SIOUX FALLS — For the primary time in his skilled profession, Walker Duehr acquired to expertise the lifetime of a journeyman within the NHL final season.
After taking part in in 16 video games for the Calgary Flames, the 27-year-old native of Sioux Falls was waived by the group in January earlier than being picked up by the San Jose Sharks. Nonetheless, in March, Duehr ended up on waivers once more, ending out the 2024-25 season with the American Hockey League’s San Jose Barracuda however with out a two-way contract.
When the summer season arrived, Duehr discovered himself in unfamiliar territory as an unrestricted free agent, however on July 2, a brand new deal had been reached with the Winnipeg Jets.
Contract in hand, Duehr is now zeroed in on his offseason routine as he appears to be like to make his mark at Jets coaching camp this fall.
“I feel all the pieces was type of new to me, and there was a number of stuff taking place shortly,” stated Duehr, who signed a one-year, two-way contract with Winnipeg value $775,000. “I would been a restricted free agent with Calgary a pair instances and ended up getting signed again with them, so it was nearly attempting to determine the perfect match for me and my household as effectively.
“It ended up being Winnipeg.”
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Stay
Bouncing round between the AHL and NHL ranks, Duehr is coming into his sixth season as a professional in 2025-26. The previous Minnesota State standout has appeared in 92 NHL video games throughout his 5 seasons, amassing 21 factors on 11 objectives and 10 assists.
This new alternative, although, is one Duehr is raring to have. He’ll be becoming a member of a Jets group that simply gained its first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise historical past after ending with a league-best 116 factors within the common season, throughout which they went 56-22-4.
Nonetheless, that additionally means there can be loads of competitors to make the workforce when Duehr heads off to camp on Sept. 4. For him, one of many added perks of signing with Winnipeg is how shut it brings him to residence.
“It is solely a six and a half hour drive,” stated Duehr, who stays the primary and solely South Dakota-born participant to achieve the NHL. “That’ll be good for the household, however I am becoming a member of a workforce that is had a number of success lately.
“They have an excellent core, and so they play a mode that basically embraces the type I play as effectively. It is type of one of many causes I signed there. I am excited to get going with them.”
Duehr’s two-way deal is not any completely different than his earlier professional offers, giving Winnipeg the choice to name him as much as the Jets’ roster or ship him all the way down to the AHL for extra ability refinement.
If Duehr is unable to make the workforce out of camp, he’ll begin the season with the Jets’ AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
For the reason that center of Could, Duehr has been again in Sioux Falls for the summer season. He took a couple of month off, coaching frivolously with a view to give his physique a while to get better. In June, although, he started figuring out full-time on the Sanford Fieldhouse, and during the last month, he is ramped up his ice time.
“I am skating three or 4 instances every week and figuring out three or 4 instances every week,” Duehr stated, “so coaching is again in full pressure as I prepare for coaching camp.”
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Stay
Working together with his longtime coach and mentor, Noëlle Needham, Duehr has been skating this summer season with Legend Hockey Elite gamers on the IcePlex. He is additionally gotten in a number of ice time at Midco Enviornment, the place nearly all of Augustana’s hockey workforce has been skating as effectively.
On the Fieldhouse, Duehr has been working carefully with lead energy and conditioning coach Brad Rilling.
“I have been in a position to make use of the turf and weight room they’ve right here,” Duehr stated. “It is an awesome combo for me to have to have the ability to work on pace stuff. Clearly the weights and with the ability to use among the restoration stuff they’ve right here has helped me maintain my physique feeling good all through the summer season.”
Duehr noticed motion in a complete of 24 NHL video games final season (16 with the Flames and eight with the Sharks), averaging just below 9 minutes on the ice per recreation. With San Jose, he scored two objectives, together with a first-period tally in his Jan. 23 debut with the workforce at residence in opposition to Nashville.
After spending greater than three years with Calgary, Duehr acquired his first style of life with one other group when he landed in San Jose. It was a little bit of a chaotic expertise that turned out to be eye-opening in additional methods than one.
“Between my agent and I, we thought there was an excellent likelihood I would get picked up someplace. It ended up being San Jose, so it was a whirlwind,” Duehr stated. “I acquired picked up at midday Calgary time, and I used to be on a flight by 7 p.m. Calgary time. I type of needed to pack up my life and go on the highway and get in at 1 a.m. to play the following day.
“I ended up scoring, although, so it is humorous how that stuff works out.”
Trent Singer is a sports activities reporter for Sioux Falls Stay. He focuses his protection on Augustana males’s hockey and Sioux Falls space sports activities. Singer’s earlier stops embody Simply Girls’s Sports activities, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Period.
