Vancouver Canucks 2025 fifth-round NHL Draft pick Gabriel Chiarot is on the move in the Ontario Hockey League. And boy, did he bring back a significant return.

Just hours before he was set to suit up for his now-former club, the Brampton Steelheads dealt Chiarot to the Kitchener Rangers in a blockbuster transaction. In return, Brampton received the rights to Adam Valentini along with eight draft picks, including multiple early-round selections spread across the next several seasons.

The complete package of picks heading to Brampton includes:

Chiarot, 18, departs Brampton as the club’s leading scorer, posting 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 31 games this season while serving as an alternate captain and logging consistent top-line minutes. He sits just six goals and 10 points shy of his previous career highs with half the season remaining.

The move positions Chiarot with a Kitchener team firmly in contention, with notable drafted prospects such as Christian Humphreys (COL), Jack Pridham (CHI), Cameron Reid (NSH) and Luca Romano (NYI). Widely viewed as a legitimate playoff threat, the Rangers currently sit second in the OHL’s Western Conference with aspirations of making a deep postseason run and pushing for a Memorial Cup berth.

“We are excited to add Gabriel to our group,” Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie said in the league’s press release. “He’s a player we’ve had our eye on for a while. He plays a fast, fearless game and brings an edge that we feel is important, especially as we look toward the playoffs.”

Selected 175th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Chiarot quickly made an impression within the Canucks organization, earning an entry-level contract directly following his first NHL training camp. The Hamilton, Ontario, native has been viewed as a versatile, Swiss Army Knife-type forward, capable of contributing up and down the lineup while bringing energy and bite to the ice.

Across 145 OHL games, all with Brampton, Chiarot has produced 70 points (41 goals, 29 assists) and accumulated 134 penalty minutes.