PuckSleuth
44Cap hit
$1.7M
1.6% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$2.512M
vs. $4.212M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
3
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
1
0.33 per game
TOI/GP
21:08
PP 0:02 · PK 1:44
Plus/minus
-3
Hits
2
Blocks 6
PIM
0
Game Score
+0.18
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 @ BUF · L 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 22:58 | 0:00 | 2:01 | — | 40 | 2 | 0 | -2 | +0.08 |
| Oct 1 @ UTA · L 6-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19:49 | 0:04 | 1:15 | — | 33 | 2 | 1 | -2 | -0.20 |
| Sep 29 @ VGK · L 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20:37 | 0:03 | 1:57 | — | 25 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.67 |
| Apr 15 vs SJS · W 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 21:30 | 0:00 | 3:15 | — | 60 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +1.04 |
| Apr 13 vs BUF · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20:17 | 0:00 | 2:25 | — | 67 | 2 | 0 | -3 | -0.49 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,304 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
8th percentile
41st percentile
20th percentile
12th percentile
42nd percentile
9th percentile
21st percentile
7th percentile
43rd percentile
45th percentile
80th percentile
39th percentile
42nd percentile
63rd percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleTransition defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Kaiser excels at rushing the puck up the ice and moving quickly through open space, creating offense before opponents settle into position. He struggles to generate chances on his own and plays a lighter physical style that limits his defensive presence.
- Shooting volume
- 29
- Playmaking
- 26
- Zone entries(est.)
- 82
- Forechecking
- 41
- Physicality
- 11
- Defensive impact
- 64
- Puck management
- 62
- Speed
- 79
Where he shoots from
Slot 14% · Mid-range 29% · Perimeter 58%(118 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite at pushing tempo with 82nd percentile rush chances
- Swift skater at 79th percentile speed to lead transitions
- Solid defensive anchor with 64th percentile impact despite limited physicality
Watch-outs
- Minimal physicality at 11th percentile leaves him vulnerable in battles
- Below-average playmaking at 26th percentile limits offensive setup plays
- Rarely initiates shots at 29th percentile volume despite scoring chances
Similar style: Samuel Girard (PIT), Drew Doughty (LAK)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
No NHL playoff games yet.
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Blackhawks perfect storm, plus notes on Bedard, Byram, Kaiser & more
blackhawkup.com · Sep 10
- Now is the time for Wyatt Kaiser to cement himself in the Blackhawks' long-term plans
blackhawkup.com · Sep 9
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.25 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.21 per game
2025-26 · 77 GP
Season total +15.8, or +0.21 per game.
- Scoring
- +12.5
- Shooting
- +5.6
- 5-on-5 goals
- -2.4
- Defense
- -1.0
- Penalty kill
- -0.2
- Physical play
- +4.3
- Puck battles
- -2.6
- Penalties
- -0.4
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.4 mph
- 76th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 1
- Hardest shot
- —
- Distance
- 2.9 mi
- OZ time
- 40.8%
- 40th pct
- DZ time
- 40.5%
Usage
Last game: @ BUF, Oct 3
Pair 2 with Artyom Levshunov (14:55 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 24: 100% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 24, defensemen typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | CHI | $1.7M | 1.6% |
RFA after 2026-27. $1.7M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).