‘I’m ready to make a comeback’

February 04, 2026

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Legault’s lengthy rehab nearly complete

Charles Alexis Legault used the nearly three months it took to rehabilitate his surgically-repaired right hand to better both his mind and body.

The Wolves defenseman suffered a gruesome injury to his hand when he was cut by a skate during a scrum while with the Carolina Hurricanes in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 9. On Monday, Legault was activated from the injured list and reassigned to the Wolves and is set to continue his season.

“I feel good—I’m ready to make a comeback,” the 22-year-old said. “Mentally, I haven’t been this ready since forever. Waiting that long you just get amped up to play again.”

Legault had surgery on Nov. 10 to repair multiple torn extensor tendons in his hand and the initial timetable was a return in three or four months.

The injury occurred in the Laval, Quebec, native’s eighth game with the Hurricanes after Legault began the 2025-26 campaign with the Wolves. He scored his first NHL goal Nov. 8 against the Buffalo Sabres and was flying high until the moment that derailed his season.

“It was hard but it’s something I can’t really control,” Legault said. “I focus on what I can control and that’s the effort I put in and my attitude. I just try to keep it positive and work as hard as I can.

“I did my exercises every day—almost every hour—trying to get back as quick as possible and I’m happy they were able to clear me (Monday),” he continued.

Legault spent the months following the injury in Raleigh, N.C., working out, skating and “watching a lot of hockey—both the Hurricanes and my friends on the Wolves.”

He made strides off the ice, too, including hitting the books as he works his way toward a Business Administration degree from Quinnipiac University. Last week, Legault began the final two classes he needs to graduate and should conclude his schooling by the end of April.

One question remains: Which will be the bigger thrill, earning his degree or scoring his first NHL goal?

“I don’t know if my mom is going to like the answer to this question but for sure it’s scoring my first goal,” Legault said with a laugh.

In the meantime, Legault said his goal is to “get back into my groove, whether it’s with the Wolves or up in Carolina. I’m where my feet are at and I’m trying to help the Wolves win.”

—Chris Kuc

A Return to the All-Star Stage

When the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic takes over Rockford next week, the Wolves will send more than just elite players to the festivities. Joining forwards Bradly Nadeau and Justin Robidas and defenseman Domenick Fensore at one of the league’s biggest stages will be longtime anthem singer and Wolves Senior Executive Vice President, Wayne Messmer.

For Messmer, the All-Star spotlight carries meaning beyond the microphone.

Thirty-five years ago, Messmer performed the national anthem at the 1991 NHL All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium, a moment that has since become one of the most recognizable anthem performances in sports history.

“The Canadian anthem was well-received, but then the U.S. anthem just exploded, and that was an amazing, almost unduplicatable event,” said Messmer, who will sing the anthem prior to the All-Star Skills Competition on Tuesday night.

Messmer has performed at All-Star Games across multiple leagues, including the International Hockey League, Major League Baseball and the 2004 AHL All-Star Game in Grand Rapids, Mich. Even with his experience, returning to the All-Star stage continues to carry special significance.

“It’s the best of the best of the league and to have an opportunity to start the show doing the anthems, it’s really kind of cool,” Messmer said. “It’s fun, it’s an honor and it’s a humbling experience.”

Messmer’s appreciation for each performance is shaped by the perspective gained over the years. On April 9, 1994, he survived a life-threatening wound to the neck that threatened his ability to speak and sing.

“To be able to speak is remarkable, and to still be able to sing and sing at the level, I’m a pretty grateful guy,” Messmer said.

—Brandon Wolak

 

IMPACT NETWORKING PLAY OF THE WEEK

During Saturday night’s game against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Allstate Arena, Wolves defenseman Juuso Valimaki opened the scoring with his third goal of the season. The veteran took a feed from Noel Gunler at the top of the left circle, picked his spot and wired a snapshot past netminder Michal Postava to the glove side

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

Wolves forward Ryan Suzuki finished his check on the Griffins’ Antti Tuomisto during Saturday night’s tilt at Allstate Arena.

 

SAVE OF THE WEEK

During Friday night’s game in Grand Rapids, Wolves goaltender Cayden Primeau denied Griffins forward Eduards Tralmaks’ rebound chance with a left-pad save.

 

Weekly rewind (1-1-0-0)

FRIDAY, JAN. 30

Wolves 5, Griffins 2: Bradly Nadeau and Ryan Suzuki each had a goal and an assist and Juuso Valimaki, Skyler Brind’Amour and Evan Vierling also scored to help the Wolves extend their points streak to eight games with their second win in a row.

SATURDAY, JAN. 31

Griffins 5, Wolves 2: The Wolves got goals from Juuso Valimaki and Domenick Fensore but came up short in the second of back-to-back contests between the two top teams in the Central Division. Grand Rapids ended a three-game slide with the win.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

21-10-5-5, second in the Central Division.

For information on Wolves ticket plans for the 2025-26 season—everything from single-game tickets to Flex Packs to group outings—visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.