Revamped Steelheads looking formidable ahead of the 2024-25 season

Retooling has been the name of the game for the newly christened Brampton Steelheads this summer. This is true in more ways than one.

Firstly, the team made the jump from Mississauga to Brampton. The staff have spent the summer moving into their new facilities at the CAA Center.

While the team is certainly excited about their new facilities, it is the on-ice additions that have many in the hockey community discussing Brampton as one of the top teams to watch next season.

Brampton was the youngest team in the OHL last season. Although that made their second-place finish in the division all the more impressive, it may have hurt them in the playoffs.

"We wanted to go that way because we thought we had a real good young group," said GM James Richmond. "I think in the playoffs the lack of experience hurt us."

While the team gained experience throughout the season Richmond decided to augment the team's maturity with several offseason trades.

His first big offseason acquisition sent ripples through the OHL. In exchange for 10 draft picks, Brampton acquired Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf.

Related: Brampton acquires Carson Rehkopf in splashy trade

The former 50-goal scorer is expected to be a huge addition to Brampton's lineup next season.

"He's a 19-year-old, drafted and signed NHL player," said Richmond. "Carson is older now and more mature. Ya, the on-ice stuff is really really exceptional, but what he is going to bring into our room is something that we need. We are looking forward to having him in the blue and white."

Rehkopf joins a forward group that includes fellow 2005-born players Angus MacDonell and Luke Misa. Both players scored more than a point per game last season and were in the top three scorers on the team.

This trio will be augmented by dynamic 2007-born forward Porter Martone who many are projecting as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NHL draft.

"Obviously they [Brampton] have a lot of guys on the team who are really good," said Martone. "I am super pumped to bring what I have in terms of leadership and experience."

Just yesterday, Richmond made a second move to acquire veteran OHL defenseman and former Erie Otters' captain Spencer Sova in exchange for more draft picks.

Sova scored 14 goals and added 17 assists for a total of 31 points with Erie last season. He is also a player who has a ton of leadership experience. Prior to becoming captain of the Otters, he was an alternate for Erie during the 2022-23 season and an alternate for Canada's U-18 World Junior Championship team in 2021-22.

"He's a great character guy, a former captain in the OHL and a very strong skating defenseman that will help our team immensely this season," said Richmond.

Sova adds more depth to a D-corps that includes Seattle Kraken prospect Jakub Fibigr and Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Finn Harding. The trio will likely form the backbone of a strong group of defensemen.

Between the pipes, Brampton truly has an embarrassment of riches. Buffalo Sabres draft pick Ryerson Leenders handled the majority of the work last season. Leenders won 24 out of his 46 starts while maintaining a .909 save percentage and a 3.12 GAA.

However, 2007-born Jack Ivankovic seems likely to see increased starts after an impressive rookie season and Hlinka Gretzky Cup appearance. In 25 starts last year, Ivankovic won 14 games and maintained a .915 save percentage and a 2.72 GAA.

At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Ivankovic won all four games he played in and ended the tournament with a stunning 0.75 GAA as well as a .967 save percentage.

"He's a character kid and a special goalie," said Richmond. "I loved watching him do what he did on the ice, but I am not going to say I was surprised ...He puts the work in and now he is getting rewarded. "

Richmond feels that the team has two strong goalies who they can rely on. This gives the team the luxury of splitting the work between the two and allowing them to stay healthy while they continue to grow their game.

With a team that is strong offensively, defensively and between the pipes, it will certainly be a daunting task to take on Brampton next season. However, the level of competition in the OHL means that you never know who will win on a given night.

"I think everybody has improved," said Richmond. "Up and down the East every team is in it. I don't look at any one team as our nemesis, I think we have to be good every game."

Related: Brampton continues to add experience via trades

Related: Three OHL teams to watch next season

Related: Oshawa, Brampton, & Guelph Sign 2024 CHL Import Draft Picks