Just a few days after trading away Swedish sniper Oskar Olausson, the Barrie Colts have turned around and replenished some offensive pop at the top of the lineup.
The Colts acquired Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Declan McDonnell on Sunday from the Kitchener Rangers. The 19-year-old right-winger has 10 goals and 13 assists in 27 games this season with Kitchener, as well as 44 penalty minutes.
The Lake View, N.Y., native also appeared in 16 games last season with the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch where he picked up a pair of assists.
McDonnell was drafted in the seventh round (217th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by Tampa Bay.
In the trade with Kitchener, Barrie also received second- and fourth-round picks in 2025, both of which are conditional.
Get excited Colts Country! 🎥👇 pic.twitter.com/q1PnltB75O
— Barrie Colts (@OHLBarrieColts) January 9, 2022
Going back to the Rangers are the rights to Hunter Brzustewicz and a fourth-round pick in 2023, as well a second-round pick in 2023 and a third-round pick in 2025, both of which are conditional.
Colts head coach and general manager Marty Williamson says McDonnell brings skill and leadership to the Barrie lineup.
“Declan is a powerful and skilled forward that our scouts have liked since his minor midget year," Williamson said on the team's website. "He brings a veteran presence to our group with his experience in the OHL as well as playing 16 games last season in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.
"He will be a big part of the team this year and next and we expect him to be a large piece in helping us contend for a championship," Williamson added.
McDonnell was chosen to attend the United States' world junior preliminary training camp in early December before returning to the Kitchener Rangers. During the 2019-20 season, he led all Kitchener rookies in goals with 21 in 63 games.
McDonnell will be wearing No. 25 and be making his Colts debut this afternoon against the Owen Sound Attack.
