Wichita overhauled its roster to land the high-scoring former NHL draft pick, capitalizing on a complex swap to secure elite offensive depth following his breakout 55-point season.
The Wichita Thunder have bolstered their forward group by acquiring Connor Lockhart as part of a three-team trade involving the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Wheeling Nailers.
In the deal, Wichita sent defender Nico Somerville and forward Oliver Tarr to Greenville in exchange for forward Dante Sheriff. The Thunder then flipped Sheriff, along with forward Matt Crasa, to Wheeling to acquire the ECHL rights to Lockhart.
The move comes shortly after the San Jose Barracuda announced they had signed Lockhart to an AHL contract, giving Wichita the opportunity to benefit from his assignment if he returns to the ECHL.
"We're thrilled to add a player of Connor's caliber to our hockey club…He brings an exceptional combination of skill and high-energy play and is coming off a highly productive season in Wheeling. We expect him to be an integral part of our team's success moving forward."
The 23-year-old forward enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Wheeling Nailers in 2025-26, recording 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in 70 games. Before that, he totaled 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 68 games during his rookie season with the Bison.
A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Lockhart played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Erie, Peterborough and Oshawa. His best junior season came in 2022-23 when he served as an alternate captain, collected 79 points (29 goals, 50 assists) in 66 games, and helped Oshawa capture the OHL championship. He finished his OHL career with 213 points (88 goals, 125 assists) in 239 games.
