Oshawa Generals Complete Massive Deal With Owen Sound, Acquire Winnipeg Jets First-Rounder Colby Barlow

The Oshawa Generals have drastically bolstered their goal-scoring prowess by acquiring Colby Barlow

The Oshawa Generals made a big splash Thursday afternoon. There had been rumors swirling around that the team was in the market to make a big trade and acquire a top-six forward. 

Those rumors became true. The organization announced that they have acquired Winnipeg Jets 2023 first-rounder, Colby Barlow, from the Owen Sound Attack. 

“It’s an exciting day to land a player like Colby. He has a proven track record of being a scorer, and that will add to our already deep group of forwards. Fans will grow to love seeing #39 in red, white, and navy blue,” said Oshawa's GM and Vice President Roger Hunt. 

The full details of the trade are below:

Oshawa Receives:
RW, Colby Barlow

Owen Sound Receives:
C, Tristan Delisle 
RHD, David Bedkowski
Second-round pick in 2026 (OSH)
Second-round pick in 2027 (OSH)
Third-round pick in 2025 (OSH)
Third-round pick in 2026 (OSH)
Fifth-round pick in 2028 (OSH)
Seventh-round pick in 2026 (OSH)

The prolific goal-scorer Barlow is an offensive threat every time his boots hit the ice. He scored 30 goals in his rookie season with the Attack, helping him get named to the OHL's first all-rookie team. 

The 6-foot-1 forward followed up his impressive 16-year-old season with a stellar NHL Draft campaign. Barlow captured Gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and then was named Owen Sound's new captain ahead of the 2022-23 season. 

In 59 games, Colby scored 46 goals and 79 points, winning the OHL's and CHL's Scholastic Player of the Year, and was voted onto the OHL's first all-star team. 

One last stop before the NHL Draft was representing his nation's colors once again at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. He scored three goals in six games while wearing the "A" for Canada and capturing the bronze medal.

Barlow was selected 18th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2023 and is one of their top prospects in their system. He scored 40 goals in 50 games last season with Owen Sound, and one goal and three points with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL after the Attack was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. 

The Orillia, Ontario native will have an opportunity to play for Canada at the 2025 World Juniors and operate in a top-six scoring role. 

“On the other hand, to lose David and Tristan is difficult. They were great players and teammates during their time here and they will both go on to great things. I would like to wish them both all the success in the world,” said Roger Hunt.

While losing their captain and a player who has scored 116 goals in 168 games in their jersey is a difficult pill to swallow, the Attack received a strong return for Barlow, who was asked to be traded.

Delisle was drafted 51st overall in the third round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection and recorded seven goals and 18 points in 63 games in the regular season. The 5-foot-11 center is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

“Tristan is coming off a fantastic 16-year-old season with Oshawa. He will bring a lot of components, our coaches want in our forwards, tremendous speed, and tremendous compete along with his playmaking abilities. He should become a fan favorite in no time” said Attack GM Dale DeGray when asked about Delisle.

Delisle played an impactful role as Oshawa's third-line center in their run to the OHL Finals last season. He was held without a goal and only two assists in 21 playoff games, but it's a challenging task to ask any 16-year-old to perform meaningful regular minutes in a Championship run. 

Bedkowski enters his third season and also is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft due to his Dec. 7, 2006 birthday. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-shot defenseman was drafted 36th overall for the Generals in 2022 and has played 125 OHL games over the past two seasons.  

“David is a big body right shot defenseman who skates very well and plays a physical athletic style of game. He is a very mobile smooth passing defender who will make offensive players uncomfortable in front of our goaltending tandem” said DeGray when asked about Bedkowski.

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