Something that has never happened before is about to become a reality in the OHL and Chicago Blackhawks' prospect, Marek Vanacker, is part of it.
According to John Wright, "Since the OHL's inception in 1980, five players who were already drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft have never played on the same team. The (Brantford) Bulldogs will change that when Ben Danford, Adam Jiricek, Jake O'Brien, Jett Luchanko, and Marek Vanacker take the ice together."
Vanacker was taken 27th overall by the Blackhawks in 2024 and has 21 goals and 32 points in 21 OHL games this season. Danford was selected 31st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024, Jiricek was taken 16th by the St. Louis Blues in 2024, O'Brien was drafted eighth by the Seattle Kraken in 2024, and Luchanko was taken 13th by the Philadelphia Flyers in the same year.
This was made possible with the Bulldogs' acquisition of Luchanko from the Guelph Storm. The Bulldogs are dominant this season and just got a whole lot better as Luchanko has NHL experience.
Vanacker has been one of the two offensive threats on Brantford that has helped lead them to this point. He may very well find his way to the NHL, with the Blackhawks or elsewhere, but he is going to make a stop in the AHL after graduating from junior, regardless of how good he is. The organization has so many young players that there's no use rushing a talent like Vanacker and risk disturbing the development.
The goal-scoring winger has a chance to eventually be on Connor Bedard's line if he keeps up his play and progression.
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