ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild announced on Monday the signing of goaltender Chase Wutzke to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2025-26 season.

Wutzke, 19, went 17-25-5 with a 3.38 goals-against average (GAA), a .895 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout in 50 games for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 2024-25 season.

He was drafted with the fifth-round of the 2024 NHL Draft with the 142nd pick. He is 40-35-10 with a 3.21 GAA, a .896 SV%, and two shutouts in 93 career games across parts of four seasons with Red Deer.

Red Deer Rebels' Chase Wutzke Signs ELC With The Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild have signed goaltender Chase Wutzke to a three-year, entry-level contract. Wutzke, who plays for the Red Deer Rebels was drafted in 2024, going 142nd overall to Minnesota. Wutzke has played 93 games during his WHL career, putting together a record of 40-35-8.

The 6-foot-2 goaltender played in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at The TRIA Rink and played well. He has been at training camp and has just been returned to Red Deer for the upcoming season.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

'You Guys Know I Like Minny' Kirill Kaprizov Gives His Stance On Contract SituationST. PAUL, Minn - On Thursday Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov was given the chance to talk about the recent reports that came out about him rejecting an 8-year, $128 million contract extension.

- What Is New On The Kirill Kaprizov Contract Situation.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Will Be Out For "A Little While"

- Is It Time To Panic: Kirill Kaprizov Contract Extension Situation.

- Minnesota Wild Announce Helmet Sponsor For 2025-26 Season.

- Marc-Andre Fleury Signs Professional Tryout With The Pittsburgh Penguins.

As the Vancouver Canucks head towards the 2025-26 season, one of the big debates revolves around 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes. After a strong showing at training camp, as well as in Vancouver's first pre-season game, debates have already started surrounding whether the 18-year-old should be on the NHL roster when the season opens. While there are positives and negatives to Cootes beginning the year with the Canucks, giving him a spot on the opening night roster could be beneficial for both the organization and the player. 

Cootes was selected 15th overall by Vancouver in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Listed at 5'11", 183 lbs, he recorded 63 points in 60 games last season while serving as captain for the Seattle Thunderbirds. Cootes also plays a position of need for the organization, as he is a right-shot center. 

Before diving into this debate, it is important to note that Cootes still needs to earn this opportunity. As mentioned, he has been a standout so far, but still needs to show that he can have a positive impact against NHL players on a consistent basis. While outplaying others for roster spots won't be easy, Cootes looks up for the task based on his performances since being drafted by the Canucks. 

Over the past few seasons, there have been examples from around the league of rookies playing so well in camp that they earn a spot on an NHL roster. Fraser Minten played four games for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the start of the 2023-24 campaign before being assigned to the Kamloops Blazers, while last year, Jett Luchanko also played four games, but for the Philadelphia Flyers, before starting his OHL season with the Guelph Storm. In both cases, each player ended up representing Canada at the World Juniors while being over a point per game in the CHL. 

One positive aspect of starting Cootes in the NHL is that it allows the organization to learn more about him, both on and off the ice. Whether it is how he reacts to difficult matchups or even as simple as how the 18-year-old meshes with his teammates, all these factors can help Vancouver's management staff build a development plan that will benefit Cootes the most. That way, if the Canucks do end up deciding to send him back to the WHL for the rest of the season, Cootes has a better idea of what he needs to work on throughout the year. 

​​Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Vancouver Canucks Sign Patterson & Chiarot To Entry-Level Contracts

Abbotsford Canucks Announce 2025 Training Camp Details

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: New York Islanders

Playing Cootes in the NHL is also a form of positive reinforcement, as the organization would be rewarding a young player for stepping up during training camp and the pre-season. At the same time, it is a statement to every other player that they need to be on the top of their game as the next wave of players is ready to take their spots. 

If Vancouver is going to go down this route, they need to be careful in how they manage Cootes. For example, having him on the roster but healthy-scratching him would not be beneficial for his development. That is why if they are going to give him a trial, the Canucks must ensure that even if he is only playing eight or nine minutes a night, that he actually makes it onto the ice and isn't sitting in the press box for long periods of time.  

The fact that this conversation is happening surrounding Cootes is a significant victory for the organization. If anything, it shows that Vancouver made a strong draft selection this past June who has the potential to be a key part of their lineup sooner rather than later. While there are still a few weeks until the season officially starts, it is starting to look more likely than not that Cootes plays NHL games this year. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

It’s safe to say that Brent Burns is embracing the competitiveness at Colorado Avalanche training camp.

After playing the past three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, Burns signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Avalanche. 

Going into training camp, Burns had some nerves, but he’s getting settled in. 

"You know, the good feelings for me coming in, it's not just another training camp," Burns said. "You get antsy before you go to bed. You're nervous in the morning, no idea what to expect. It was a great practice. It was tough."

Rod Brind'Amour Impressed With Logan Stankoven As He Makes Potential Transition To CenterThrough the start of Carolina Hurricanes’ training camp, Logan Stankoven has had the opportunity to play center. 

The 40-year-old defenseman recorded six goals, 23 assists, and 29 points in 82 games for the Hurricanes last year, while averaging 20:57 minutes.

Every NHL team has their AHL affiliate. Some of these AHL affiliates are located in the same city as, or close to, the NHL team. Examples of that would be the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Marlies, the San Jose Sharks and the Barracuda, the Calgary Flames and the Wranlgers, and a few more.

However, there are other situations where the affiliates are more than 1,000 miles apart from each other. States and provinces separate some teams, while others are on opposite sides of the border.

Here are the three longest distances between NHL and AHL affiliates.

1. Edmonton Oilers And Bakersfield Condors - 1,284 Miles

The distance between the Edmonton Oilers and Bakersfield Condors is the biggest between an NHL and AHL affiliate in the entire league. Between the two cities is about 1,284 flying miles. That’s around four-and-a-half times the Grand Canyon.

Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta, located in the mid-west of Canada. Bakersfield is in California, on the west coast of the U.S. This city is further south than San Jose and San Francisco, making travel by plane over three hours long.

Neutral-Site Matchups And Locations For The 2025-26 NHL Pre-SeasonThe NHL pre-season has officially arrived this weekend as another season approaches. Not only is pre-season a great time for coaches and management to test out line combinations and review their roster, but it’s a great time for the NHL and the teams to try new things.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning And Syracuse Crunch - 1,098 Miles

The Syracuse Crunch has been around since 1994-95 and has been the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning since the 2011-12 season. Since then, they’ve been the home to coach Jon Cooper, Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and several other individuals who have made great impacts in the NHL.

Between Tampa, Fla., and Syracuse, N.Y. is 1,098 miles, the second-longest distance among the two affiliates. The travel time between the two cities is nearly three hours. A shorter flight than Edmonton to Bakersfield, but still not an easy trip for a call-up.

3. Seattle Kraken And Coachella Valley Firebirds - 1,011 Miles

The latest NHL expansion team and one of the newest NHL franchises, the Seattle Kraken and the Coachella Valley Firebirds, make up the third-longest distance between league affiliates.

The Kraken are based in Seattle, Wash., while the Firebirds are located in Palm Desert, Calif. The distance between the two clubs and cities is about 1,011 miles and is around the same flight time from Tampa to Syracuse, just under three hours.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.        

The New Jersey Devils’ highly anticipated prospect Arseny Gritsyuk finally hit the ice yesterday, making his debut in a preseason matchup against the New York Rangers.

Although the Devils fell 5-3, the spotlight was firmly on Gritsyuk,  and he didn’t disappoint.

After years of speculation and buildup, fans wondered if his success in the Kontinental Hockey League would translate to the NHL. Drafted 129th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Gritsyuk only just arrived in North America, but his debut showed why the hype may have been justified.

Against the Rangers, he stood out as the most dynamic player on either side. Gritsyuk finished the game with two points, a goal and an assist, while also leading all players with six shots on goal. His quick skating, sharp hockey IQ, and relentless shooting made an immediate impression.

When told of his stat line after the game, Gritsyuk was stunned, blurting out in Russian, “How — many?”

Head coach Sheldon Keefe had emphasized before the game that he wanted Gritsyuk to stay true to his offensive instincts:

“He’s an offensive player. So in a game like this, you want him confident, making plays, being himself offensively. At the same time, it’s all the little things: energy, speed, comprehension of our system. Each player has an identity of who they are. Go out and be that.”

Gritsyuk delivered, scoring his first goal and setting up Paul Cotter for another.

“Great little slip on Cotter’s goal,” Keefe said. “The more touches he got in the second half of the game, I thought Grits started to come alive a little bit. That was positive to see.”

Afterward, Gritsyuk reflected on the pace of NHL hockey with a mix of honesty and humor:

“I am tired,” he laughed. “A lot of battles, big speed, all guys are bigger than me, but I enjoyed this time. I had good partners, good team, couple of guys support me on the bench, Cotter a lot of time saved me on the ice. I’m feeling good.”

So, was he overhyped? Based on one preseason game, no. While it’s just the beginning of his Devils career, Gritsyuk’s performance showed that the long wait might have been worth it.

Brennan Othmann will not receive any discipline for his elbowing penalty on Calen Addison during the New York Rangers’ 5-3 preseason win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. 

In the third period, Othmann elbowed Addison in the face, which resulted in a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct. 

According to Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, it sounds like Brennan Othmann won’t be facing any discipline for the hit. 

Othmann suffered an injury himself during the second period of this game, but he was ultimately able to return in the third period.

Last season, Othmann played in 22 games for the Rangers, while suiting up in 27 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. 

The 22-year-old forward hopes to make the Rangers’ opening-night roster this year. 

“I’m brutally honest, I’m not worried about my abilities or when I’m going to play in the NHL, I will play in the NHL at some point,” Othmann said. “Whether it’s this year or whenever, I’m going to play in the NHL. I'm just confident in my ability as a player…

Four Takeaways From The Rangers' First Preseason GameThe New York Rangers won their first preseason game against the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Sunday afternoon. 

“I don't know what other job I'd rather be doing. I'm a professional hockey player going on my third year now, like, it's exactly what I want to do. Obviously, in the NHL, but I'm a professional hockey player. I get here, I work out, I skate, I laugh, I have fun. That’s the best part of it, being around guys that you love and guys that love you back.”

The Kings earned a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at home in early preseason action, giving fans a taste of what’s to come for the regular season. 

While the result won’t count in the wins column, it’s still a valuable performance by the Kings as they prepare for the 2025-26 regular season in just a few weeks.

Now, here are three takeaways below that Kings’ fans should be excited about what they saw tonight and should expect to see more of in the regular season. 

THAT’S A KINGS WIN AT THE EMPIRE CLASSIC! pic.twitter.com/urAZWefsDb

— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 22, 2025

1. Kings Depth Makes Its Case

Preseason is very important because it gives a chance for the younger players and other players who are looking to crack the roster and depth chart. We saw Alex Turcotte

played a great game, finishing with 1 goal, 2 points, and one assist. 

The 19-year-old goaltender Carter George also officially played his first game in a Kings uniform and didn’t disappoint, leading the Kings to a win in his first NHL career start, finishing the game with a .963 save percentage for the day. 

Several other players also stepped up, including Alex Laferriere and Andre Lee, both finishing with a goal and combining for seven goals attempted. Again, the game doesn’t seem important, but it definitely is, and the coaching staff will have something to think about to decide who makes the final roster spot. 

2. Defense Continues to Hold Up

As mentioned before, the Kings were great in the game defensively, especially first-year goaltender Carter George, anchoring the defense and holding the Ducks to just one goal on the night. 

This was a team that was No. 1 in defense by lowest expected goals against, and today they showed the league how versatile they could be again. 

Granted, it was just one preseason game, but this is still a good sign, especially considering the losses of Corey Perry to injury and David Rittich and Vladislav Gavrikov to the Rangers and Islanders, respectively. 

It gave us a chance to see the Kings' depth step up, and it was very exciting to see the younger players demonstrate they have what it takes to play big. 

3. Goaltending Remains Consistent

The Kings can’t just rely on Darcy Kuemper this season, who is among the best goaltenders in the league, but he is 35 years old and will need some help in the backup role.

Whether that backup is George, Pheonix Coply, or Anton Forsberg, it will be interesting to see who competes and wins that spot to be the primary backup for Kuemper. 

Again, it was one preseason game for George and his first-ever start in the NHL, and the regular season is a whole other level, so we have to wait and see what happens there. 

26 saves and .957 SV% for Carter George 👏 pic.twitter.com/ewIg4vzsdn

— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 22, 2025

But for now, give credit to George for being ready and prepared for his first-ever career start and delivering in a great win.  

Looking Ahead 

Preseason won’t define everything in a season, but the Kings' 3-1 win over the Ducks showed their prepared for anything, and it was very encouraging for Kings fans to be happy about. 

With its young players playing for something to prove, goaltending staying steady, and the defense continuing to remain strong, LA is positioning itself to start the 2025-26 season on a high note.  

At long last, Pittsburgh Penguins hockey is back on Monday. They will play their first game of the preseason in the Bell Centre against the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET. 

The Penguins announced the lineup for this game on Sunday evening, and it includes a lot of young players trying to make the NHL roster. There are still some NHL veterans in this lineup, including Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, and Robby Fabbri, but the lineup consists mostly of young players like Harrison Brunicke, Owen Pickering, Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, and Ben Kindel. 

Those players, along with several others, will be given an opportunity to impress head coach Dan Muse and the rest of the coaching staff as they push for spots on the opening night roster. 

Joel Blomqvist will get the start in net and play the first half of the game before Sergei Murashov replaces him. Blomqvist is battling Arturs Silovs for the backup goaltender spot behind Tristan Jarry, but don't forget about Murashov.

Murashov is a long shot to make the NHL roster right now, but he's been the best goaltender at training camp thus far. He could at least take that momentum to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a full season before potentially being NHL-ready for the 2026-27 season.

This game will be a good test for some of the Penguins' young players since the Canadiens will have some of their regulars playing, including defenseman Noah Dobson, forwards Brendan Gallagher and Patrik Laine, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault. 

The Penguins went 3-0-0 against the Canadiens during the regular season last year and outscored them 18-6. Rickard Rakell was dominant in those games, compiling three goals and six points. 

You can listen to the game on 105.9 The X and view the full rosters for the game here. 

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!