Badgers in the Bigs: Brendan Smith signs with NHL's Blue Jackets
December 03, 2025 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Defenseman becomes 11th NHL Badger this season
MADISON, Wis. – The NHL season is nearly a third of the way done and Badger alumni in the Bigs have continued to impress.
On Nov. 24, defenseman Brendan Smith signed an NHL contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets after spending the first part of the season skating for its AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. Smith skated in his first NHL game of the season on Nov. 26 and has one assist and a plus-two rating in three games played.
Welcome back Smitty! 🎉
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 24, 2025
We've signed veteran defenseman Brendan Smith to a 1-year, 2-way contract!
CBJ x @OHHeartofitAll pic.twitter.com/BJNdogcZSe
"It's going to be a pinch-me moment, but I don't take anything for granted," said Smith about his CBJ debut in an article for NHL.com. "I'm just going to get prepared and make sure that I can help the team win." Read the full story by Jeff Svoboda here.
Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield has 14 goals and 28 points in 25 games to rank second on the roster in scoring. His 14 goals lead the Canadiens and are tied for 16th in the league.
🎯#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/0ulPs66bhU
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 29, 2025
Forward Luke Kunin scored his first goal as a Florida Panther on Nov. 17 in his team's 8-5 win against Vancouver. He boasts a goal and an assist in 20 games played.
His first as a Panther!!!#BadgersintheBigs || Luke Kunin https://t.co/7vrmF0GbVp
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 18, 2025
Defenseman K'Andre Miller's two goals and 11 points in 19 games for the Carolina Hurricanes rank second among blue liners on the team despite an injury forcing him to miss six games. The Hurricanes are tied for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with 34 points.
WELCOME BACK, KEY 🔑 pic.twitter.com/Enks5rZsGn
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 7, 2025
In St. Louis, forward Dylan Holloway has seven goals and 13 points in 27 games played for the Blues. He ranks third on the team in scoring and second in goals.
beautiful puck placement pic.twitter.com/w7zVaVuKVD
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 30, 2025
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh owns three goals and six points in 15 games played for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He's been out of the lineup due to an injury since Nov. 8 after blocking a shot.
Jake McCabe, a defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs, has three goals and 10 points and is tied for the team lead in plus-minus with a plus-nine rating in 26 games played.
Caber callin' Corners ⇱@OREO | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/27Np4Ik0qO
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 19, 2025
Forward Alex Turcotte has a goal and four points in 25 games for the Los Angeles Kings.
TURCY DAY!!!! pic.twitter.com/BoLOUjVg6d
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 28, 2025
Defenseman Ty Emberson (1 goal, 5 points) and forward Trent Frederic (2 goals) both skate for the Edmonton Oilers, who are just outside the cut line for the Western Conference wild card spots.
Eau Claire's Ty Emberson with the winner last night for his first of the year#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/P1n9FZTvKP
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 29, 2025
Forward Joseph LaBate played one game for Vancouver on Oct. 21 for his 20th NHL game and first with the Canucks in over eight years. He played six games last season with Columbus.
A story of perseverance for Joe LaBate, who at 32 has chance to score his 1st NHL goal in 1st game for Canucks in 8+ years. Never give up.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) October 21, 2025
"I love this game. I love hockey. I love how hard it is. Like, never once has it crossed my mind to stop." https://t.co/szsfta1Imm
Wisconsin alumni at the AHL and ECHL levels have also started their seasons.
There are currently three Badgers on the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets – defenseman Corson Ceulemans and forwards Ryland Mosley and Roman Ahcan.
Ceulemans has two goals and six points in 16 games played to rank second among defensemen on the team.
NEVER gave up on the play 💪
— Cleveland Monsters (@monstershockey) November 30, 2025
🚨: Ceulemans
🍎: Sillinger & Singleton pic.twitter.com/sX0ZRKcbqY
Mosley has one goal in five games, while Ahcan has two goals and five points in 14 games.
Cameron Hughes, a forward on the AHL's Texas Stars, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, leads the roster in scoring with two goals and 13 points in 19 games played.
HUGHESY JOINS THE HOLIDAY PARTY! 🎁 pic.twitter.com/CxyV63zE9z
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) November 27, 2025
Multiple other Badger forwards have been picking up points in the AHL. In Calgary, forward David Silye has three assists in 15 games played for the Wranglers. Mathieu De St. Phalle has two goals in 11 games played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Carson Bantle of the Grand Rapids Griffins has one goal and two points in 15 games played.
"THERE YA GO KID" - @bkaser1 pic.twitter.com/mRFZ9D3N7x
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) November 20, 2025
In the ECHL, forward Owen Lindmark scored his first professional goal on Nov. 21 for the Tulsa Oilers. He has one goal in four ECHL games played, while also skating in three games for the AHL's San Diego Gulls this year.
OWEN LINDMARK WITH A ROCKET INTO THE NET TO CUT THE LEAD IN HALF!! pic.twitter.com/u5NYRTWsbl
— Tulsa Oilers (@tulsa_oilers) November 22, 2025
Forward Cody Laskosky was recently traded to the Indy Fuel, affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, where he has two goals and three points in five games played. In 16 total pro games played this year, he has five goals and nine points.
wasting NO time⏰ https://t.co/taKROKRH6J pic.twitter.com/eAPAR2pF2i
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) November 22, 2025
Ryan Wagner, a forward on the Rapid City Rush, affiliate of the Calgary Flames, has 10 goals and 10 points in 18 games played to rank fifth in the league in scoring.
SIX LUCKY FANS ARE GOING TO @WaTikiResort THANKS TO RYAN WAGNER!
— Rapid City Rush (@RapidCityRush) November 29, 2025
IT'S 6-2 RUSH! pic.twitter.com/8wuaSvkLos
Recent Wisconsin graduate Daniel Laatsch, a defenseman on the Wheeling Nailers, affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has four assists in three ECHL games played. He also played four games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL, notching two assists.
Calvie at the net front keeps us going!
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 6, 2025
P.S. That's Daniel Laatsch's first AHL point! pic.twitter.com/TwxaONtqw9
On the Idaho Steelheads, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, is forward Ty Pelton-Byce, who has two goals and five points in 11 games played.
🚨PELTON-BYCE 🚨 ties it up for the Steelheads at 6:26 in the first. The goal stands after further review.
— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) November 27, 2025
🍏Anderson, Boltmann pic.twitter.com/5ziR6tgEKw
