Wolves rebuild for another run at Calder Cup
When the Chicago Wolves took to the ice last year in their first home game of the season, they raised their second Calder Cup championship banner to the rafters amid expectations of another playoff-bound season ahead.
While last season didnt' go as planned after failing to make the playoffs for only the second time in the franchise's 15 seasons, the Wolves take the ice Saturday at the Allstate Arena against the Milwaukee Admirals with new hopes and higher expectations.
Longtime general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff left for the Chicago Blackhawks, and Wolves icon Wendell Young has replaced him. With Young and second-year head coach Don Granato, the Wolves look to get back to their winning ways.
"We don't just want to make the playoffs here," Young said. "We want to win Calder Cups."
To help with that, the Wolves will have the services of a key player from their 2007-2008 championship run. Jason Krog returns and looks to help the organization get back to the top. Krog brings scoring (86 points last season) and leadership to a Chicago team that lost a lot of veterans and scoring in the off-season.
"I expect nothing less than a championship," said the former Hobey Baker winner and the 2007-2008 AHL MVP. "It's a talented roster."
The Wolves added more firepower by means of Tim Stapleton, a native of La Grange who joins the Wolves from Toronto, where he tallied 79 points in 70 games.
"I'll do whatever I can to help the team," Stapleton said. "I'll put up points but be responsible on defense first."
A confident Granato believes the team is starting to come together nicely.
"On paper it's very exciting and talented," he said. "Jason Krog is a proven scorer and has been an AHL MVP, Tim Stapleton is a big scorer and (Steve) McCarthy is a big addition. All of these guys are still in their prime and have more room for improvement."
McCarthy joined the team earlier in the week and is happy to be with the Wolves. The former first-round choice of the Chicago Blackhawks has suffered from injuries the past few seasons and hopes he can stay healthy and contribute.
"I've only been here for a few days," McCarthy said, "but the systems are clear, and we just need to go out and do what (Granato) says."
Brett Sterling is back for another season with the Wolves. Sterling, third all-time in franchise history with 110 goals, has no doubts about the team that Young has assembled. Offensively all four lines could be at least two or threes on any team, Sterling said.
"There aren't any weaknesses. I expect nothing but the best," Sterling said.
In goal for the Wolves this year will be a former second pick of the Detroit Red Wings, Drew MacIntyre. Last year with Manitoba, MacIntyre led the AHL in wins (34) and in 11 playoff games posted a 1.65 goals against average.
All the holes are filled, Granato said.
"Right now we have four, possibly five solid lines. This is probably the most deep we've ever been. The defense is strong and we have MacIntyre in goal."
Other players that will be looked upon this season to shoulder some of the load are returning leading scorer Spencer Machacek (48 points), center Riley Holzapfel (32), center Matt Anderson (31) and center Kevin Doell, who had 49 points with Leksands LF (Sweden).
Young, who has high expectations, prefers not to make predictions: "It looks good on paper, but the game is played on the ice."
And it all begins Saturday.