Brandon Saad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brandon Saad
Saad with the Chicago Blackhawks in December 2014
Born	(1992-10-27) October 27, 1992 (age 32) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Vegas Golden Knights Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Colorado Avalanche St. Louis Blues
NHL Draft	43rd overall, 2011 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2011–present

Brandon Saad (born October 27, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey player. He plays as a forward for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League (NHL). Brandon is known for his strong play and has won the Stanley Cup twice. He won both times with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.

Saad grew up playing hockey in Pennsylvania. He then played for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in 2011. After starting his NHL career, he became a full-time player for the Blackhawks in 2013. He later played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues before joining the Golden Knights. Brandon has also played for the United States in international tournaments, winning a gold medal in 2010.

Early life and youth hockey

Brandon Saad was born on October 27, 1992, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, George Sr., is Syrian, and his mother, Sandy, is American.

Growing up in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, Brandon played youth hockey for the Pittsburgh Hornets. In the 2005–06 season, he scored 16 goals and had 21 assists with the U14 Hornets. He also played in big tournaments like the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. Brandon played for the U18 Hornets and his high school team, the Pine-Richland High Rams. With the U18 Hornets, he set a team record with 54 goals and 124 points in one season.

Playing career highlights

Amateur hockey journey

Brandon Saad chose not to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) right away in 2008. Instead, he played with his older brother for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). While with the Phantoms, Brandon played for the United States under-17 team. He helped them win a bronze medal at the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He was also named the NAHL's Rookie of the Year.

For the 2009–10 season, Saad joined the NTDP. He scored 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in his only season there. After the NTDP, Brandon joined the Saginaw Spirit for the 2010–11 OHL season. He had a great start, scoring four goals in his first five games. He finished the season with 27 goals and 28 assists. In 2012, he won the William Hanley Trophy as the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him 43rd overall in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Starting with the Chicago Blackhawks (2011–2015)

Brandon Saad signed a three-year contract with the Blackhawks in October 2011. He made his NHL debut on October 7, 2011. After two games, he was sent back to Saginaw. He returned to the Blackhawks for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. He got his first NHL point with an assist on April 19, 2012.

Before the 2012–13 NHL season, Saad played for the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks' minor league team. He scored his first professional goal in November. When the NHL season started, Saad joined the Blackhawks full-time. He scored his first NHL goal on February 5, 2013. He finished his first NHL season with 10 goals and 17 assists. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.

Saad during the Chicago Blackhawks' 2013 Stanley Cup parade.

In the 2013 playoffs, Saad played on the Blackhawks' top line. He scored his first playoff goal in the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. On June 24, 2013, Brandon Saad became the first player from the Saginaw Spirit to win a Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks defeated the Bruins in six games.

For the 2013–14 season, Saad continued to play well. He scored 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points. In the 2014 playoffs, he had two goals in a game against the Minnesota Wild. He also set new career highs in playoff points. The Blackhawks were eliminated by the Los Angeles Kings in game 7.

Saad drives to the net during the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park.

Saad had a great 2014–15 season. He often played on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. He finished the season with a career-high 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points. In the 2015 playoffs, Saad scored important goals. He helped the Blackhawks win their second Stanley Cup in three years. In game 4 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, he scored two goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blackhawks won the series and the Stanley Cup.

Time with Columbus and return to Chicago (2015–2020)

After winning the 2015 Stanley Cup, Brandon Saad was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He signed a six-year contract with them. In his first season (2015–16), he was named an NHL All-Star. He scored his first career NHL hat-trick on April 2, 2016. He finished the season with a career-high 31 goals and 53 points.

In the 2016–17 season, Saad continued to be a key player for the Blue Jackets. He played his 300th NHL game in November 2016. He also reached 200 career NHL points in December. He finished the season with 24 goals and 29 assists. The Blue Jackets made the playoffs but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On June 23, 2017, Saad was traded back to the Chicago Blackhawks. He started the 2017–18 season with a hat-trick in the first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a new team record for goals in a season opener. He finished the season with 18 goals and 17 assists.

In the 2018–19 season, Saad played on different lines. He scored two goals in his 500th career NHL game on February 1, 2019. He finished the season with 23 goals and 24 assists. The Blackhawks did not make the playoffs that year.

For the 2019–20 season, Saad played on the first line with Jonathan Toews. He scored 11 goals by December 2019. He missed some games due to an ankle injury. When the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saad had 21 goals.

Colorado Avalanche (2020–2021)

On October 10, 2020, the Blackhawks traded Saad to the Colorado Avalanche. He made his debut with the Avalanche on January 13, 2021. He scored two goals in a game against the San Jose Sharks in January. On February 14, 2021, Saad played in his 600th career NHL game. He finished the season with 15 goals and 9 assists. The Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy as the best regular season team.

In the 2021 playoffs, Saad continued to score. He scored in the first two games against the St. Louis Blues. He set a new record for his longest goal streak in the playoffs. He scored seven goals in nine playoff games. The Avalanche were eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights.

St. Louis Blues (2021–2025)

As a free agent, Brandon Saad signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 29, 2021. He had a successful first season (2021–22) with the Blues. He was one of seven Blues players to score at least 20 goals. He finished the regular season with 24 goals. The Blues made the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.

In the 2022–23 season, Saad started slowly but improved. He scored five goals and two assists in four games after changing lines. On October 22, 2024, Saad scored his 500th career NHL point against the Winnipeg Jets. On January 4, 2025, he scored a natural hat trick in a 4–0 win over the Ottawa Senators. This was his third career hat trick.

After playing 43 games in the 2024–25 season, the Blues placed Saad on waivers. He then refused to report to their minor league team. His contract with the Blues was ended on January 28, 2025.

Vegas Golden Knights (2025–present)

Following his time with the Blues, Brandon Saad signed a one-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on January 31, 2025. He quickly made an impact, scoring three points in his first five games. He played 29 games with the Golden Knights, scoring six goals and eight assists. The Golden Knights made the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

In the playoffs, Saad had two assists as the Golden Knights advanced to the second round. He suffered an injury in game 2 of their series. After the season, Saad signed a one-year extension to stay with the Golden Knights.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
World U18 Championships
Gold	2010 Belarus

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009	United States	U17			7	6	5	11	2
2010	United States	U18			7	3	3	6	4
2012	United States	WJC	7th		6	1	5	6	0
2016	Team North America	WCH	5th		3	0	0	0	2
Junior totals					20	10	13	23	6
Senior totals					3	0	0	0	2

Awards and honors