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Blackhawks’ Wyatt Kaiser exits game against Blue Jackets

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated Feb 4, 2026 8:21 PM ET

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser exited Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period and was subsequently ruled out from returning.

Kaiser, 23, left the game after Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski fell awkwardly onto his leg early in the first period. The Blackhawks announced early in the second period that Kaiser would not return.

The Blue Jackets led the Blackhawks by a 1-0 score at the time of Kaiser’s departure. The 6′ left-handed defender logged just 2:07 of ice time over three shifts before leaving the game just over seven minutes into the opening frame.

A closer look at the Wyatt Kaiser injury. Doesn't look great. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/iDtcIsBiD6
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 5, 2026

A third-round pick (No. 81 overall) of the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft, Kaiser has skated in 57 games with the club this season, collecting five goals and 12 points while averaging 19:28 of ice time.

Kaiser played high school hockey in his hometown of Andover, Minnesota before playing three seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth after being drafted. He turned pro with the Blackhawks organization at the end of the 2022-23 season, appearing in his first nine NHL games that year.

After splitting the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons between Chicago and the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, Kaiser has established himself as a full-time NHLer with the Blackhawks this year. He began Wednesday’s game on the Blackhawks’ second pairing with Sam Rinzel.

Through 155 career games over parts of four seasons with the Blackhawks, Kaiser has amassed nine goals and 30 points. He’s averaged 18:28 of ice time per game during his young NHL career.

The Blackhawks currently sit in 27th place in the National Hockey League with a 22-25-9 record and 53 points in 56 games. They have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2019-20 season, when they made it as part of the expanded postseason field.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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