AHL: Chicago Wolves Extend A Forward & Sign A Defenseman

AHL: Chicago Wolves Extend A Forward & Sign A Defenseman
Rick Crossman - Inside The Rink Rick Crossman - Inside The Rink

The Chicago Wolves today revamped their 2025-26 roster a little. First, they signed forward Nikita Pavlychev to an AHL extension for the 2025-26 season. The other move is the signing of defenseman Jacob Friend, who they signed to a two-way ECHL/AHL contract for the 2025-26 season. Pavlychev, this past season in 63 games for the Wolves, had 25 points on four goals and 21 assists. He was a minus-six with two power-play goals, a game-winning goal, and 62 penalty minutes. In two Calder Cup Playoff games, he was a minus-one with two penalty minutes. Friend this past season played in the ICEHL and DEL2. In the ICEHL, he appeared in 24 games, recording four points on two goals and two assists. He was a minus-six with eight penalty minutes. In the DEL2, he appeared in three games, recording two assists. He was a minus-three with two penalty minutes.

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Nikita Pavlychev

Pavlychev spent four seasons at Penn State University, appearing in 137 games, recording 70 points on 36 goals and 34 assists. He was a minus-eight with 183 penalty minutes. He then joined the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. He’s appeared in 127 career AHL games between the Crunch, Wolves, and Ontario Reign. He has 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists. He is a plus-nine with 114 penalty minutes. He’s also appeared in 134 games in the ECHL, recording 119 points on 56 goals and 63 assists. He is a +17 with 147 penalty minutes.

Jacob Friend

Friend started in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack. In 166 games, he had 63 points on nine goals and 54 assists. He was a +64 with 266 penalty minutes. He then spent two seasons with Saint Mary’s University of USports. In 53 games, he had 14 points on three goals and 11 assists. Friend was a plus-three with 176 penalty minutes. He then played for the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL in 67 games, where he had 21 points on six goals and 21 assists. Friend was a minus-nine with 180 penalty minutes.

He also spent parts of that season with the Charlotte Checkers. In 17 games, he had a goal and an assist. He was a minus-seven with 33 penalty minutes. In 2022-23, he played with the Icemen in the ECHL in 35 games, and he had 11 points on five goals and six assists. He was a plus-two with 48 penalty minutes. He also appeared in two games with the Manitoba Moose but was held pointless, finishing as a minus-two with five penalty minutes. Friend spent the 2023-24 season with the Belfast Giants in the EIHL, appearing in 53 games, and he had 24 points on two goals and 22 assists. He was a +30 with 76 penalty minutes.

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.
  1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing
  2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos
  3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time

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