The Brantford Bulldogs Have Acquired IceDogs Captain Zakary Lavoie in Preparation for a Playoff Run

The Niagara IceDogs have traded their captain Zakary Lavoie to the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for two third round picks (2025 & 2026), and an eighth round pick (2025).

The Niagara IceDogs and the Brantford Bulldogs have made one more trade on the final day of the OHL Trade Deadline. 

Zakary Lavoie is heading to the Brantford Bulldogs.

Lavoie has been a huge piece in the IceDogs lineup over the past season — so much so, that they handed him the captaincy back in September. The 2004-born winger began his OHL career in Mississauga with the Steelheads, where he was getting some draft talk in his first season. Since then, Lavoie hasn't been able to find a consistent groove with the IceDogs.

The speedy, strong-shooting right winger has 21 points in 36 games for the IceDogs this season, good for fifth in scoring on their roster. With the Bulldogs, he will have some more talent to surround him, and likely be able to focus on his own game.

The Bulldogs are semi-preparing for a playoff run. They traded away some pieces in Noah Van Vliet and Jorian Donovan, but also brought in defender Daniil Sobolev from the IceDogs. They did not "sell" any of their dominant forwards. 

Brantford currently sits second in the Eastern Conference, despite this being labelled a "rebuilding" year. With their young core, they still have lots of time to be competitive and win a championship in the next couple of seasons. Hopefully, Lavoie will be able to play a part in that this season, and potentially help them win next season.

If Zak Lavoie can play alongside players like Nick Lardis, Florian Xhekaj, and Patrick Thomas who can drive the puck, Lavoie will be able to zone-in on his scoring ability.

In his rookie season, Lavoie's shot is what caught people's eyes. He scored 23 goals as a rookie, but hasn't hit that total since. Lavoie can shoot the puck from everywhere. He has a strong wrist shot from far out, but he is also a strong one-timer option — especially on the power play.

With an underwhelming season as Niagara's captain so far, Lavoie will look to find some positives and turn things around in Brantford. Surrounded by the right players, Lavoie can be that 25-30 goal player again, especially if he sticks around for his overage season next year.

In return, the IceDogs will receive two third round picks (2025 & 2026), and an eighth round pick (2025). With the players that they have discarded, and their current position in the standings, the IceDogs will likely be vying for a lottery pick in the spring.