The New York Rangers and their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, have made a significant offseason change, announcing Sunday that the team’s coaching staff has been relieved of its duties following a disappointing 2025–26 campaign.
Head coach Grant Potulny was dismissed along with assistant coaches Jamie Tardif and Paul Mara. The move comes after Hartford finished at the bottom of the American Hockey League standings with a 26-38-5-3 record, totaling 60 points. It marked the franchise’s first last-place finish since the 2016–17 season.
Potulny had taken over ahead of the 2024–25 season after a successful seven-year run at Northern Michigan University. However, his tenure in Hartford yielded limited success. Over two seasons, the Wolf Pack compiled a 56-71-12-5 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs in both years. The downturn followed a more competitive stretch for the franchise, which had reached the Atlantic Division Finals in consecutive seasons prior to his arrival under former coaches Kris Knoblauch and Steve Smith.
Tardif, who joined the organization in 2022, had remained on staff through multiple coaching regimes after previously working with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. Mara, meanwhile, was added midway through the 2023–24 season after Smith’s promotion and brought prior head coaching experience from the Boston Pride, along with a role in player development within the Rangers organization.
Despite some progress in developing young talent, the team’s on-ice struggles ultimately led to the decision. Hartford finished near the bottom of the league standings in back-to-back seasons, prompting leadership to make a clean break behind the bench.
Looking ahead, the Wolf Pack will begin an immediate search for a new coaching staff as they prepare for the 2026–27 season, which will mark the franchise’s 30th year in Hartford. General manager Ryan Martin is expected to lead the hiring process as the organization aims to return to playoff contention and reestablish a competitive presence in the AHL.
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