Ohio State Professional Athletes

The NHL offseason rarely sleeps, and for Ohio State alumni watchers, the loudest noise of the week came out of Boston — where defenseman Mason Lohrei is reportedly at the center of a proposed trade that would send him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a top prospect.

The deal, floated as a trade pitch, frames Lohrei as the kind of mobile, offensive-minded blueliner Pittsburgh could build around as it navigates a transitional era. For the Bruins, the calculus would be different: swap a young defenseman with upside for a prospect injection, betting on roster flexibility over continuity on the back end.

Lohrei, an Ohio State product who turned heads during his early NHL appearances with Boston, represents exactly the type of asset that generates trade speculation — young enough to be coveted, skilled enough to command a real return. At 23, he profiles as a power-play quarterback with legitimate top-four potential, which is precisely why Pittsburgh would be interested and why Bruins fans should be paying close attention to how this unfolds heading into the 2026–27 season.

No deal has been reported as agreed upon, and trade pitches carry obvious caveats — these are analyst-generated scenarios, not insider reports of imminent moves. But the fact that Lohrei's name surfaces in this context speaks to the regard he's earned around the league.

Beyond the Lohrei buzz, Ohio State's NHL footprint remains impressively broad across the league. Jakub Dobes continues to develop his game with the Montreal Canadiens, one of the more intriguing goaltending situations in the Eastern Conference. Dakota Joshua and Cole McWard give the Buckeyes a two-man presence in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs remain perennial contenders. Georgii Merkulov is pushing for meaningful minutes with the Colorado Avalanche, while Tanner Laczynski slots into a Golden Knights squad with championship expectations baked in.

In goal, Matt Tomkins holds down a spot on the Edmonton Oilers' depth chart, keeping Buckeye representation alive in one of the league's marquee markets.

Ohio State's NHL pipeline has quietly become one of the more productive in college hockey, and Lohrei's prominence in serious trade conversation — however speculative at this stage — is the clearest signal yet that the program's pro ceiling is rising. Whether he's suiting up in Boston or Pittsburgh when the puck drops in October, he's become a player that NHL front offices are actively thinking about. That alone is worth tracking.

Ohio State's pipeline to the NHL has produced plenty of serviceable pros over the years, but Jakub Dobes is making a case to be something more. The Montreal Canadiens netminder earned a spot on NHL Network's Top 10 Goalies list this week — a recognition built on the back of a standout rookie season and a playoff run that caught the league's attention.

Dobes, who played for the Buckeyes before joining the Canadiens organization, is quickly becoming one of the more compelling young goaltender stories in the NHL. Landing on a top-10 list of NHL Network's making isn't a participation trophy — it's editorial validation that his performance cleared a high bar in a league full of capable starters. For a Montreal franchise in the middle of a rebuild, having a homegrown-feeling netminder emerge as a legitimate asset is a significant piece of the puzzle.

The timing matters, too. The NHL offseason is when narratives solidify and reputations are cemented ahead of contract decisions and roster construction. Being in the conversation alongside the league's established elite gives Dobes — and the Canadiens' front office — real leverage heading into next season.

For Ohio State fans tracking the program's NHL footprint, Dobes is currently the marquee name. The Buckeyes have a healthy roster of alumni across the league — from Mason Lohrei patrolling the blue line in Boston to Dakota Joshua skating in Toronto, Tanner Laczynski suiting up in Vegas, and Georgii Merkulov joining the Avalanche — but none have generated the kind of individual recognition Dobes is drawing right now.

It's a notable moment for a program that has steadily grown its NHL presence. Goaltenders are notoriously difficult to project and develop, which makes Dobes' trajectory even more impressive. Buckeye alumni in the NHL tend to be the quiet, reliable type — the kind of player who sticks in a lineup for a decade without making many headlines. Dobes appears to be writing a different kind of story.

Whether he can build on a strong rookie year and cement himself as Montreal's long-term answer between the pipes remains to be seen. But for the week of August 16–22, there's no question which Ohio State alum is turning heads in the NHL world.

Dobes Puts Ohio State on the NHL Map

Jakub Dobes is getting his flowers — and the hockey world is paying attention.

The Ohio State product and Montreal Canadiens netminder has earned a spot on NHL Network's Top 10 Goalies list, a recognition that caps off a remarkable rise for the 24-year-old. The nod comes on the heels of a standout rookie season and a strong playoff run with Montreal — a Canadiens squad that has been quietly rebuilding into a genuine contender.

Dobes's ascent is the kind of story that Buckeye faithful have been waiting to celebrate. He arrived in Columbus as a relatively under-the-radar recruit, developed into one of the program's most accomplished goaltenders, and has now translated that pedigree into legitimate NHL recognition. Landing on a top-10 list curated by the league's own network — not just a media outlet or fan poll — carries real weight. It signals that Dobes isn't just a promising young goalie anymore; he's one of the best at his position in the entire league.

For the Canadiens, the timing couldn't be better. Montreal has been patient in its rebuild, and a franchise goaltender is the cornerstone any contender needs. If Dobes continues on this trajectory, he could anchor that crease for years to come — a scenario that makes Habs fans and Buckeye alumni alike very optimistic heading into the 2026–27 season.

The Bigger Picture for Ohio State Hockey

Dobes isn't the only Buckeye making noise in the NHL. Ohio State currently boasts one of the deeper alumni footprints in the league, with 12 former Buckeyes on active rosters across 11 franchises. From Mason Lohrei anchoring the blue line in Boston, to Dakota Joshua bringing physicality to the Maple Leafs, to Georgii Merkulov skating alongside Colorado's forward corps — the program's pipeline has never looked more robust.

Still, Dobes's Top 10 distinction stands alone this week as the marquee achievement. Goaltenders are evaluated on a different standard than skaters — the margin for error is thinner, the pressure more acute, and the spotlight harsher. To break into the league's top 10 at the position after a single full season is genuinely exceptional, regardless of school affiliation.

Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik has built the program into a consistent NHL feeder, and Dobes is currently its brightest calling card. For alumni watching from Columbus and beyond, this is the kind of validation that makes the recruiting pitch write itself.

The NHL Network list is out. The Buckeye in net made it. That's the story — and it's only getting started.