This is it. We’ve saved the toughest vote for last. Over the last two weeks, we’ve been celebrating all of the terrific players and teams the Chicago Wolves have put on the ice over the last 10 years.
Now, as the final days of the 2010s tick away, it’s time to fill the last open spot on our All-Decade Team. The fans already have voted for one goaltender, two defensemen, the right wing and the center. Several of those votes required tough choices, but that was nothing compared to the options available at left wing.
Do you go with the 2016-17 AHL MVP in Kenny Agostino? How about the 2018-19 AHL MVP in Daniel Carr? Or perhaps Brandon Pirri, who was on the MVP track last year before moving to the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights at midseason? What about Brett Sterling, who could own a spot in the AHL Hall of Fame someday?
Here’s more on the candidates for the honor of Wolves Left Wing of the Decade (in alphabetical order):
WOLVES ALL-DECADE CANDIDATES
Agostino spent just one season with the Wolves, but he dominated every time he was on the ice to earn the Les Cunningham Award that goes to the AHL’s Most Valuable Player. The New Jersey native racked up 24 goals and 59 assists in 65 regular-season games to finish with 15 more points than the league’s No. 2 scorer. He also produced five goals and five assists in 10 Calder Cup contests.
Carr spent just one season with the Wolves, but he, too, dominated every time he was on the ice to earn the Les Cunningham Award that goes to the AHL’s Most Valuable Player. Though he played in just 52 regular-season games last year, Carr piled up 30 goals and 41 assists along with a +35 plus-minus rating. Carr battled through late-season injuries to contribute five goals and seven assists in 15 postseason games to help the Wolves reach the 2019 Calder Cup Finals.
Pirri has been a points-scoring machine while spending parts of each of the last three seasons with the Wolves. In 100 regular-season appearances heading into this weekend, Pirri owns 54 goals and 54 assists. Last season, he was leading the AHL in points per game (18 goals and 24 assists in 29 games) when he moved to the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights for good in early January.
This Los Angeles native was such an important part of the organization, he enjoyed three separate runs with the Wolves during this decade. Between his efforts during the back half of the 2009-10 season, his injury-plagued 2012-13 campaign and his final two seasons from 2016-18, Sterling stacked up 57 goals and 59 assists in 179 regular-season games during the 2010s. His 250 carer goals shares 43rd on the AHL’s list.
Voting takes place on our social media. Visit Facebook, Twitter or Instagram Stories to offer your vote! The balloting for left wings closes Monday, Dec. 30, and then we’ll reveal the All-Decade team on New Year’s Eve!
