ROSEMONT, Illinois – The hockey bags tell a story. 

As an AHL team loads the bus after a game, the bags reflect the roster. Most of the bags feature the AHL team’s logo and colours, while a handful feature an NHL club’s logo and colours. 

It’s the reality of the AHL, especially in the NHL’s salary-cap world. Teams shuttle players back and forth more than ever to squeeze out as much tactical and financial advantage, and in the process, the AHL's day-to-day operations have never been more ingrained with NHL oversight. 

And that’s the case for 31 of the 32 AHL franchises. 

But for the Chicago Wolves, as gear was loaded into a truck on Sunday after a shootout loss to the Texas Stars, all of the bags were maroon with the Wolves logo. A logistical reminder of how things are going for the AHL’s lone