Blackhawks Recall Wyatt Kaiser

The Blackhawks recalled defenseman Wyatt Kaiser on an emergency loan Monday, per CapFriendly. It’s the 21-year-old’s first recall since Chicago assigned him to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs in late December.

Since his recall comes under emergency conditions, the Blackhawks maintain their two remaining post-trade deadline standard recalls. Kaiser must replace one of Chicago’s six currently healthy defenders, one of whom is likely questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Kings, to remain eligible for an emergency loan. Otherwise, the Blackhawks must convert his recall into a standard one or return him to the IceHogs.

The 2020 third-round pick played in a career-high 23 games in the first few months of the season, recording four assists and a +1 rating. Averaging 16:40 per game, the former University of Minnesota-Duluth standout wasn’t quite the relative shutdown master his positive rating on a rebuilder suggests. Above-average goaltending boosted his actual results, while his even-strength possession numbers (42.7 CF%, 40.3 xGF%) reflected that of a developing talent.

Nonetheless, Kaiser is one of the Blackhawks’ more intriguing defense prospects and may get another shot to log some games after making the Blackhawks’ roster out of camp. Ranked as the 11th-best overall prospect in Chicago’s system and the third-best defenseman by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, he has three goals and 15 points in 31 games for Rockford in his first taste of AHL action this year. Over three seasons at Minnesota-Duluth, he recorded 45 assists, 52 points, and a +5 rating in 97 contests.

Kaiser is in the second season of his three-year entry-level contract, which took effect immediately after signing in March of last year. He carries a cap hit of $917K and will be an RFA in 2025.