Jake Leschyshyn Bio
Jake Leschyshyn is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected with the 62nd overall pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has since appeared in the NHL for the Golden Knights and the New York Rangers. Standing 180 cm tall and weighing 86 kg, he has built his career as a reliable two-way forward known for his work along the boards and on the penalty kill.
Early Life and Background
Jake Leschyshyn was born on March 10, 1999, in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, to his parents Curtis and Laura Leschyshyn. At the time of his birth, his father was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, which placed the young family in the heart of a hockey community. When Curtis joined the Colorado Avalanche, the family relocated, and Jake spent his childhood in Colorado, where he first laced up the skates. From 2004 until 2011, he participated in local youth hockey programs, including a stint with the Colorado Thunderbirds’ U12 Pee Wee Major Team, before his family moved to Grasswood, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The Saskatchewan move shaped the next stage of his development. Leschyshyn moved through Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA, and Midget AAA levels in Saskatoon, posting 31 goals and 28 assists during the 2013–14 season with the Saskatoon Bantam AA Stallions in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League. He signed with the Red Deer Rebels in July 2014 after being drafted sixth overall in the 2015 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft. After attending Rebels training camp, he was reassigned to the Saskatoon Blazers, where he recorded 15 goals and 20 assists in 38 games during the 2014–15 season.
Path to Hockey
On January 5, 2015, Leschyshyn’s WHL playing rights were traded to the Regina Pats in exchange for Connor Gay and multiple draft picks. He was called up for two games in February, making his WHL debut in the first and scoring his first WHL goal in the second. He joined the Pats full-time in March 2015 and made an immediate impact during the 2015–16 season, recording his first WHL hat-trick on November 27, 2015.
The 2016–17 season brought both promise and adversity. Leschyshyn scored 17 goals and 40 points before a knee injury ended his campaign. The Vegas Golden Knights selected him 62nd overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and he signed an entry-level contract on June 1, 2018. Following his development camp, he returned to the Pats, who named him team captain for the 2018–19 season after he had served as an alternate captain the previous year. In 2015, he also represented Canada Black at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, finishing the tournament with one goal and five assists in five games, including a shootout game-winner against the Czech Republic.
Jake Leschyshyn Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
On April 4, 2019, Leschyshyn was reassigned to the Chicago Wolves, the Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate at the time. He appeared in three games during the 2018–19 season. The following year, he produced his first AHL goal on October 27 in a 4–0 win over the Manitoba Moose and notched his first AHL assist on November 7 against the Iowa Wild. Across 61 appearances that season, he totaled four goals and four assists.
During the 2020–21 season, Leschyshyn scored the first goal in Henderson Silver Knights history during their inaugural game as the Golden Knights’ new AHL affiliate. It marked his second full AHL season, in which he finished with six goals and 11 points in 39 games.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2021–2023)
Leschyshyn made his NHL debut on October 14, 2021, after Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty suffered injuries. On November 13, 2021, he scored his first NHL goal and registered his first NHL points in a 7–4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. He went on to play 18 games during the first half of the season before being reassigned to the Silver Knights, where he scored a game-winning goal on November 28 to beat the Iowa Wild 6–5. He appeared in 41 NHL games during the 2021–22 season, finishing with two goals and four assists.
On August 13, 2022, Leschyshyn signed a three-year deal to remain with the Golden Knights. However, after registering no points in 22 games, he was placed on waivers on January 10, 2023, for the purpose of AHL assignment.
New York Rangers Era (2023–2025)
On January 11, 2023, the New York Rangers claimed Leschyshyn off waivers, one day after his placement by the Golden Knights. He appeared in 13 games with the Rangers during the 2022–23 season before being placed on waivers again to make roster room for the acquisition of Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks. Returning to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, he averaged 15 points—five goals and 10 assists—in 18 games, helping the Wolf Pack reach the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since 2015.
During the 2023–24 season, Leschyshyn made his only NHL appearance that year against the St. Louis Blues, logging 6 minutes and 28 seconds of ice time in a 5–2 loss. In Hartford, he recorded eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points across 47 regular-season games. In the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, he scored the series-winning goal against the Providence Bruins, sealing a 3–1 series win and sending the Wolf Pack to the division finals for a second straight year. He led the team with five playoff goals in ten games and was recalled by the Rangers during their playoff run. As a pending restricted free agent following his third season with the Rangers, he was not tendered a qualifying offer, ending his tenure with the organization.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2025–Present)
On July 16, 2025, Leschyshyn signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres for the 2025–26 season, joining the Rochester Americans of the AHL. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for NHL ice time with a new organization and continue his development as a depth centre.
Driving Style and Strengths
Leschyshyn is recognized as a two-way centre whose game thrives on the boards and in defensive-zone coverage. Coaches have consistently deployed him on the penalty kill, where his anticipation and stick detail allow him to disrupt opposing power plays. While he does not rely on high-end offensive production, his work rate, face-off reliability, and willingness to play a physical brand of hockey have made him a dependable bottom-six option.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Leschyshyn scored the first goal in Henderson Silver Knights history, netted his first NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks on November 13, 2021, and delivered a Calder Cup series-winning goal against the Providence Bruins in 2024. He also represented Canada Black at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, following in the footsteps of his father, Curtis Leschyshyn, who had played in the 1986 edition.
Jake Leschyshyn Career Wins
Jake Leschyshyn has compiled a steady professional record across the AHL and a limited but memorable NHL stint. While his NHL résumé includes modest scoring totals, his AHL performances have featured key goals, including playoff-clinching strikes.
AHL Highlights
In the AHL, Leschyshyn’s most notable moments include scoring the first goal in Henderson Silver Knights history and delivering the series-winning goal for the Hartford Wolf Pack against the Providence Bruins in the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs. He led Hartford in playoff goals that spring with five in ten games, helping the Wolf Pack reach the division finals for a second consecutive season.
Other Wins and Performances
Leschyshyn also represented Canada Black at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded a shootout game-winner against the Czech Republic and finished with one goal and five assists in five games. His international debut mirrored that of his father, Curtis, who had played in the 1986 tournament.
Jake Leschyshyn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Leschyshyn family. Jake’s father, Curtis Leschyshyn, was a longtime National Hockey League defenceman who played for the Quebec Nordiques, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Colorado Avalanche, logging more than a decade at the top level. Curtis’s NHL career took the family from Raleigh, North Carolina, where Jake was born, to Denver, Colorado, where Jake first learned to skate, and eventually to Grasswood, Saskatchewan.
Personal Life
Jake is the son of Curtis and Laura Leschyshyn. His upbringing, split between the United States and Canada, gave him dual hockey perspectives from an early age. His father’s professional journey shaped much of his early exposure to the game, and Jake has continued that legacy through his own career in professional hockey.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Leschyshyn entered the 2025–26 season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres organization, skating primarily with the Rochester Americans of the AHL on a one-year, two-way contract signed in July 2025. The deal positioned him as a depth centre competing for NHL opportunities with a Sabres team looking to develop young talent around its established core.
Early in the season, Leschyshyn focused on establishing his role within Rochester’s bottom-six forward group, contributing on the penalty kill and in face-off situations. His AHL experience from previous seasons with the Chicago Wolves, Henderson Silver Knights, and Hartford Wolf Pack provided a steady foundation as he adjusted to a new system.
With the Sabres managing their forward depth chart, Leschyshyn remained a candidate for NHL call-ups whenever injuries or performance dictated a roster move. His combination of defensive responsibility, two-way play, and familiarity with the AHL level gave Buffalo a flexible option as the season unfolded.