Wild sign Chase Wutzke to entry-level contract

On Monday, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced that the team has signed goaltender Chase Wutzke to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The deal will begin with the 2025-26 season.

Wutzke was originally taken by the Wild in the fifth round, 142nd overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft. His name was called after a solid rookie season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League.

In his first full campaign with the team, the Debden, Sask. native posted a 19-10-2 record in 36 appearances, registering a 2.82 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage and one shutout. He finished in third in wins, GAA and SV% among rookie goaltenders. He also played in seven games during the playoffs, going 4-3 with 2.48 GAA and .924 SV%, as the Rebels made it all the way to the second round before being swept by the Saskatoon Rebels.

Wutzke’s numbers took a slight dip this past season, despite taking the reins as the team’s No. 1 goaltender. In 50 games, he went 17-25-5, with a 3.38 GAA, a .895 SV% and one shutout.

In 93 appearances across four WHL campaigns, the 19-year-old has a career record of 46-35-8, a 3.21 GAA, a .896 SV% and two shutouts. On top of his junior career, Wutzke also represented his country at the 2022 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, helping Canada Red take home the silver medal.

Wutzke joins a goaltending prospect pool in Minnesota that has been headlined by Jesper Wallstedt for the past few seasons. However, Wallstedt’s development has been stifled, despite the fact that there’s a good chance the Swede will be up with the big club this coming season. Along with Wutzkie, Samuel Hlavaj and Riley Mercer are other goaltending prospects that will look to make their way up the professional ranks.