Masters was traded to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the trade package for the rights to pending unrestricted free agent John Carlson.

Masters was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in January 2026. The 22-year-old defenseman is out for the season with an injury, so this trade was Carolina’s general manager (Eric Tulsky) purchasing a better draft pick (2026 fourth-round pick) in exchange for freeing up a contract spot for San Jose Sharks and a slightly worse draft pick (2027 fifth-round pick). Masters is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The San Jose Sharks acquired 22-year-old defenseman Kyle Masters from the Minnesota Wild for Oskar Olausson on October 17, 2025. Masters was drafted by the Wild in the fourth round (118th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He has not played an NHL game in his professional career and currently plays in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder.

The excitement that came with Masters exploding offensively in his final WHL season with Kamloops (65 points in 66 games after 14 points in 65 games the year prior) was short-lived, and he has been bouncing between the AHL and ECHL since signing his professional contract. The strong depth in Minnesota’s defense pool is part of the reason he has spent a majority of his professional career in the ECHL so far. Still, his offensive results have also been insignificant at both levels. It would be a surprise to see Masters get NHL games in the future, as he will most likely stabilize as a bottom-pair defenseman in the AHL within a few years at the rate he is progressing so far.

Masters was one of the most surprising players in the WHL during the 2022-23 season. He put up 65 points in 66 games during the regular season compared to his 2021-22 season where he put up only 14 points in 65 games. He essentially exploded offensively and showed scouts that he has incredible offensive upside. Masters has signed an ELC with Minnesota and is expected to turn professional next season. It will be interesting if Masters is able to build on his progression this season, as it seemingly came out of nowhere.

Masters, who was drafted in the 4th round at the 2021 NHL draft, has been having a strong season in the WHL for Kamloops Blazers. In his previous three seasons in the WHL, Masters had played for the Red Deer Rebels, where he had been a strong puck-moving defenseman who lacked the ability to put up points. His time with Kamloops has transformed him into a current PPG player with six goals and 29 assists in only 33 games played. This upwards trend in points is vital for his development, as he will transition to professional hockey within the next couple of years. He remains a good prospect for the Wild, especially as Minnesota doesn’t have many blue-chip prospects at the blue line. Expect Masters to be a potential third-line puck-moving defenseman at the NHL level.

A fresh start for Masters will not impact his immediate fantasy value; he is nothing more than a long-term developmental depth defenseman for the Sharks and does not need to be rostered in any league.