Minnesota Wild sign Kyle Masters to three-year, entry-level contract

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced Thursday that the Wild have signed Kamloops Blazers defenseman Kyle Masters to a three-year, entry-level contract worth $2.59 million beginning in 2023-24. Masters will make an $865,000 salary at the NHL level and $80,000 in the AHL. 

Masters, 19, was selected in the fourth round, 118th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Wild. Formerly a member of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels, he was dealt along with a first-round bantam pick to the Blazers in exchange for Mats Lindgren last summer. This season, he has had a breakout campaign with the Blazers registering 59 points (11 goals, 47 assists) in 58 games. He ranks seventh among all WHL defensemen in scoring. He has also picked up five power-play goals and 114 shots on goal with a plus-16 rating. He leads the Blazers’ defensemen in assists and is second for points.

Masters joins a growing list of current Blazers players who have signed entry-level contracts; captain Logan Stankoven signed with the Dallas Stars in 2021, Fraser Minten signed his entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the fall, offensive guru Olen Zellweger with the Anaheim Ducks, Ryan Hofer recently signed his entry deal with the Washington Capitals and Caedan Bankier who just recently signed his entry-level contract with the Wild as well. The Wild have been busy recently signing prospects David Spacek, Hunter Haight, Bankier and Masters.

The Blazers are the hosts of the 2023 Memorial Cup, they went “all in” at the WHL Trade Deadline completing what is widely considered to be the biggest major junior hockey trade in history acquiring Zellweger and Hofer from the Silvertips for four players and 10 draft picks. Masters and the Blazers have a big shot at going out on top.