SIOUX FALLS — For the primary time in his skilled profession, Walker Duehr bought to expertise the lifetime of a journeyman within the NHL final season.
After enjoying 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 time 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 believe the whole lot was form of new to me, and there was quite a lot of stuff occurring shortly,” mentioned 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 occasions and ended up getting signed again with them, so it was nearly making an attempt to determine one of the best match for me and my household as nicely.
“It ended up being Winnipeg.”
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Dwell
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 targets 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 will probably be loads of competitors to make the staff 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,” mentioned 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 staff that is had quite a lot of success lately.
“They have an excellent core, they usually play a method that basically embraces the type I play as nicely. It is form of one of many causes I signed there. I am excited to get going with them.”
Duehr’s two-way deal is not any totally 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 talent refinement.
If Duehr is unable to make the staff out of camp, he’ll begin the season with the Jets’ AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
Because the center of Might, Duehr has been again in Sioux Falls for the summer time. He took a few month off, coaching calmly with a purpose 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 occasions per week and figuring out three or 4 occasions per week,” Duehr mentioned, “so coaching is again in full power as I prepare for coaching camp.”
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Dwell
Working along with his longtime coach and mentor, Noëlle Needham, Duehr has been skating this summer time with Legend Hockey Elite gamers on the IcePlex. He is additionally gotten in quite a lot of ice time at Midco Enviornment, the place nearly all of Augustana’s hockey staff has been skating as nicely.
On the Fieldhouse, Duehr has been working intently with lead power 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 mentioned. “It is an ideal combo for me to have to have the ability to work on pace stuff. Clearly the weights and with the ability to use a number of the restoration stuff they’ve right here has helped me hold my physique feeling good all through the summer time.”
Duehr noticed motion in a complete of 24 NHL video games final season (16 with the Flames and eight with the Sharks), averaging slightly below 9 minutes on the ice per recreation. With San Jose, he scored two targets, together with a first-period tally in his Jan. 23 debut with the staff at residence towards Nashville.
After spending greater than three years with Calgary, Duehr bought 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 probability I would get picked up someplace. It ended up being San Jose, so it was a whirlwind,” Duehr mentioned. “I bought picked up at midday Calgary time, and I used to be on a flight by 7 p.m. Calgary time. I form of needed to pack up my life and go on the highway and get in at 1 a.m. to play the subsequent 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 Dwell. He focuses his protection on Augustana males’s hockey and Sioux Falls space sports activities. Singer’s earlier stops embody Simply Ladies’s Sports activities, the Southeast Missourian and the Kentucky New Period.
