The Chicago Wolves reputation as the American Hockey League’s unruly child is certainly softening due to their new partnership with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Having often been at logger-heads with previous affiliates (no love lost with the St. Louis Blues), Chicago are certainly benefiting from the Knights talent being reassigned to the AHL.

On paper the Wolves have one of the best AHL tandems in the shape of two goaltenders with something to prove as they search for a route back into the NHL.

Oscar Dansk

The Swedish net minder was a 31st overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets but passed over by the organisation at the conclusion of his entry level contract in 2017, having only received a split season in the AHL/ECHL to make an impression in North America.

Having signed a one year-two deal for Vegas upon his release, the future for Dansk appeared to be in the AHL but after just one game for Chicago a call-up to the NHL arrived as the Knights were suffering an injury crises between the pipes.

That crisis deepened even further for the Knights as Malcolm Subban suffered an injury in the third period, which gave Dansk the opportunity to get his first taste of NHL action on his debut – playing the final fourteen minutes of regulation and helping Vegas attain a 3-2 shootout win.
He proceeded to win his first start and then shutout Colorado with a 32 save performance – a franchise first clean sheet for the Golden Knights.
However the injury bug then struck Dansk at the worst possible time and by the time he was healthy, reassignment to Chicago followed in late January.

There was no opportunity in the NHL last season for the 25yo but he posted a top fifteen save percentage (.0913) and won 27 of forty games before backstopping the Wolves all the way to the Calder Cup final in which they were downed by the dominant Charlotte Checkers.

Garret Sparks

Garret Sparks’ often fractious relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs came to an end after eight years when the goaltender was traded to Las Vegas.
A fresh start might be just what the 26 year old requires after falling out of favour in Toronto, having never seemingly garnered the full confidence of the head coach and struggled as a result with consistency in the NHL.

What Chicago have gained is one of the best goaltenders in recent AHL history with a record almost second-to-none.
Sparks’ career number with the Toronto Marlies read as follows:

Regular season record: 80-28-5
Shutouts: 15
Save percentage: .0927

Playoff record: 17-8
Shutouts: 3
Save percentage: 0.914
One Calder Cup Championship

From Elmshurst Illinois, this is a chance for Sparks to ‘go home’ so to speak in an attempt to work his way back into NHL reckoning and for both he and Dansk the opportunity exists for them to put pressure on the current #2.

The back-up in Vegas is Malcolm Subban, who flourished against all the odds in 2017-18 behind an inspired Vegas team who rallied around the rookie goaltender during the merry-go-round between the pipes.

With the greatest of respect to the Toronto native, his career .903Sv% through forty-five games isn’t a particularly high bar to reach for and the former Boston Bruin net minder is sure to be under pressure for his job should he under perform and those below him in the pecking order play to their best of their ability.

Regardless of whether either Sparks or Dansk earn themselves another shot at the top level, it’ll be Chicago who benefits from their desire and level of play in what should prove one of the best tandems in the American League during the 2019-20 campaign.