Riley Patterson, a promising prospect for the Vancouver Canucks, has reportedly requested a trade from the OHL`s Barrie Colts as he looks ahead to his second season post-draft. This comes with the hope that he will start the upcoming season with a different team in the Ontario Hockey League.
Reports from Peter Robinson of Barrie Today on Monday indicate that the Canucks prospect is not attending the Colts` training camp. Instead, he has formally asked to be moved to another OHL franchise.
The Colts` leading scorer from the previous season communicated his desire for a fresh start to General Manager Marty Williamson. Despite the trade request, Williamson stated there are no lingering hard feelings, remarking,
“I still really like Riley.”
The 19-year-old forward had a productive season last year, scoring 25 goals and accumulating 59 points in 64 regular-season games for the Colts. He further added 12 points in 16 playoff appearances. Patterson has played for the Barrie organization for the past two seasons.
According to Robinson, Patterson`s ice time potentially saw a reduction due to the Colts` strategy of bringing in other elite offensive talents through trades. These acquisitions were part of an effort to accelerate the team`s ongoing rebuild.
A native of Etobicoke, Ontario, Patterson was selected 125th overall in the fourth round by the Vancouver Canucks during the 2024 NHL Draft. He has yet to finalize and sign his entry-level contract with the NHL club.