Hartford’s Brendan Brisson Named to AHL All-Star Classic Roster

Hartford Wolf Pack forward Brendan Brisson has been named to the Atlantic Division roster for the 2026 AHL All‑Star Classic, the AHL announced Feb. 3. The 24-year-old replaces Gabe Perreault, who will not attend, and will make his first AHL All‑Star appearance after a strong first half of the season.

Brisson entered the selection with 21 points in 42 games, scoring 12 goals and adding nine assists. He is second on Hartford in goals and fourth in points while leading the Wolf Pack with six power-play goals, a total tied for 11th most in the AHL. Those numbers underline Brisson’s value as a goal threat and a specialist on the man advantage, traits NHL affiliates prize when evaluating call-up and development decisions.

The All‑Star nod comes as the Wolf Pack continue to position themselves as a high-profile development pipeline for the New York Rangers. Hartford, an AHL franchise since 1997 and the Rangers’ primary affiliate, has produced recent Rangers faces including Igor Shesterkin, Will Cuylle, and Matt Rempe. Brisson joins a list of former Wolf Pack All‑Stars that includes names ranging from Igor Shesterkin to J.T. Miller and Ken Gernander, linking his selection to a franchise tradition of player development and exposure.

The 2026 AHL All‑Star Classic presented by BMO will stage the Skills Competition on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and the All‑Star Challenge on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois. The Rockford IceHogs will host, and the All‑Star Challenge will follow a 3-on-3 round-robin format pitting the AHL’s four divisions against one another. Skills and Challenge games are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on their respective nights, giving Brisson a national showcase to display his shot and special-teams acumen.

The AHL announced four other first-time All‑Star additions on Feb. 3: Christian Kyrou of Lehigh Valley, Ben Steeves of Charlotte, Brian Halonen of Utica, and Tanner Laczynski of Henderson. Those moves accompanied a list of players who will be unable to participate, and the Pacific Division is expected to name a second goaltender after Carl Lindbom withdrew.

Beyond the immediate honor, Brisson’s selection carries broader implications for Hartford and its fan base. An All‑Star appearance raises a player’s profile among NHL decision makers and gives local markets a spotlight moment during a midseason lull. For Hartford, Brisson’s invitation reinforces the city’s role as a development hub and gives PeoplesBank Arena supporters another player to follow as the Wolf Pack navigate the second half of the schedule.

What comes next is straightforward: Brisson heads to Rockford for the Skills Competition and the All‑Star Challenge Feb. 10–11, and the AHL will finalize remaining roster tweaks, including the Pacific Division’s goaltender spot. For Hartford fans, Brisson’s selection is both recognition of his production and an indicator of the prospects pipeline that remains central to the Wolf Pack’s identity.