Minnesota State Alumni Report | Oct. 18–24, 2026
Walker Duehr Clears Waivers, Heads to Manitoba
Walker Duehr's road back to the ice runs through the AHL — at least for now. The Winnipeg Jets placed the former Flames forward on waivers this week, and after clearing, Duehr is set to join the Manitoba Moose. The move comes as Duehr returns from an injury stint on IR, and per reports, he heads to a surging Moose lineup where he's expected to provide proven scoring depth at wing.
It's a familiar environment for the Minnesota State product, who has built his professional reputation on being a reliable offensive contributor at the AHL level. Getting game reps in Manitoba is the logical next step as he works his way back to full form — and potentially back into the Jets' NHL picture.
Tyler Pitlick Shows Up in a Tough Week
While Duehr navigates his comeback, Tyler Pitlick is doing the quiet work that keeps fourth-line centers employed in the NHL. The Wild center played all three of Minnesota's games this week, including a standout appearance Friday against the Flames — a 1-2 Wild loss in which Pitlick posted a +1 plus/minus, making him one of the few bright spots on the wrong side of the final score.
The week wasn't all bad for Minnesota. The Wild opened the stretch with a 2-1 win over Columbus on Sunday before dropping a 3-4 overtime heartbreaker to Edmonton on Wednesday. Pitlick was in the lineup for all of it — the kind of consistent presence that doesn't show up on the scoresheet every night but matters to a coaching staff building a roster identity.
Blueger and Hirose Hold Down Vancouver
Theodor Blueger and Akito Hirose remain active on the Vancouver Canucks roster, though neither generated stats surfaced in this week's brief. Both Minnesota State products continue to hold professional roster spots in the NHL — a testament to the program's sustained ability to develop legitimate pro talent.
Minnesota State's NHL footprint remains quietly impressive: four active alumni across three franchises, spanning forwards, a center, and a defenseman. Duehr's return to game action — even at the AHL level — keeps that pipeline moving. For Mavericks fans, the more interesting question is how quickly he can force his way back onto a Jets roster that put him on waivers, not out of the league.
AI-generated summary
