The San Diego Gulls have reassigned goaltender Vyacheslav Buteyets to the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL, a move that gives the 23-year-old netminder another opportunity to build on his growing resume in the pro ranks.
Buteyets has been splitting time between the AHL and ECHL this season, putting together a combined 9-11-0 record across 21 appearances with both San Diego and Tulsa. With the Gulls, he’s posted a 1-3-0 mark, highlighted by a strong performance on Nov. 26, 2025, when he picked up his first AHL win by turning aside 39 of 42 shots on the road in Tucson. That outing gave a glimpse into the potential the 6-foot-4, 220-pound goalie brings to the crease.
His time in San Diego also included a milestone moment: making his NHL debut for Anaheim on Dec. 3 against Utah. He came in as a relief option and stopped all 10 shots he faced - a small sample, but a meaningful one for a young goalie trying to climb the ranks.
Back in Tulsa, Buteyets has been steady. He’s gone 7-7-0 in 15 games this season, with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage - numbers that speak to his ability to hold his own at the ECHL level.
Last season, he logged 36 games for the Oilers and finished with a 19-13-3 record, four shutouts, a 2.82 GAA, and a .905 save percentage. Those four shutouts tied him for fourth among all ECHL goaltenders, a testament to his ability to lock things down when he’s dialed in.
He also got a taste of playoff hockey last spring, appearing in five Kelly Cup Playoff games. While the Oilers went 2-3-0 in those contests, Buteyets held steady with a 3.03 GAA and a .906 save percentage - solid numbers in the postseason grind.
This reassignment isn’t a setback - it’s a continuation of a developmental path that’s already seen Buteyets reach the NHL level. For a young goaltender, consistent ice time is key, and Tulsa offers him the chance to keep refining his game, staying sharp, and staying ready for the next call-up.