PUBLICATION
Sam Walker
February 11, 2026Â Â (10:15)
Photo credit: Screenshot
Wyatt Kaiser went down in pain Wednesday during Chicago’s last game before the Olympic break, and a possible season-ending injury just slammed the Blackhawks’ rebuild.
It happened early against Columbus, the kind of tangle you never want to see.
Chicago ruled him out quickly, and the bench looked rattled after that.
The score got ugly fast, but the real damage was watching a key defender helped off.
Kaiser has been a steady piece all season, even when the results around him are chaotic.
He’s played 57 games and sits at 5-7-12, quietly taking on tougher minutes.
Wyatt Kaiser’s injury squeezes the Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks fans have seen this movie too many times, and the sick feeling is real because injuries always seem to land on the few bright spots.
Kaiser is 23, and he matters because he is supposed to be part of the next version of this team.
He was drafted in 2020, third round, 81st overall, by the Blackhawks.
That’s not star pedigree, but it is exactly the type of value a rebuild needs to hit.
Chicago signed him to a two-year deal in September with a $1.7 million cap hit through 2026-27.
That contract looks smart when he is playing, and painful if this turns into a long rehab.
The initial label was a lower-body injury, and that usually means more tests and a lot of waiting.
The Olympic break helps the calendar, but it does not fix a serious ligament problem.
Now the coaching staff has to patch the pairs, protect younger partners, and survive without another stabilizer.
The next stretch after the break will tell us if Chicago can keep games tight, or if this becomes another night-to-night scramble.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
POLL
FEVRIER 11|98 ANSWERS
The Chicago Blackhawks may have a season-ending injury on their hands
Should the Chicago Blackhawks shut down Wyatt Kaiser for the season?