Earlier this month, the Vegas Golden Knights announced the signing of Kitchener Rangers' forward Trent Swick to a three-year, entry-level contract for the 2025-26 season.
Swick is in his fourth and final OHL season, excelling as an overage player for the Ontario Hockey League's second-best team, Kitchener.
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The St. Catharines, Ontario native was drafted 47th overall in the third round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Swick was one of many players playing in Ontario who lost a year of development when the OHL shutdown the 2020-21 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Swick took his time getting acclimated to the league, playing in a depth role for the Rangers from 2021-2023. He scored 13 goals and 24 points in 80 games in his first two seasons before his breakout campaign last season.
The towering 6-foot-6 winger potted home 25 goals and racked up 37 helpers for 62 points. His play stood out and the Golden Knights' scouting staff took full notice.
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Vegas used their penultimate pick in the most recent NHL draft to select the Kitchener Rangers forward Swick, 180th overall in the sixth round.
With the regular season winding down and the OHL playoffs just around the corner, Swick is second on the Rangers team in goals (26) and points (57) in 56 contests this year.
Swick will play a pivotal role in Kitchener's pursuit of winning their first OHL Championship since 2008. He will transition to the professional level next season where the Golden Knights will be able to watch and track his development closer.
Battling through a pandemic and being passed up on in two consecutive NHL drafts, Swick didn't stop grinding. Now, the big man has an NHL contract that will pay him $2.55 million over the next three years.
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