Brampton Steelheads Shake Up Roster with Two Major Trades

BRAMPTON, ON  – In a bold move to reshape their roster, the Brampton Steelheads have executed two significant trades, acquiring goaltender Jacob Gibbons from the Erie Otters and parting ways with Ryerson Leenders in a deal with the Brantford Bulldogs.

In the first trade, the Steelheads secured goaltender Jacob Gibbons from the Erie Otters. In return, Brampton sent a fourth-round pick in 2025 (WSR) and a sixth-round pick in 2028 to Erie. Gibbons, who was drafted in the second round (38th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, had an impressive pre-OHL career with the Markham Majors, boasting a 1.54 GAA and a .926 SV% during the OHL Cup. Despite a challenging season last year with the Otters—where he posted a 5.11 GAA and an .819 SV%—the Steelheads are hopeful that Gibbons can develop into a key player for their team.

The second trade sees the Steelheads send Ryerson Leenders to the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for a substantial package of eight draft picks. The future picks include two second-round selections in 2025 (BAR/WSR), a second-round pick in 2026, a third-round pick in 2025 (OTT), a third-round pick in 2026 (OTT), a third-round pick in 2027 (SAG), a fourth-round pick in 2025, and a fifth-round pick in 2027. Leenders, originally drafted by Brampton in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, had a standout performance last season. He led the league with a .909 save percentage, recorded a 24-17-4 record, and contributed three shutouts. Leenders also played a significant role in Canada’s gold-medal victories at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the U18 World Championships. His potential was further recognized when he was selected in the seventh round (219th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres at the NHL Draft in June.

These trades mark a pivotal moment for the Brampton Steelheads as they look to build for the future while making strategic adjustments to their current lineup.