Jay Leach Named Head Coach of Hartford Wolf Pack

The New York Rangers have named Jay Leach as the new head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. The move brings a seasoned coach with deep AHL and NHL ties into the Rangers' system.

Leach joins the Rangers organization after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach in the NHL with the Boston Bruins from 2004 to 2026 and the Seattle Kraken from 2021 to 2024. His experience spans multiple teams and roles, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the modern game.

Prior to his NHL assistant coaching career, Leach served as head coach of the Providence Bruins from 2017 to 2021. During that span, he led the team to two division titles. He also held a brief interim head coaching role with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2015-16 and owns a career head coaching record of 139-77-16-11, a winning percentage of .628.

In addition to his head coaching duties, Leach has worked as an assistant coach in Providence and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He helped the Providence Bruins reach the AHL conference finals in 2017 and served as a coach at the AHL All-Star Classic in 2016 and 2018.

A former defenseman, Leach spent 12 years in professional hockey, playing 499 games in the AHL with teams like the Springfield Falcons, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Worcester Sharks. He also appeared in 70 games in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins.

Leach’s appointment is a strategic hire for the Rangers as they continue to build a strong farm system. His familiarity with the AHL and his history of developing winning teams make him a solid fit for the Wolf Pack.

The Wolf Pack open the 2024-25 season on October 7 against the Laval Rocket. With Leach now in place, the team is set to begin preparations for a competitive campaign.