Patrick WilliamsFeatures Writer for TheAHL.com
Change surrounds the Chicago Wolves.
For one of the most successful AHL franchises of the past two decades, the 2024-25 season will bring a restored NHL partnership and a dramatically overhauled roster.
After a one-year separation, the Wolves and Carolina Hurricanes are back together. The Hurricanes include a general manager Darren Yorke was named GM in Chicago, too Cam Abbott they'll be behind the bench as Carolina – fellow Calder Cup winners in 2019 and 2022 – go about their AHL careers after having their hopes dashed last season.
A native of Sarnia, Ont., the 40-year-old Abbott has spent most of his hockey career in Europe, an AHL head coach with no prior playing experience or previous coaching experience in a major developmental league. It's a challenge Abbott is looking forward to.
The Cornell University product played one season in the North American minors before heading overseas in 2007. Abbott played in Norway and Sweden before seven seasons as the head coach of Rogle BK in the Swedish Hockey League. He was named SHL coach of the year for 2021-22 when he led Rogle to the Champions Hockey League title.
The Hurricanes have plenty of promising prospects to land with the Wolves this fall, and they'll be counting on Abbott to help turn that youth into NHL talent. While Abbott was working in Sweden, he kept an eye on North America. The Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour he caught her.
“I'm a big fan of Carolina and how they play,” Abbott said. “[I have] Big credit to Rod and his crew and what they were able to do there. I feel like they play exciting hockey. They play smart hockey. They're very connected, and it's very clear how the whole team at Carolina is team-first, responsible… but still motivated offensively. I think hockey is really fun to watch as a fan and understand it as a coach.”
Abbott also brings first-hand knowledge of what it's like to go the extra mile to pursue your career goals.
“You can take things for granted when you're inside your comfort zone, and when you're forced outside you have to be flexible and understand that things are different,” Abbott said. “No better, no worse sometimes. It's just different. And I think that allowed me to have a much fuller appreciation of the situations of some of the players [are in]. Young men, but they have many needs as well. I hope to bring some of this understanding to Chicago. “
It will be Abbott's job to help many new – and young – faces get on and off the ice and come together as a team.
“What a great opportunity,” Abbott said. “What a great challenge.”
TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams has covered the American Hockey League for nearly two decades at outlets including NHL.com, Sportsnet, TSN, Hockey News, SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and SLAM ! Sports, and most recently was the host of The Hockey News On The 'A' podcast. He was the recipient of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league's top scorer in 2016.
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