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Flames prospect Jacob Battaglia traded in OHL from Kingston to Flint
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Photo credit: ©Tav Morisson-Oilers Nation
Ryley Delaney
Jan 5, 2026, 17:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 5, 2026, 14:27 EST
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A prospect in the Calgary Flames system is on the move.
On Sunday evening, Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek reported that the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs have traded their captain, Jacob Battaglia, to the Flint Firebirds for eight picks. The trade was made official on Monday morning.
In return, the Frontenacs get eight picks: one third-round pick in 2026, a third-round pick in 2027, two fourth-round picks in 2027, a sixth-round pick in 2028, two second-round picks in 2029, and a fifth-round pick in 2029. It’ll be a long way before this trade bears its fruits for the Frontenacs.
They aren’t out of the playoff race by any means, as the Eastern Ontario team has a 17-18-4 record with 38 points, sitting seventh in the OHL’s Eastern Conference. Of the 10 teams in the conference, eight teams make the playoffs, and they have a seven point lead over the ninth-placed team.
The Firebirds, on the other hand, are one of the best teams in the OHL’s Western Conference. As of Monday, they have a 26-9-4 record with 56 points, tied for the most points in the conference alongside the Windsor Spitfires. It’s not the only haul the Firebirds have given up in the past few weeks, as they acquired Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He, along with Darcy Dewatcher and two picks from the Niagara IceDogs for Chase Hull and more picks.
On the other side of things, the Frontenacs have been busy selling, as they recently traded Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospect Tyler Hopkins to the Guelph Storm for Alex McLean and four picks. The OHL’s trade deadline is on Jan. 9 at 10:00 a.m. MT.
Any time a NHL prospect is moved ahead of the OHL trade deadline, it tends to involve many picks.  Last week, the Kitchener Rangers acquired Vancouver Canucks’ prospect Gabriel Chiarot from the Brampton Steelheads for eight picks and the rights to Adam Valentini. Last year, Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Gibson was traded to the Oshawa Generals for Brady Smith and eight picks.
Battaglia is the lone Flames’ prospect playing in the OHL this season, but they have three prospects playing in the Western Hockey League: Saskatoon Blades’ Hunter Laing, Calgary Hitmen’s Axel Hurtig, and Medicine Hat Tigers’ Andrew Basha, who recently returned to join the best team in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
All three prospects currently sit firmly in a playoff spot, with the WHL’s trade deadline also on Friday, albeit at 6:00 p.m. MT.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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