This should of been done last year, for Wutzke’s sake. Either way do a real rebuild. Team should of done this years ago. Tank the season get the first overall pick. Draft someone who can score goals. Those things win hockey games.
In a move that’s got the WHL buzzing, Red Deer Rebels owner, president, and GM Brent Sutter dropped some major news today: the club just wrapped up a massive trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors, loading up on future assets while shipping out a promising young netminder.The Rebels are walking away with a haul that’s straight out of a GM’s dream— a first-rounder in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft (courtesy of Kelowna), a third-round pick that same year (from Calgary), a second-round selection in 2027, a fourth-rounder in 2028, and even a conditional fourth-round pick in 2029 for good measure ( Watch them draft more stay at home defencemen with those🙄🙄). Heading the other way to Moose Jaw? The 19-year-old goaltender Chase Wutzke, along with the Rebels’ own second-round pick in the 2026 draft.For those keeping score, Wutzke was a second-round steal for Red Deer back in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, snagged 40th overall. He’s suited up for 102 games in his career with the team, posting a solid 43-40-7-3 record to go with a 3.17 GAA, .896 save percentage, and three shutouts. This season, he’s at 3-5-0-0 with a 2.75 GAA, .889 SV%, and one clean sheet. The kid from Debden, Saskatchewan, also shone in the postseason, going 4-2-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .924 SV% over seven games. Oh, and he shared Co-MVP honors with the Rebels last year in 2024-25.On top of that, Wutzke’s already got a foot in the NHL door— the Minnesota Wild tabbed him in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and locked him into an entry-level deal back in September. Tough break for Red Deer fans, but this trade screams long-term vision for Sutter and crew.
Wutzke so far also has been the most mentioned player on this blog by a long shot.