Colts acquire rights to Senators prospect Gabriel Eliasson in trade with IceDogs

The Barrie Colts have acquired the rights to Ottawa Senators second round NHL Draft pick Gabriel Eliasson in a trade with the Niagara IceDogs.

Eliasson, who returns from Senators training camp after being Ottawa’s second round (39th overall) pick this past summer, is a 6-foot-7, 216Ib. left-shot defender from Kungsbacka, Sweden. He was chosen by Niagara with the 12th pick of the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Barrie dealt Niagara a third round pick in 2028 and a 15th round pick in 2027 to acquire Eliasson’s rights.

“It’s incredible that at that big, that young, that he’s as put together as he is,” Ottawa Senators player development coach Shean Donovan told NHL.com’s Callum Fraser over the summer. “And he’s going to grow. Obviously, he’s going to get stronger, he’s going to get more coordinated. It’s pretty incredible how he’s able to move out there at that size and that young.

“He speaks such good English and he was fun to work with. And he’s physical. Every drill he was into it, even though we weren’t doing a lot of physical drills. He loves physicality. It’s fun to work with a guy like that.”

In 36 games with HV71’s junior program last season, Eliasson recorded one goal, five assists and 103 penalty minutes. He also won bronze with Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. Eliasson has a previous commitment to the University of Michigan.

The Colts currently have an import spot available, with Dallas Stars prospect Emil Hemming occupying the other.