The Brantford Bulldogs (44–19–5–0) entered last season as a contender and didn’t disappoint, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinal before falling short against the Bobby Orr Trophy-winning Oshawa Generals. The offseason brought plenty of turnover, with star forwards Patrick Thomas, Nick Lardis, and Cole Brown all moving on, leaving more than 290 points of offence to be replaced. Still, Brantford is loaded with firepower. Captain Jake O’Brien, fresh off being selected in the first round of the NHL Draft by Seattle, returns as the team’s engine, while Marek Vanacker looks poised to take another step after battling injuries a year ago. New additions like Caleb Malhotra, Cooper Dennis, and Edison Engle headline a deep supporting cast, joining veterans to form a roster that can score in waves. With talent up front, stability on the back end, and strong goaltending from Ryerson Leenders, the Bulldogs won’t be an easy team to handle.
Recent Transactions
*- denotes conditional draft pick
| DATE | TEAM | TRANSF. | TO | TEAM | TRANSF. |
| Aug. 31 | SAR | Ryan Chamberlain | BFD | BFD 8 2026 | |
| Aug. 23 | BFD | Calvin Crombie | BAR | BAR 10 2027 | |
| Jun. 26 | LDN | Ryder Boulton | BFD | KIT 7 2026 | |
| Jun. 18 | PBO | PBO 1 2025 Import | BFD | BFD 2 2025 Import
OS 2 2026 BFD 3 2027 BFD 3 2028 |
|
| Jun. 17 | KIT | Jude Bray | BFD | SAR 6 2026* | |
| Jun. 3 | FLNT | Sam McCue
FLNT 13 2026 |
BFD | BRAM 2 2026
SBY 3 2026 BFD 5 2026 FLNT 3 2027 SAG 4 2027 BFD 6 2028 BFD 12 2029 |
Futures Watch – a list of some of the new faces fans should be keeping an eye on as the team prepares for the upcoming campaign.
Five Questions Heading Into 2025-26:
As the Brantford Bulldogs prepare for another push in the Eastern Conference, we asked five media members who cover the team closely to weigh in on the key questions heading into the 2025–26 season. Here’s what they had to say:
1. Who is your breakout candidate?
Colin Ward (The Dawgcast): Josh Avery – He showed his ability to have an impact in key defensive situations last season. I think this is the year his game comes together on the offensive side, just like in his draft year with the minor Pete’s program.
Reece Doumani (The Dawgcast): Aiden O’Donnell – So far in the preseason, he has been the player we expected him to be when the Bulldogs drafted him. O’Donnell started his season late last year due to injury and had a number of tough stretches, but all 16-year-olds go through it, and it’s what he does to follow up. I think he is going to be given an opportunity by Jay McKee to see if he can play in the top 6 when he needs him to. Depth scoring will be key for this team, and I look for O’Donnell to contribute a lot this year.
Troy Izlakar (Colour commentator, Rogers TV): Marek Vanacker – A shoulder injury and surgery delayed his 2024 campaign, limiting him to 24 goals and 42 points in 45 regular-season games. With a full OHL/NHL training camp behind him, Vanacker should have a decisive edge. He already proved his scoring ceiling in 2023–24, recording 36 goals and 82 points in 69 games – production that earned him a first-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. This season, he has the potential to eclipse 50 goals and 100 points, separating himself from the rest of the pack.
Brian Smiley (Reporter, The Brantford Expositor): Caleb Malhotra, Edison Engle, and Aiden O’Donnell – The Bulldogs have three likely breakout candidates for the 2025-26 season, two newcomers and a returnee. During training camp, Caleb Malhotra and Edison Engle have shown they’re ready to step into big roles. Malhotra, who played in the BCHL last season, should be a top-six forward, while Engle, a Winnipeg Jets pick who played in the USHL last season, looks to be in the mix to be on the team’s top defensive pairing. As for players returning, 2024 first-round OHL Priority Selection Aiden O’Donnell had a relatively quiet rookie season, but he made noise early in camp with a five-point performance during a scrimmage game. O’Donnell, a forward, seems set to make a massive leap this season.
Ruth Duthie (Play-by-play announcer, Rogers TV): Cooper Dennis – Elite shot to go along with tremendous speed off the wing, making the adjustment to the OHL seamlessly, Dennis will be a massive breakout player.
2. What’s the Bulldogs’ biggest question mark entering 2025-26?
Ward: Can the group come together and find success? – It’s no secret that there’s been a lot of additions this offseason for the club. The one question is, can the group come together from the jump and get a good start to the season?
Doumani: How do you replace Lardis, Thomas and Brown? – The Bulldogs are a very talented team. They’re going to make a serious run at a championship this season. But it is no easy task to replace 291 points from three players. I think we’re going to see a team that spreads out the offence a lot more this season, and they’re going to have to win it all. O’Brien and Vanacker will for sure be near the top of the team points-wise, but the Bulldogs will have to get contributions from all four lines.
Izlakar: Who will play the bottom six on forward? – The Bulldogs project to be very strong in net and on defence, while their top three lines will feature five NHL draft picks: O’Brien, Vanacker, Benak, Holmes, and McCue. Up front, the additions of Dennis, Malhotra, Boulton, Karmiris, Gallacher, and Freeman (R) will push returnees such as Tsherna, Avery, Testa, and O’Donnell. The biggest question entering 2025–26 will be the bottom six forwards, where ten players are battling for five or six roster spots. For coach Jay McKee, managing ice time and roles in that group may be a challenge, but it’s a good problem to have.
Smiley: Replacing Lardis, Thomas and Brown – There are two big questions that need to be answered for the Bulldogs. How will they replace the top line of Patrick Thomas, Nick Lardis and Cole Brown, who have all moved on, and who will play on a forward line with NHL first-round picks Jake O’Brien and Marek Vanacker. The answer to the first question won’t involve one player. Look for the Bulldogs to have a more well-rounded scoring punch this season as several newcomers should put up solid point numbers. As for the second question, there are several candidates in camp, but it wouldn’t be a big surprise if the Bulldogs went outside the organization to fill that spot. With plenty of second-round draft picks stockpiled, look for Brantford to make a big move in acquiring a top-line forward sometime this season.
Duthie: How do you replace the combined offence of Nick Lardis, Patrick Thomas, Cole Brown & Tomas Hamara
3. Who will the Bulldogs’ top NHL Draft prospect be by the end of the season?
Ward: Caleb Malhotra – Caleb is an excellent two-way talent who’s going to rise up the draft rankings throughout the season. He’s outstanding with the puck, he and Cooper Dennis have shown their connection already throughout the pre-season.
Doumani: Caleb Malhotra – It was huge news when the Bulldogs acquired his rights from the Kingston Frontenacs last season. Caleb is very confident that the transition from the BCHL to the OHL will be fairly easy for him. Eyes have been on him for a number of years, and scouts will be lining the catwalk at the Civic Centre to watch him play. Won’t read too much into preseason hockey, but Malhotra and Dennis will complement each other very well all season, so collecting points won’t be an issue for Malhotra.
Izlakar: Caleb Malhotra and Aiden O’Donnell – When evaluating potential NHL draft prospects this season, there are both obvious names and intriguing under-the-radar players. Leading the way for the 2026 draft are Caleb Malhotra and Aiden O’Donnell, two 2008-born forwards expected to make a major impact. Malhotra, originally a first-round OHL pick of the Kingston Frontenacs, played last season in the BCHL before his rights were traded to the Bulldogs. In this year’s camp, he has stood out both on and off the ice. His professionalism reflects the influence of his father, former NHLer Manny Malhotra, who has clearly prepared him for what lies ahead. Another name to watch is 2007-born forward Cooper Dennis, who joined the Bulldogs from the USHL. If his 2025 OHL preseason performance is any indication, he should draw significant attention from scouts during his second draft-eligible season. On the back end, 2008-born defenseman Jude Bray – acquired from Kitchener – and 2022 second-round pick Patrick Babin have both impressed in camp and are expected to be in the mix this year.
Smiley: Caleb Malhotra and Aiden O’Donnell – Another multi-player answer, and names that have already been mentioned. Looking up and down the roster, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Malhotra was picked in next year’s NHL draft. The son of former NHLer Manny Malhotra, the younger Malhotra looks to have the size and tools to turn scouts’ heads. And while O’Donnell may not have looked the part last season, the improvement he’s shown in camp is impressive. The native of Cole Harbour, NS, has not only been putting up points, but his skating and confidence look improved.
Duthie: Caleb Malhotra – looks like a player well beyond his years. He plays the game with an advanced 200ft sensibility and thinks the game at an elite level.
4. Which new addition are you most excited to see?
Ward: Edison Engle – There are so many new additions to be excited to see this season for the Bulldogs. Personally, I think Edison Engle is going to be a really good player in this Jay McKee system. Engle’s mobility is elite on the back end.
Doumani: Cooper Dennis – This is a guy who we’ve been waiting to arrive for a couple of seasons, and he has not disappointed so far through training camp and preseason. He’s got so much skill and the hockey smarts to immediately step into a top 6 role. He doesn’t have a ton of size, but his speed makes up for it, and the combo of himself and Caleb Malhotra should provide a lot of points for the Bulldogs.
Izlakar: Adam Benak and Cooper Dennis – Two players stand out like a red balloon in a black-and-white movie: Adam Benak and Cooper Dennis. They’ve only been Bulldogs for a few weeks, but it’s already a thrill to watch them on the ice. Both may be smaller in stature, yet they more than make up for it with talent. Benak brings electrifying speed and agility, handling the puck as if it’s on a string. Dennis has already shown in the preseason that he can score—and score often. With one of the quickest releases in the league, his shot is lethal and needs almost no space to fire. Both will be worth the price of admission.
Smiley: Ryder Boulton and Edison Engle – There will be two answers to this, one from the perspective of fans and one from the perspective of those covering the team. Adding Ryder Boulton was a massive move by the Bulldogs. Boulton, who won a Memorial Cup with the London Knights last season, should get an expanded role in Brantford, but fans will be looking forward to the enforcer looking after Brantford’s star players. And then there’s Engle. From what he’s done at camp, it looks as though the Jets got a steal in the NHL draft by picking him up in the sixth round. Engle has drawn the praise of head coach Jay McKee for good reason – he skates well, goes to the right spots on the ice and looks set to be an offensive force.
Duthie: Edison Engle – smooth skating defenseman that handles the puck with seemingly effortless skill. Engle will go a long way in helping replace what Tomas Hamara brought to the Bulldogs blueline.
5. Who will the Bulldogs’ MVP be in 2025-26?
Ward: Jake O’Brien – He was born to play hockey. He’s a hockey nerd who is elite in all aspects of the game. He should be in contention for the OHL’s points leader this season.
Doumani: Jake O’Brien – I don’t think there is any question that if the Bulldogs are to win their third championship in franchise history, Jake O’Brien is going to be the best player for this team this season. Marek Vanacker is going to play a huge role as well, but the offence runs through Jake O’Brien, and he’ll be put into every situation this season by Jay McKee and staff.
Izlakar: Jake O’Brien – He is a unicorn, and my pick for team MVP. From our perch above the Market Street Madhouse, I’m continually amazed at what he does with the puck. As Reed Duthie often says, “he has a supercomputer between his ears that allows him to defy time and space!” I couldn’t agree more. Do yourself a favour: come out and watch him play. He’s a cheat code on skates, and just as importantly, a genuinely humble, pleasant kid. O’Brien, the 2023–24 OHL Rookie of the Year and 1st round NHL pick this past summer, knows exactly what’s expected of him and relishes the challenge. Recently named the ninth captain in Bulldogs history, he enters the year following two straight seasons averaging more than a point per game. That should be a preview of what’s ahead. Expect O’Brien and Vanacker to drive the top line, and whoever coach Jay McKee places alongside them will feel like they’ve won the lottery.
Smiley: Jake O’Brien – If the Bulldogs hope to achieve their goal of winning an OHL championship, there’s only one answer – Jake O’Brien. Seattle’s first-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft, O’Brien, is on pace to set several franchise records. Everywhere O’Brien has gone, he’s been a leader and winner. Night in and night out, his playmaking wows hometown fans and following a season in which he just missed out on 100 points, the centre should hit the century mark this season.
Duthie: Jake O’Brien – most points by a Bulldog through two seasons in the OHL, 1st round NHL pedigree, the ascent continues for the, now, captain of the Bulldogs.
