The Blackhawks avoided entering training camp without a young piece of their defense by signing Wyatt Kaiser to a new two-year contract Wednesday.
Kaiser had been a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights or offer-sheet eligibility, giving him little leverage in negotiations other than simply waiting.
After fellow RFAs Louis Crevier and Arvid Soderblom inked new two-year deals in July, he had been the team’s last free agent standing for months — becoming one of the last six unsigned RFAs around the entire NHL, in fact. Both sides remained confident throughout that a deal would eventually be reached, but it still came down to the last minute.
The new contract carries a $1.7 million salary-cap hit, which probably isn’t as much as Kaiser wanted but does mark a sizable raise upon his $916,000 cap hit during his entry-level contract.
Kaiser, 23, bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL the last two seasons before taking a major developmental step forward last March and April, playing by far his best and most consistent hockey to date. He finished 2024-25 with eight points (including four goals) in 57 NHL appearances.
Kaiser’s agility and quickness seemed to make him an ideal partner for erratic Artyom Levshunov, so the Hawks will likely explore reuniting that duo during camp.
Kaiser, Levshunov, Crevier, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan will all compete for roster spots alongside stalwarts Alex Vlasic and Connor Murphy and PTO invitee Matt Grzelcyk.
If Kaprizov does somehow become available on the trade market this season, the Hawks are well-positioned to be one of the top suitors for the Russian superstar.
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Aside from Matt Grzelcyk’s PTO, Wyatt Kaiser’s lack of contract and new coach Jeff Blashill’s systems, the forward and defense roster battles should be interesting to follow.
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Several NHL roster hopefuls stood out this weekend in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, but others looked rusty.
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