Yes, he had success with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL for sure. But the AHL is sometimes difficult to interpret - some ownerships build teams with the objective of winning (emphasis on older pros), while some ownerships build teams to serve player developmental needs (emphasis on prospects). I`m not sure exactly where the Wolves were during this time frame.
I agree very much with your comment re pervasive old school thinking in the org. But regrettably, Chevy himself comes with some of this baggage ( don't forget, he was a large=bodied, somewhat physical D of limited skill himself in his playing days).haha