REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

October 29, 2025

Welcome to Wolves Insider, presented by Are You Really Winning?: The weekly report that gives you an inside look at the latest Chicago Wolves news and happenings. Look for a new edition of Wolves Insider each week.

PAVLYCHEV FLOURISHING ON ICE–AND AS A MENTOR

Five games into the Wolves’ season, Nikita Pavlychev is already halfway to his career-high of six goals, set during the 2023-24 season while appearing in 29 contests with the Ontario Reign.

In his second campaign with the Wolves, the 28-year-old appears to have taken a big step in his development and has been a big reason why Chicago is off to a 3-1-1-0 start to the ’25-26 season.

“Last season was one of the bigger building steps in establishing myself as a full-time AHL player,” Pavlychev said. “You’re never satisfied with where you are and that’s the goal. I want to grow even more as a player and see where that takes me.”

It’s taken the Yaroslav, Russia, native to near the top of the Wolves’ scoring leaders with three goals and two assists while centering the second line.

“Points is not something I’m really chasing,” Pavlychev said. “I’ve just been fortunate that my teammates have been setting me up pretty nicely. A lot of credit to them.”

Pavlychev worked diligently during the offseason in an effort to improve his game in several areas, including “physicality, being able to play as a reliable two-way forward by taking care of the puck at both ends of the ice, faceoffs and then add maybe a little bit more of a scoring touch.”

That scoring touch has come courtesy of his 6-feet-7-inch frame as two of his tallies have come while in front of opposing goaltenders—the third was an empty-netter on Opening Night.

“When you’re 6-7, if you don’t take the opportunity then that’s a waste,” Pavlychev said. “One of my biggest strengths is my size so I have to continue to learn how to take full advantage of that. Creating chances is one thing and the second thing is taking care of the chances by burying them.”

Pavlychev has also embraced the role of mentor to some of the younger Wolves, most notably with fellow Russians Ivan Ryabkin and Amir Miftakhov. Pavlychev is always willing to step in and interpret Russian to English when called upon and has been instrumental in helping his countrymen adapt to living in North America.

“My interpreter skills are good but what’s more exciting is those guys are really starting to get a hang of English and they’re able to take care of themselves,” he said. “As a mentor, it’s always good to see when guys start to grow not only as players but as people.”

“There are so many people in my life who mentored me and helped me when I had to make this difficult transition,” added Pavlychev, who spoke no English when he came to the United States in 2012 at the age of 13. “I know how hard it is. I’m always there for them. I don’t want them to ever feel they can’t come to me asking for a little help. I’m more than willing to help out wherever I can.”

MR. SMITH COMES TO CHICAGO

The wait is finally over for Givani Smith.

The forward made his Wolves debut during Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Rockford IceHogs–more than three weeks after the Toronto native was assigned to Chicago by the Carolina Hurricanes due to a delay in processing his immigration papers.

The 27-year-old was invited to Hurricanes training camp on a PTO (Professional Tryout Contract) and after recording two goals, an assist and 28 penalty minutes in four exhibition games, Smith inked a one-year, two-way contract on Oct. 3.

The next day, Smith was assigned to the Wolves but played the waiting game in his hometown  while the paperwork was worked out.

“It was a little difficult just waiting,” Smith said, “Luckily, I was home waiting but that three-week time period was a little bit long. Now, I’m happy to be here. At least I was able to work out in Toronto.”

Smith split the 2024-25 season between the NHL and AHL, appearing in 13 games with the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche and 16 AHL games with the Colorado Eagles and Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

A second-round selection (46^th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Smith has appeared in 168 career NHL games with Detroit, the Florida Panthers, San Jose and Colorado. He had nine goals, 13 assists and 268 penalty minutes during his time in the NHL.

Now, he’s grateful to find a landing spot after earning a new contract.

“It means the most to me– I’m very excited and proud of that,” Smith said of signing the deal. “Every year is a good year. You never know when it’s going to be your last year with injuries and anything that can happen. I was working very hard in the summertime and then I was able to prolong that to a good camp. I’m excited to keep that going into the season now.”

Asked to describe his game, the 6-feet-2-inch, 215-pounder said, “it’s being physical and moving my feet and also shooting the puck.”

With his lengthy career, Smith said he’s familiar with the Chicago area, Allstate Arena and the Wolves.

“I used to play against (the Wolves) a lot my first few years in the American League with Grand Rapids,” Smith said. “I learned a lot about their type of play and the arena. It’s a really nice arena.”

IMPACT NETWORKING PLAY OF THE WEEK

Defenseman Domenick Fensore wired this shot past Manitoba Moose goaltender Thomas Milic in overtime to give the Wolves a 4-3 victory Saturday night at Allstate Arena.

 

C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISIONS OF THE WEEK

During Tuesday’s game at Allstate Arena, Wolves forward Yanick Turcotte drilled the Rockford IceHogs’ Kevin  Korchinski into the boards, setting off a melee between the Central Division rivals.

 

SAVE OF THE WEEK

Wolves goaltender Nikita Quapp made this sparkling stop on Manitoba Moose forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan during Saturday night’s game at Allstate Arena.

 

Weekly rewind (1-1-0-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 25

Wolves 4, Moose 3 (OT): Domenick Fensore had two goals—including the game-winner in overtime—Nikita Pavlychev had a goal and an assist, Dominik Badinka also tallied and Justin Robidas chipped in two assists to lift the Wolves to 3-0-1-0 record—their best start in five seasons.

TUESDAY, OCT. 28

IceHogs 6, Wolves 1: Rockford raced to a 6-0 lead before Noel Gunler finally got the Wolves on the board with his first goal of the season. The marker was assisted by Felix Unger Sorum and Gavin Bayreuther. The regulation loss snapped the Wolves’ four-game points streak to start the 2025-26 season.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

3-1-1-0, third in the Central Division.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE