#ProBuckeyes and the NHL
4/23/2021 1:10:12 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio — #ProBuckeyes have had plenty of NHL news recently. Two – Dakota Joshua and Tanner Laczynski – made their NHL debuts, while three – Layton Ahac, Josh Healey and Carson Meyer – have signed NHL contracts.
Ahac, who finished his sophomore season with the Buckeyes this spring, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, who drafted him in 2019, following the Buckeyes’ season. The contract starts in 2021-22; he signed an AHL contract with the Henderson Silver Knights for the remainder of the 2021 campaign. Ahac made his professional debut April 15. Ahac did not miss a game in his Buckeye career, skating in 63 games over two years with one goal, 11 assists, 12 points and 70 shot blocks.
Meyer, who graduated from Ohio State in Spring 2020 after two years with the Buckeyes, signed a one-year entry level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2021-22 season in April. Meyer, a Blue Jackets 2017 draft pick, started his pro career on an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ affiliate, this year. He skated in 71 games in the Scarlet and Gray and had 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points. His collegiate career spanned 137 games, with 89 points on 42 goals and 47 assists.
Healey signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Nashville Predators in April for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. He was a Buckeye from 2014-17, earning First Team All-B1G honors as a junior and second team all-league accolades in 2017. In his Buckeye career, Healey saw action in 134 games and had 12 goals, 48 assists and 60 points, along with 236 shot blocks. After his senior season, he signed with the Calgary Flames as a free agent. He spent two full seasons with the AHL Stockton Heat and skated with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals in 2019-20. This year, he is an alternate captain with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, which includes prospects from the Predators and the Hurricanes.
Joshua, a Buckeye from 2016-19, made his NHL debut with the St. Louis Blues March 1 at Anaheim. His debut was made even more special when he scored his first NHL goal. So far, he has skated in 11 games with the Blues. A Toronto draft pick, the Maple Leafs traded Joshua’s rights to St. Louis in July 2019 and he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Blues. He skated in 128 games as a Buckeye and had 100 points on 41 goals and 59 assists, earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in 2017.
Laczynski, in his first pro season, made his debut with the Flyers April 3 and has now played in five NHL games. He started his pro career with AHL Lehigh Valley and had six goals and 10 points through his first 14 games. Following his senior season in 2020 Laczynski signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia, the team that drafted him in 2016. He ended his Buckeye career with 143 points, including 95 assists, while playing in 138 games. He was a Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2018, a second team all-league pick in 2020 and an honorable mention All-B1G selection in 2019.
