In their first preseason game of 2025, the Chicago Blackhawks traveled to Detroit for a game against the Red Wings. The road team needed a spark to tie the game after a rough first period.

Artyom Levshunov skated into the offensive zone and passed the puck to Aidan Thompson. The forward found a wide open Wyatt Kaiser, and the young defenseman scored for the tying goal. It was the best play of the night for a team that was shaking the rust off.

“It’s nice to always score, but you hate to do it in preseason,” Kaiser, 23, said. “It’s definitely good to get on the board.”

The goal may have meant a little more to the defenseman. After all, Kaiser wasn’t signed until the night before training camp began.

“It definitely was a new part for me, figuring out the business side of things,” Kaiser

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