The Frontenacs traded a conditional 15th-round pick for goaltender Nolan Lalonde.

Yesterday, the Kingston Frontenacs completed a trade to acquired goaltender Nolan Lalonde from the Saginaw Spirit in exchange for a conditional 2026 15th-round pick.

“Nolan is an outstanding addition to our team for many reasons,” said Frontenacs General Manager Kory Cooper. "Pairing Nolan with Mason will give us one of the best goaltending tandems in the OHL.”

If Lalonde plays one OHL game in the 2024-25 season, the 15th-round pick becomes a 2027 3rd-round pick and a 2025 7th-round pick. 

The 2004-born goaltender enters his final year of eligibility for the OHL. He previously played three seasons with the Erie Otters before being traded to Saginaw last season.

While he was a member of the Saginaw Spirit, Lalonde played alongside Andrew Oke who saw the majority of the team's starts.

Through 32 games last season, Lalonde had 21 wins and 6 losses. Over the course of those games, he recorded an .874 save percentage and a 3.16 goals against average.

He also started 12 games for Saginaw during the playoffs. Prior to the team being eliminated in the Western Conference Final, Lalonde recorded 5 wins and had a 2.79 goals against average and a .893 save percentage. 

The only game Lalonde played during the Memorial Cup resulted in a shutout victory for Saginaw.

At 6'1 Lalonde is slightly undersized for a modern goaltender. He makes up for it by having very solid positioning and cutting down on attacking players shooting angles. He has an excellent glove hand that often helps him make big saves in tight. 

Lalonde is currently under contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Though he was not taken in the 2022 draft, he signed a three year deal with the team as a free agent.

Lalonde joins a goalie tandem that includes Kingston goaltender Mason Vaccari who started the vast majority of games for the Frontenacs last season. Vaccari is a 2005-born goaltender who won 27 games in 59 starts. Over the coarse of the season, he recorded a 3.55 goals against average and a .880 save percentage.

By acquiring Lalonde, Kingston will have two very experienced goaltenders between the pipes during the upcoming season. It is quite possible the team could deploy the pair evenly to start the season. 

This would allow both goalies to see plenty of action while remaining fresh in the event that the Frontenacs manage to win themselves a spot in the playoffs. 

Lalonde will also bring extensive playoff experience and memorial Cup experience to the team.

They say winning teams are built from the crease outwards. By acquiring Lalonde, Kingston has secured their goalie tandem for the upcoming season and can now focus on improving the rest of their team.