Wolves acquire 2026 third overall pick Tanner Adams from Steelheads
The Sudbury Wolves have acquired the rights to 2010-born forward Tanner Adams from the Brampton Steelheads in exchange for 15 future OHL Priority Selection picks.
Adams was selected by Brampton with the third overall pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection after entering draft day ranked No. 1 in the OHL’s pre-draft consensus rankings.
As part of the OHL’s compensatory draft pick process, Brampton will also receive the fifth overall selection in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection. By trading Adams’ rights prior to September 15, the Steelheads will receive an additional second-round selection at the conclusion of the second round in 2027, which currently projects to be the 43rd overall pick.
A native of Porcupine, ON, Adams came through the Porcupine Jr. Gold Kings program and played for the Timmins Majors before spending the past two seasons at The Hill Academy. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound centre recorded 34 goals, 54 assists and 88 points in 52 games with The Hill Academy U16 AAA during the 2025-26 season.
Adams also produced six goals in four games at the 2026 OHL Cup and appeared in three NOJHL contests with the Timmins Rock last season, recording two assists.
“We are thrilled to bring Tanner to Sudbury. He is a leader and an elite person,” said Wolves General Manager Rob Papineau. “His passion to be in Sudbury and be a Sudbury Wolf is everything to him.”
The acquisition gives Sudbury two of the most highly regarded players from the 2026 OHL Priority Selection in Adams and first-round selection Kash.
“To add him to our team after being able to draft Kash makes this the best draft we have had in the past 10 years,” Papineau continued. “Our staff felt they were the best two players available in the draft, so it is amazing to have them both on our team.
“They are different style players who will complement each other so well over the next few years. Our fans are very fortunate to be able to watch these two grow into the stars they will be. We welcome Tanner and his family to Sudbury and the Sudbury Wolves.”
For Brampton, the transaction adds a significant collection of future draft capital. The Steelheads receive Ottawa’s second-round, Brantford’s third-round, Peterborough’s fifth-round and Sudbury’s 10th-round selections in 2027; Windsor’s second-round, Oshawa’s third-round, Flint’s fourth-round and Peterborough’s fifth-round selections in 2028; Peterborough’s second-round, Oshawa’s third-round, Windsor’s fourth-round and Sudbury’s sixth-round selections in 2029; and Brantford’s second-round, Sudbury’s fifth-round and Kitchener’s sixth-round selections in 2030.
Combined with the two selections awarded through the OHL’s compensatory draft pick process, Brampton adds 17 selections as a result of the transaction.
Adams is expected to make his OHL debut when Sudbury opens the 2026-27 regular season at home against the Soo Greyhounds on Friday, September 18 at 7:05 p.m.
