Wolves fans have spoken.
When the dust settled on the six-week Greatest Wolves Player Tournament, Darren Haydar was voted as the Wolves’ GOAT.
“There are some pretty darn good players who have played for the organization so I thank the fans who voted for me,” Haydar said. “They are the reason we get to play hockey for a living.”
Haydar served two stints with the Wolves (2006-08 and 2010-13) and in 342 games amassed 368 points (third in franchise history), 128 goals (fourth) and 240 assists (fourth).
“I had a great time playing for Chicago and, to be honest, it’s pretty easy when you play for an organization that wants to win and has the success that the Chicago Wolves do,” Haydar said.
In 2006-07, the Milton, Ontario, native put together one of the greatest seasons in American Hockey League history with 41 goals, 81 assists and 122 points in 73 games. During the campaign, Haydar set an AHL record that still stands by recording at least one point in 39 consecutive contests.
Haydar was also captain of the 2007-08 Wolves squad that captured the Calder Cup championship.
“(Wolves owner) Don Levin expects a winning organization and he puts the people in the right places to do it,” Haydar said. “As a player in the American Hockey League, having a chance to win is all you can ask for.”
En route to being voted Greatest Wolves Player, Haydar out-paced Stephane Beauregard, Dallas Eakins, Dan Plante, current Wolves general manager Wendell Young and Jason Krog to reach the championship round.
In final-round voting, Haydar topped Steve Maltais to be crowned champion with Maltais the runner-up and Brett Sterling the third-place finisher for Greatest Wolves Player in history.
