Chicago Blackhawks‘ newest defenseman, rookie Wyatt Kalynuk(3) has so far steadily put up numbers with affiliate Rockford Icehogs.
In 8 AHL games, he has two goals and 8 assists with two of those points recorded in his debut and he has 4 multi-point appearances that’s turning heads with the parent club for a look.
The 6’1″ 185 blue liner, originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#198 overall), signed a two-year deal with his new team as an unrestricted free agent over the summer.
He finished his third season at University Of Wisconsin as captain and recorded a best 28 points.
The almost 24-year old Canadian export took a decidedly American route through three years of USHL and college before turning pro but has officially arrived.
He earned his recall as a rookie and appeared in 21 NHL games, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists.
As a sophomore skater, he mostly stayed in the minors, but managed 7 goals and 20 assists in 52 games, while also getting 5 games up with no points.
On the opening day of unrestricted free agency, despite not being offered a qualifying offer, was scooped quickly by Vancouver Canucks and signed to a 1-year 2-way deal that pays him pretty nicely if he skates for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.
Nearing the end of the trade deadline, he gets dealt to New York Rangers, who will need to re-sign the restricted free agent at the end of the current session.
He could easily see more big league time with his new club.
At the end of the session, he actually becomes a group 6 free agent, so is free to sign and St. Louis Blues step in early to offer a 1-year 2-way deal to work in their system.
He steps away from a career high 66 games to sign a 1-year deal with Pelicans, where he scores 10 goals and 23 assists in 59 games, which Ak Bars Kazan sees strong enough to sign him for 2025/2026 and we think he does well in the KHL.
