Josiah Slavin Bio
Josiah Slavin (born December 31, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). A left-shot forward listed at 6 feet 3 inches and roughly 185 pounds, he skates a two-way game built on responsible defensive play and timely offensive contribution. He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the seventh round, 193rd overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and has continued to work his way through professional hockey on two-way and entry-level deals.
Slavin is the younger brother of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, one of the NHL’s most respected shutdown rearguards, and their shared journey through the sport has shaped Josiah’s professional path. Now in his mid-twenties, he is regarded as a hard-working depth forward whose willingness to embrace any role has kept him in professional hockey across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Josiah Slavin was born on December 31, 1998, in Erie, Colorado, in the United States. He grew up in a household where ice hockey was a central part of family life, with older brother Jaccob Slavin developing into a top NHL defenseman and often setting the standard for work ethic and preparation. Watching Jaccob rise through the junior and collegiate ranks gave Josiah a clear blueprint for what a professional hockey career required, and he followed that path closely while building his own game.
Slavin’s formative years were spent developing his skating, physical play, and positional awareness in Colorado’s youth hockey circuits, eventually moving on to higher levels of junior competition that showcased his size and willingness to play in all situations. His tall, sturdy frame made him a natural fit for a power-forward style, while his hockey IQ, drawn in part from growing up around an elite defenseman, helped him refine the defensive details of the game. These early influences laid the groundwork for his eventual commitment to collegiate hockey.
Path to Hockey
Slavin played college hockey for Colorado College in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, where he spent the formative years of his upper-level development against strong NCAA competition. His combination of skating, size, and two-way reliability made him a steady presence in the Tigers’ lineup, and his progression through the college ranks helped convince NHL scouts that he was worth a late-round selection.
That belief was confirmed at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, when the Chicago Blackhawks picked Slavin in the seventh round, 193rd overall. Being drafted was an important milestone, but as a late-round pick, Slavin knew his route to the NHL would require consistent production and patience. He returned to Colorado College for additional development, continuing to refine the details of his game while preparing for the transition to professional hockey.
Josiah Slavin Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Slavin signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on March 16, 2021, and was immediately assigned to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He spent the bulk of his first professional season establishing himself in the American Hockey League, adjusting to the pace, physicality, and schedule of pro hockey while working within Chicago’s developmental system.
The following season, in November 2021, Slavin was recalled by the Blackhawks and made his NHL debut on December 2, 2021, in a 4–3 overtime win over the Washington Capitals. In that game he recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by defenseman Seth Jones, marking a memorable arrival at the top level of the sport.
AHL Transitions (2022–2024)
During the final year of his entry-level contract, in the 2022–23 season, Slavin contributed 3 goals in 51 regular-season games with the IceHogs before being traded by the Blackhawks to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Hunter Drew on February 23, 2022. After the trade, he finished that season with Anaheim’s AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, where he posted 4 goals and 7 points in 16 games, a strong scoring pace over a short stretch.
As an unrestricted free agent after Anaheim did not tender him a qualifying offer, Slavin signed a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies on July 9, 2023. In the 2023–24 season he became a mainstay among the Marlies’ forwards, recording 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points through 70 regular-season games, and he also appeared in three playoff games for Toronto, going scoreless in that brief postseason stretch.
Carolina Hurricanes Era (2024–Present)
On July 7, 2024, Slavin signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, joining the organization where his older brother Jaccob Slavin has long been a defensive cornerstone. After going unclaimed on waivers, he was assigned to the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the 2024–25 season, where he continued to provide steady two-way play and leadership among the forward group.
Driving Style and Strengths
Slavin is recognized as a dependable two-way forward whose strengths include responsible defensive zone coverage, a strong work rate along the boards, and the willingness to play a physical, detail-oriented brand of hockey. He is comfortable in a bottom-six role, kills penalties when asked, and uses his skating and reach to disrupt opposing forecheckers while still contributing enough offensively to be a threat around the net.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature moment of Slavin’s young career came on December 2, 2021, when he made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks and notched his first career point, an assist on a Seth Jones goal, in an overtime win against the Washington Capitals. Being drafted 193rd overall in 2018, signing his first NHL contract, and later joining the Carolina Hurricanes alongside his brother Jaccob each represent clear milestones in his ongoing professional journey.
Josiah Slavin Career Wins
As a depth forward and role player rather than a featured scorer, Josiah Slavin’s professional record is built around consistent contributions, key assignments, and developmental milestones rather than a long list of individual victories. His NHL debut win against the Capitals and his productive AHL stints with the IceHogs, San Diego Gulls, Toronto Marlies, and Chicago Wolves form the foundation of his resume.
AHL Highlights
Across his time in the American Hockey League, Slavin has produced steady offensive numbers for a defense-first forward, including a 4-goals-in-16-games finish with the San Diego Gulls in 2022–23 and a 24-point campaign with the Toronto Marlies in 2023–24, where 10 goals and 14 assists showcased his ability to contribute across more than 70 regular-season games. He also appeared in three playoff games with Toronto that same season.
Other Wins & Performances
Slavin’s path from a seventh-round pick in 2018 to an NHL debut with the Blackhawks, a trade to the Anaheim Ducks organization, and a subsequent NHL contract with the Carolina Hurricanes represents the kind of steady climb that defines late-round professional careers. His reliability on the checking line and his willingness to embrace any role have kept him in professional hockey on a two-year, two-way deal running through 2026.
Josiah Slavin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Josiah Slavin comes from a hockey family anchored by his older brother, Jaccob Slavin, a top-pairing defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes and one of the league’s most respected shutdown players. The brothers’ shared commitment to the sport has shaped Josiah’s approach, with Jaccob’s career serving as both inspiration and example.
Personal Life
Slavin is known as a devout Christian who frequently speaks about the role his faith plays in how he approaches the game. After every game he plays, he kneels at center ice and prays, a personal ritual that has become a recognizable part of his routine and reflects the values he brings to his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 portion of the 2024–25 campaign, Josiah Slavin is skating for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL under a two-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes that runs through the 2025–26 season. His role with the Wolves centers on two-way responsibility, penalty killing, and bringing energy to the bottom of the forward group, with the chance to be recalled to Carolina whenever the Hurricanes need reinforcement.
The storyline of his 2025 is simple but meaningful: prove he belongs in the Hurricanes’ system as a reliable depth forward who can step into the NHL lineup when called upon while continuing to develop alongside veterans in Chicago. Strong showings in the AHL, combined with steady professional habits, position him to remain on the Hurricanes’ organizational depth chart.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025, Slavin’s outlook is shaped by his contract length, his family connection to Carolina through brother Jaccob, and his track record of adapting quickly to new teams. Continued two-way production and a reputation as a dependable teammate give him a clear path to push for more NHL games as the season progresses.