Chicago Wolves Planning To Go Fully Independent For 2023-24 Season

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Chicago Wolves general manager Wendell Young started off the work week dropping a bombshell, sending a statement out to NHL/AHL player agents first thing Monday morning that detailed the team's upcoming plans for next season - they're going rogue.

"For the upcoming 2023-2024 AHL season, the Chicago Wolves are planning to operate as an Independent Franchise with no affiliation with an NHL team," Young's emailed statement to the agent world began.

The email, obtained by InsideAHLHockey.com Wednesday afternoon, was a chain email with 120 recipients of NHL and AHL player agents and agencies.

It is unknown if multiple similar emails were sent out to more, but it's clear that Young is getting the wheels set in motion ahead of the off-season and free agency this summer.

The Wolves are currently in the final year of a three-year affiliation agreement with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, announced back in September 2020, that is set to expire at the conclusion of this season.

On the surface, the idea that an American Hockey League team could operate in the league without an affiliation to one of the 32 NHL organizations is certainly a bold one.

One prominent NHL/AHL agent told InsideAHLHockey.com Wednesday during the day, however, that "the possibility of them going it alone is definitely viable."

So How Would This All Work?

Besides the major ordeal of needing the AHL's Board of Governors approval, is this even something the Wolves could pull off?

And how do they expect to accomplish this?

Young's short email to agents Monday briefly outlined their plans for impending free agents and working with any number of NHL teams to help fill out their roster.

Young explained to agents the Wolves "would entertain players on NHL contracts that would be loaned by an NHL Club to the Chicago Wolves," meaning that the Wolves would be willing to add NHL-contracted players from other NHL teams but will not be continuing their affiliation with the Hurricanes.

AHL rules prevent teams from dressing more than six skaters that enter the season with 260 or more games of pro experience, but Chicago could entice free agents leaving the NCAA and CHL ranks unable to land an NHL contract to sign a one-year AHL contract and have a place to be able to showcase their game at the pro level.

It's no secret around the AHL that the Chicago Wolves - and Young - want to operate their AHL franchise in a very specific way. They've ran through a multitude of NHL partners over the years, and seemingly have been unable to find a longterm fit.

It's also well-known that the Carolina Hurricanes are keen to keeping costs low - AHL affiliation included - and likely saw AHL Chicago as an option due to their willingness to spend money and add solid veteran pros on AHL contract to bolster the prospects the wanted to develop.

While it seemed like a win-win on the surface, the relationship soured as the classic prospect development vs winning and selling tickets debate reared its head again for the Wolves - one of 12 AHL franchise's in the league not owned by their NHL counterpart.

The AHL had expanded to 32 teams with the addition of the Coachella Valley Firebirds to match up with the Seattle Kraken as the 32nd NHL franchise, but an independent AHL franchise at this stage would leave Carolina without an AHL partner and unable to just create a 33rd AHL franchise to house their prospects.

Young concluded the email stating that ECHL-level players would be addressed at a later date.

More details will emerge, and InsideAHLHockey.com has proven over the years to be a reliable source of information with well-connected insights and trusted sources around the AHL.

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