by Alex Thomas | AHL On The Beat

On the early morning of July 2, 2023, Mac Hollowell formally made the relocation.

After parts of 5 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs company, Hollowell accepted a one-year agreement with the New York Rangers as an unlimited complimentary representative.

The competent defenseman from Niagara Falls, Ont., would go from being an essential cog for the Toronto Marlies to being Hartford’s puck-moving quarterback. The change appeared simple for Hollowell, who rapidly showed to be an effect addition.

Hollowell opened the season with a 10-game point streak, rattling off an objective and 9 helps. After an injury kept him out of the lineup for approximately 2 weeks, Hollowell went back to publish a career-high 4 helps in the Wolf Pack’s 6-4 triumph over the Providence Bruins on Nov. 22. Those 4 helps were simply one shy of the franchise record for helps in a single video game.

“I think a big part of what has allowed me to have a successful season is the coach’s trusting me early on to play pretty big minutes and in key situations,” Hollowell stated. “When they show faith in me to be a top guy, it really drives me to want to be better.”

There’s “better,” and after that there is “best.” This season, the Wolf Pack have actually gotten the absolute best of Hollowell. He turned his hot start into, statistically, the very best season of his profession. Hollowell has actually currently set brand-new career-best marks in helps with 38 and points with 40.

As part of that, Hollowell gathered the 100th point of his AHL profession. Fittingly, it came at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, versus his previous group the Marlies, on March 23.

“It meant a lot to me,” Hollowell stated. “It was my first time back there since I left. It’s where I started my pro career and really developed my game, so to me, that building and city will always be very special.”

He was likewise called to the AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose in February, the very first time in his profession he was chosen to take part in the occasion.

If those distinctions weren’t enough, Hollowell leads the league in helps by a defenseman. He’s likewise 8 helps far from connecting the franchise record for a rearguard (46), held by Thomas Pöck (2005-06) and Andrew Hutchinson (2007-08).

“It’s definitely cool to be at the top of any list or set any franchise record,” Hollowell stated. “I’m just going to continue to do what I have been and continue to try to help us win each night.”

Helping the Wolf Pack win each night is the greatest objective today. With simply 8 video games staying in the season, the club has a magic number of 10 to clinch an area in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. It’s all hands on deck for the Wolf Pack now as they attempt to make their 2nd straight berth in the dance.

Hollowell will be a huge part of things if the Wolf Pack are to go back to the playoffs and take pleasure in some success in the postseason for the 2nd straight spring.

“I just want to give it my best effort each night so that we can win hockey games,” Hollowell stated. “Getting this close to the playoffs, the game changes and you really have to fight for each inch out there. We know we have a really good, deep roster. We are capable of big things as long as we have the right attitude and mindset.”

The group’s mind is set on a go back to the playoffs. It’s likewise set on offering the fan base in Hartford more playoff action this spring at the XL Center, a structure that has actually seen the crowds continue to grow after a renaissance last season.

“It would mean everything to us,” he stated of playing championship game in downtown Hartford. “Our crowd has been buzzing, and we feed off that.”

A playoff berth, a possible franchise turning point, and a possible league lead in an analytical classification.

It’s been an effect very first season for Mac Hollowell with the Wolf Pack, and it isn’t near to over yet.