What’s next for Rangers after AHL Wolf Pack coaching staff fired
In a move that felt more inevitable than surprising, the New York Rangers fired Hartford Wolf Pack coach Grant Potulny and two assistants Sunday, shaking things up with their American Hockey League affiliate.
Potulny was 56-71-12-5 in two seasons as coach of the Wolf Pack, his first job in pro hockey after 15 seasons coaching in the NCAA, seven as head coach with Northern Michigan University. Hartford failed to qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs in his two seasons, and finished last in the AHL with 60 points (26-38-5-3) in 2025-26. The Wolf Pack had a dismal minus-63 goal differential, which was second worst behind Calgary’s minus-66.
Hired for his experience and success developing young players, Potulny had a mixed bag of results with Hartford. Plus, adapting to coaching veteran player amid a consistent roster churn didn’t appear to be Potulny’s forte.
New York’s two best younger players this season each earned a regular spot in the Rangers lineup with minimal experience at the AHL level. So, it was hard for Potulny and his staff to take much credit for either Gabe Perreault (20 games with the Wolf Pack this season) nor Noah Laba (11 games with the Wolf Pack at the end of 2024-25).
However, Potulny deserves some kudos for helping bring along goalie Dylan Garand and forwards Adam Sykora and Jaroslav Chmelar, who all impressed at the NHL level late in the season, and even Matt Rempe, who improved when sent to Hartford in 2024-25.
On the other side of the coin, 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othmann never developed into the player the Rangers hoped, before they traded him to the Calgary Flames in March. Brett Berard and Dylan Roobroeck regressed considerably this season in Hartford, and top defenseman prospect Scott Morrow never found his previous AHL All-Star form in his first season with the Wolf Pack in 2025-26.
Each player bears responsibility for his own performance, of course. But Potulny clearly did not have enough success bringing along young talent nor winning games. And he shares that blame with the Rangers player development staff.
Not so coincidentally, this moves comes mere days after Jed Ortmeyer left the Rangers organization to pursue other opportunities. Ortmeyer was their head of player development and been with the Rangers for nine years. It’s believed another former Rangers forward working in player development, Tanner Glass, will take over Ortmeyer’s role in the front office.
It should be noted that Hartford’s lack of success under Potulny coincided with the Rangers collapse at the NHL level. The Rangers failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past two seasons, and finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26.
What’s next for Rangers after firing AHL coaching staff
Ryan Martin’s status
One of Chris Drury’s most important hires after assuming the president and general manager’s roles with the Rangers in 2021 was to hire Ryan Martin as his assistant GM and general manager of the Wolf Pack, roles he previously held with the Detroit Red Wings. Martin’s resume includes a pair of Calder Trophy championships, and he’s widely respected around the League.
So much so that Martin’s name surfaced this offseason as a possibility to become GM of either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Nashville Predators. Toronto just hired John Chayka as general manager, and Nashville is still working through its process before naming Barry Trotz’s successor.
Assuming Martin stays with the Rangers, he needs to help build a better veteran base around the young players at Hartford. Remember, next season Hartford very well could have key prospects Liam Greentree, Nathan Aspinall, and Jacob Battaglia joining a young nucleus that includes Brody Lamb, Carey Terrance, Aidan Thompson, Morrow, Roobroeck, and others. An improved veteran foundation must be built to better aid the on — and off — ice development of the kids.
Build a new coaching staff
This is obvious. If you fire the coaching staff, you must build a new one. But it’ll be interesting to see what type of head coach Drury and Martin hire. Will he be another first-timer at the pro level — like Potulny and Kris Knoblauch, who coached Hartford from 2019-23 before landing an NHL gig with the Edmonton Oilers? Or a more veteran pro coach, with AHL experience, and perhaps time behind an NHL bench? Maybe another college coach, or one from junior, with a proven track record of developing high-end prospects?
Needless to say, this is a guessing game because Drury didn’t comment on Potulny’s firing much less what he and Martin want in their next AHL coach. Martin, per Rangers policy, doesn’t speak with the media.
But names will leak out during the process and we will get an idea of who’s in the running.
You’d think that someone with NHL experience — either as a player or behind the bench — should be hired at least as an assistant. Former Rangers defenseman Paul Mara filled that role for two seasons in Hartford, but was fired along with fellow assistant Jamie Tardif
More changes coming?
In the past month, Drury’s made a slew of front office moves. The Rangers brought Kevin Maxwell back as director of pro scouting and player personnel, after he spent the past few seasons as St. Louis Blues assistant GM and general manager of their AHL affiliate in Springfield. Ortmeyer left the organization; Glass may soon have company running the player development department; and the AHL coaching staff was fired.
Don’t be surprised if the Rangers make some changes in the scouting department, as well, this offseason. Unless Martin lands another job, say as Predators general manager, no further higher end changes are expected. And certainly the NHL coaching staff led by Mike Sullivan is safe, even despite the last-place finish in 2025-26.
Draft Lottery
Let’s just say Tuesday is an extremely day for the Rangers. The NHL Draft Lottery takes place, and the Rangers have the third-best odds, 11.5 percent according to Tankathon, to win the No. 1 overall pick. That would mean a chance to land a true difference maker, like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, and really kickstart the current retool.
The Rangers can’t pick lower than fifth overall; but if they don’t land the No. 1 selection, you can sure bet they want to remain where they are right now in the No. 3 slot. Center Caleb Malhotra and defensemen Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff are among the expected enticing options at third overall.
