Wyatt Kalynuk

Wyatt Kalynuk
Born (1997-04-14) April 14, 1997 (age 26)
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 St. Louis Blues
Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Draft 196th overall, 2017
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 2020–present

Wyatt Kalynuk (born April 14, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman currently for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the seventh round, 196th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He previously played for the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA.[1]

Early life

Kalynuk was born on April 14, 1997, in Brandon, Manitoba,[2] and was raised in nearby Virden by parents Leanne and Randy Kalynuk.[3] He began playing minor ice hockey with the Virden Minor Hockey Association, and would practice for hours per day at an outdoor rink outside Virden Junior High School.[3][4] Kalynuk says that, while many of his youth hockey teammates aspired to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), he "was just thinking about playing the game for fun".[5] His minor hockey career continued with the Southwest Cougars of the Manitoba U-18 'AAA' Hockey League. In one season with the U18 AAA Cougars, Kalynuk scored one goal and 17 points in 43 games.[3]

Playing career

Amateur

Kalynuk was given an opportunity to begin playing for the Western Hockey League when he turned 16, but he was physically smaller than most of the other players, so he decided to spend one season playing junior ice hockey in Manitoba.[6] He spent the 2013–14 hockey season with the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). He was the youngest member on the team that year, playing on a defensive pair with Brad Reichardt. Kalynuk scored seven points in his first 25 games as a member of the Oil Capitals, and scored his first junior hockey goal on November 23, 2013, in a 7–0 victory over the OCN Blizzard.[7] At the conclusion of the season, Kalynuk was named to the MJHL's All-Rookie Team.[8]

Professional

Kalynuk made his NHL debut on March 7, 2021, in a 6–3 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[9] His first NHL goal also happened to be the game-winning goal, coming late in the second period of a 4–3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 10.[10]

As an impending restricted free agent following the 2021–22 season, Kalynuk was not tendered a qualifying offer by the rebuilding Blackhawks, and was released to free agency on 12 July 2022.[11] The following day Kalynuk was signed to a one-year, two-way contract to join the Vancouver Canucks.[12] He was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for future considerations on March 3, 2023.[13][14]

On July 1, 2023, Kalynuk as a free agent from the Rangers was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Virden Oil Capitals MJHL 56 1 12 13 8 10 1 2 3 6
2014–15 Lincoln Stars USHL 55 0 15 15 16 — — — — —
2015–16 Bloomington Thunder USHL 59 3 21 24 16 10 0 2 2 8
2016–17 Bloomington Thunder USHL 60 6 25 31 82 — — — — —
2017–18 U. of Wisconsin B1G 37 3 22 25 28 — — — — —
2018–19 U. of Wisconsin B1G 37 9 16 25 32 — — — — —
2019–20 U. of Wisconsin B1G 36 7 21 28 24 — — — — —
2020–21 Rockford IceHogs AHL 8 2 8 10 6 — — — — —
2020–21 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 21 4 5 9 4 — — — — —
2021–22 Rockford IceHogs AHL 52 7 20 27 55 5 0 1 1 6
2021–22 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2022–23 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 46 4 13 17 46 — — — — —
2022–23 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 15 0 2 2 40 9 1 2 3 6
NHL totals 26 4 5 9 6 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Canada Western U17 9th 5 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 5 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
MJHL
All-Rookie Team 2014
USHL
Third All-Star Team 2017
College
B1G All-Rookie Team 2018
B1G Honorable Mention All-Star Team 2018
B1G Second All-Star Team 2019
B1G First All-Star Team 2020
B1G Sportsmanship Award 2020

References

  1. ^ Pope, Ben (February 7, 2021). "Blackhawks' Wyatt Kalynuk excels in AHL debut, makes case for NHL opportunity". Chicago Sun-Times.
  2. ^ "Wyatt Kalynuk Stats and News". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Wark, Robin (March 12, 2021). "Kalynuk's journey - outdoor rink to NHL debugt with Blackhawks". Virden Empire-Advance. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Wark, Robin (June 19, 2020). "Kalynuk to go pro after great career with Badgers". Virden Empire-Advance. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Brooks, Carter (May 11, 2021). "Virden's Wyatt Kalynuk Follows 'Different Route' to NHL Debut". Game On. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Hall, Jordan (July 13, 2018). "Have Flyers found late-round gem they covet in Wyatt Kalynuk?". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Henderson, Rob (November 26, 2013). "Virden rookie turning heads". The Brandon Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Bergson, Perry (July 23, 2020). "Kalynuk set to turn pro after signing with Chicago". The Brandon Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Baum, Carter (March 7, 2021). "THREE THINGS: Tough Ending, Leading Janmark and Kalynuk Debut". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Wyatt Kalynuk's first NHL goal lifts Blackhawks". National Post. Reuters. April 10, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Blackhawks won't tender offers to Kubalik, Strome". NBC Sports. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Canucks agree to terms with Wyatt Kalynuk on a one-year, two-way contract". Vancouver Canucks. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "NYR Acquire Anton Blidh from Colorado and Wyatt Kalynuk from Vancouver". New York Rangers. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  14. ^ "Canucks trade D Wyatt Kalynuk to Rangers for future considerations". SportsNet. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  15. ^ "Blues sign MacEachern, three others". St. Louis Blues. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

External links