Sam Lafferty

Sam Lafferty
Lafferty playing with the United States national team on May 10, 2026
Born (2004-06-21) June 21, 2004 (age 22)
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Chicago Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
Buffalo Sabres
National team  United States
NHL draft 113th overall, 2014
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2018–present

Sam Lafferty (born March 6, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey center. He currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Buffalo Sabres.

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Lafferty played four years with the Brown Bears of ECAC Hockey (ECAC). He had a successful time with the Bear. He was named to the ECAC Third Team, All-Ivy League Third Team, and All-Ivy League Second Team.

He was drafted 113th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2014 NHL entry draft. On March 7, 2018, he signed a two-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract to join the Penguins. He was sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. On October 8, 2019, the Penguins called him up and Lafferty made his NHL debut in a 4–1 loss against the Winnipeg Jets. On October 12, he recorded his first two NHL points, assisting on goals from Tyler Johnson and Joseph Blandisi in a 7–4 win against the Minnesota Wild. Later in the third period of the same game, Lafferty also scored his first NHL goal on an empty net to cap off his three point night.

On January 5, 2022, the Penguins traded Lafferty to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Alexander Nylander. On April 29, Lafferty signed a two-year, $1.15 million contract to stay with the Blackhawks. he played parts of two seasons with the Blackhawks.

On February 27, 2023, the Blackhawks traded Lafferty along with Jake McCabe, a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick and a 2025 conditional fifth-round draft pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Joey Anderson, Pavel Gogolev, a 2025 conditional first-round draft pick, and a 2026 second-round draft pick. He played 19 regular season and 9 playoff games with the Maple Leafs.

On October 8, 2023, the Maple Leafs traded Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. In his season with the Canucks, he scored 13 goals and recorded 11 assists for 24 points. He also played in 11 playoffs games for the team.

On June 26, 2024, the Canucks traded Lafferty along with Ilya Mikheyev and a 2027 second-round draft pick back to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. Lafferty never rejoined the Blackhawks because he was not able to agree on a deal with the team. On July 1, Lafferty signed a two-year, $4 million contract to join the Buffalo Sabres.

On July 1, 2025, the Sabres traded Lafferty back to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

References

  1. ↑ "Men's Hockey's Lafferty Named Third Team All-ECAC". Brown Bears. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Penguins Sign Forward Sam Lafferty to a Two-Year Entry-Level Contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "'Half of Altoona is here': Sam Lafferty's NHL debut through the eyes of those who raised him". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Crosby, short-handed Penguins beat winless Wild 7-4". ESPN. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Release: Blackhawks Acquire Sam Lafferty from Penguins". Chicago Blackhawks. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Release: Blackhawks Sign Sam Lafferty to Two-Year Extension". Chicago Blackhawks. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Maple Leafs Complete Trade With Blackhawks". Toronto Maple Leafs. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Canucks Acquire Sam Lafferty from Toronto". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Release: Blackhawks Acquire Mikheyev, Lafferty and 2027 Second Round Pick from Canucks". Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Lafferty joins Sabres on 2-year contract". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Release: Blackhawks Acquire Sam Lafferty from Sabres". Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved April 30, 2026.

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