According to a team announcement, the Minnesota Wild have signed netminder Chase Wutzke to a three-year entry-level contract beginning this season. Minnesota now has 44 players under contract for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Wild selected Wutzke with the 142nd overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft from the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. That season, the Saskatchewan native played in 36 games for the Rebels, securing a 19-10-2 record with a .904 SV% and 2.82 GAA with one shutout.
Surprisingly, Wutzke’s production took a nosedive last year, largely because of the lack of talent in front of him. He finished with a 17-25-5 record in 50 games with a disappointing .895 SV% and 3.38 GAA. The Rebels finished 13 points removed from playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.
Expected back in Red Deer this season, the team is already off to a winless start through their first two contests. Should Wutzke disappoint again after he’s returning from the Wild’s training camp, he may only project to serve as organizational depth in an AHL role moving forward.
Fortunately, Minnesota shouldn’t have too many expectations for Wutzke’s development. The future of Minnesota’s crease is guided by Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, meaning there’s little to no pressure on Wutzke to become an everyday NHL talent. The raw talent is there, largely from his quick work in the crease once he’s dropped down into the butterfly, but it remains to be seen if he can put it all together with the Rebels this season.
FYI…for the rest of the league…it’s all over for you now. Minnesota just signed Wutzke! Look out!!!