Players inking deals with the Wolves have included several who were on the team last season, veterans of both the NHL and AHL as well as young players about to get their first taste of the AHL.
NHL teams have taken notice of the Wolves roster and must like what they see as five players signed this season have been invited to NHL training camps, including goaltender Keith Kinkaid (New Jersey), forwards Cory Conacher (Carolina), Peter Abbandonato (Pittsburgh), Isaac Ratcliffe (St. Louis) and defenseman Austin Strand (Arizona). Also, Winnipeg added forward Connor McClennon to its roster for the Young Stars Classic.
«I think this shows respect for Wendell's ability to choose players,» Wolves owner Don Levin said. «Players who were not considered by the NHL before signing with the Wolves are now being sought after by several NHL teams after Wendell signed them. As always, we are thrilled when a Wolves player makes the NHL.»
The Wolves have a proven track record of developing players for the NHL and the five players currently headed to NHL camps will have an opportunity to further showcase their skills with that goal in mind.