Former Ontario Junior Hockey League players are on the move thanks to Friday’s NHL trade deadline:
Reilly Smith, who played two seasons (2007-09) in the OJ with the St. Michael’s Buzzers, was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the New York Rangers. Smith, 33, won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023.
Jake Walman was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers by the San Jose Sharks. Walman, 29, played for the OJHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens. In 2013-14, he was named Rookie of the Year and Top Prospect in the OJHL and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Walman joins fellow OJHL alumni Zach Hyman (Hamilton Red Wings/Markham Royals) and Connor Brown (St. Michael’s Buzzers) in Edmonton.
Brandon Tanev was traded to the Winnipeg Jets from the Seattle Kraken. Like his brother, Toronto Maple Leafs’ defenceman Chris Tanev, Brandon played for the Markham Waxers in the OJHL. Now 33, he began his NHL career with Winnipeg in 2016.
Scott Laughton, an affiliate player with St. Michael’s during the 2009-10 season, was traded to the Leafs from the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old centre from Oakville has played 661 games in the NHL, all with the Flyers.
Dennis Gilbert went from his hometown Buffalo Sabres to the Ottawa Senators. The defenceman played for the OJHL’s Buffalo Jr. Sabres in 2013-14. He’s also skated in the NHL for Calgary, Colorado and Chicago.
About the OJHL – “ League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. The OJHL is the home of the 2024 Centennial Cup champion Collingwood Blues. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL has had more than 90 commitments already this season.
