 of their Top 13 scorers, including all three of their 50-point scorers from a season ago. Along with several of the Canes' top prospects, the Wolves will also count on the NHL experience of Givani Smith, who signed a one-year deal after impressing during the preseason, and Gavin Beyreuther.
Ivan Ryabkin is sticking with the Wolves for now
All indications are that Ivan Ryabkin is sticking around the AHL, earning a spot on the 27-man roster. While it might not be a permanent decision, it's a good sign for Ryabkin, who I felt impressed during both the rookie showcase in Florida and his limited action during the preseason. His offensive game is ready, but the AHL is the perfect place for him to develop the rest of his game.
After being selected late in the 2nd round by the Hurricanes, many have felt that Ryabkin could be considered the steal of the draft. He possessed 1st-round talent, but there were character and effort concerns that pushed him down the board. Cam Abbott and his staff will do all they can to get the best out of him and make him a player who'll have a long career in Raleigh.
The goalie situation took a major hit with Primeau being claimed
The weakest area on the roster is, without question, its goaltending. All offseason, it appeared that Cayden Primeau would claim the role as the Wolves' starter. He played well during the preseason, but his placement on waivers to send him to Chicago ended with Primeau being snatched by the Toronto Maple Leafs, leaving the Wolves without a legitimate #1.
While Brandon Bussi was claimed off waivers, he remains with the Canes for now. This leaves prospects Ruslan Khazheyev and Nikita Quapp, and offseason signing Amir Miftakhov, as the trio the Wolves are beginning the season with.
Khazheyev is the only one who played in Chicago last season, though his numbers weren't great in 20 appearances. Still, the 20-year-old showed positive signs of development during the rookie showcase. Miftakhov has AHL experience, playing 21 games with Syracuse in 2021-22, but he had a rough preseason. Quapp is entering his first season in North America after playing in Germany.
With tons of experience on the roster and coming off an albeit brief appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs a season ago, the Chicago Wolves appear to be in good shape heading into the 2025-26 season. They open their season in Iowa on Saturday at 7 pm EST/6 pm CST.