Colby Barlow, the Oshawa Generals’ new sniper, would easily have surpassed the Owen Sound Attack franchise record for goals this season

Former NHLer Bobby Ryan can breathe a sigh of relief today.

When the Owen Sound Attack sent captain Colby Barlow to the Oshawa Generals today in a stunning but expected OHL trade, it kept Ryan at the top of a list of elite goal scorers.

Ryan played four seasons for the Attack between 2003 and 2007 and also served as captain. He left town having scored 133 career regular-season goals, which surpassed the previous record of 131. That was held by Wes Goldie, who departed Owen Sound in 2000 and enjoyed a long minor-pro career.

Barlow scored 116 goals with the Attack, including a record-setting 30 as a 16-year-old rookie. That’s good for sixth place all time. His average of 38 goals per season made it a certainty that he would easily have surpassed Ryan’s total if he had stayed put and stayed healthy.

The Winnipeg Jets, who drafted Barlow in the first round, 18^th overall, in 2023, sent him back to junior last weekend. The native of Orillia, Ont., who had earlier declined to attend the Attack’s training camp in advance of Winnipeg’s camp, refused to report to Owen Sound and made it clear he wanted to be traded.

Attack general manager Dale DeGray granted his wish on Thursday and received a substantial package – two players and six draft picks – in return. It's a hefty price to pay but the Generals, who advanced to the Robertson Cup final last season, expect to contend again this year. Barlow will be a big part of that plan. He'll likely suit up for Canada at the world juniors as well.

Looking at the Attack's record book, current Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki would have surpassed Ryan’s total first if he hadn’t been traded to the Guelph Storm midway through his fourth season with the Attack. He compiled 129 goals between 2015 and 2019.

Fourth on the list, with 128 goals, is veteran NHLer Andrew Brunette, an Owen Sound franchise icon who still holds the club record for goals, assists, and points in a single season. When the team was still known as the Platers, he registered 62 goals, 100 assists, and 162 points in 1992-93, becoming Owen Sound’s first and to date only OHL scoring champion.

Ryan, who played 14 NHL seasons with the Ducks, the Senators, and the Red Wings, also holds the career records for assists and points, and those standards haven’t been in jeopardy since he set them. His 192 assists and 295 points puts him comfortably ahead of Wayne Primeau, another veteran NHLer, and Brunette, who are second in those respective categories.