Drew O’Connor Bio
Drew James O’Connor (born June 9, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Chatham, New Jersey native began his hockey journey playing at the youth level in New Jersey before advancing to collegiate hockey at Dartmouth College, where he developed into one of the most prolific scorers in program history. After completing his collegiate career, O’Connor signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and made his NHL debut in 2021. He spent several seasons developing within the Penguins organization before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in January 2025, where he quickly signed a long-term extension and continued his professional career at the highest level of professional hockey.
Early Life and Background
Drew O’Connor was born on June 9, 1998, in Chatham, New Jersey, to parents Shawn and Meagan O’Connor. As a young child, O’Connor and his older brother Jack would skate every Saturday at a rink in Bayonne, New Jersey, developing their passion for hockey from an early age. O’Connor grew up with two sisters, Erin and McKenna, in a supportive family environment that encouraged his athletic pursuits. His early exposure to the sport laid the foundation for what would become a decorated amateur hockey career.
While growing up in New Jersey, O’Connor represented his home state on multiple occasions at the youth level. In 2010, he played in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New Jersey Colonials minor ice hockey team, and he also tried out for the New York Rangers Quebec Team. During his time with the Colonials, O’Connor scored the game-winning goal to clinch the 2011 USA 12U Hockey National Championship, marking one of his first major accomplishments on the national stage.
Path to Professional Hockey
In 2013, O’Connor began his high school career at the Delbarton School in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. However, as his ice time at Delbarton declined, he made the decision to leave the team after his junior year and joined the North Jersey Avalanche in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. In his first season with the Avalanche, O’Connor split time between the U18 team and the junior team, helping them win the T1EHL Championship and earning a berth in the USA Hockey Nationals.
Despite his success at the junior level, O’Connor did not receive any hockey scholarships upon graduating high school. After taking part in a summer showcase in July where he performed well, he received enrollment offers from Division III schools and Dartmouth College. Although Dartmouth offered him a spot, the coaches recommended that O’Connor spend a year of junior hockey with the Boston Junior Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference in the United States Premier Hockey League. In their inaugural NCDC season, O’Connor scored 39 points through 49 games, demonstrating his ability to produce at a high level. Although he graduated high school at 5-foot-10, O’Connor arrived on the Dartmouth campus in 2018 at 6-foot-3, having undergone significant physical development.
Drew O’Connor Career
Dartmouth College (2018–2020)
O’Connor played for the Dartmouth Big Green at Dartmouth College from 2018 to 2020, enrolling in the School of Liberal Arts and majoring in sociology. He made an immediate impact in his freshman season, scoring three points including his first collegiate goal in his debut game as the Big Green defeated Harvard 6–5 in overtime. He earned multiple ECAC Rookie of the Week honors throughout the season, including recognition for tallying six goals over five games in March. O’Connor finished his freshman season with 17 goals and 28 points, becoming the only rookie to earn a spot on either the first or second All-Ivy League Team. His goal total ranked second among all Division I first-year players in the 2018–19 season and third among freshmen in program history.
Following his outstanding freshman campaign, O’Connor was invited to participate in the Boston Bruins Development Camp in June and July. He returned to Dartmouth for the 2019–20 season and broke out offensively, earning ECAC Hockey Player of the Week honors after tallying six points over three games in November. As injuries mounted within the team, O’Connor was moved from wing to center and responded by scoring two goals in his first game at the position. He recorded the first collegiate hat trick in a 5–3 win over Union on February 28, becoming the first Dartmouth player since Scott Fleming in 2009–10 to reach 20 goals and the first Dartmouth player to lead the league in conference goals in 40 years.
O’Connor finished the 2019–20 season with 21 goals through 29 games, becoming the fourth player in Dartmouth history to be named the Ivy League Player of the Year. He also became the eighth Dartmouth player to earn a selection onto the ECAC First Team and the first Dartmouth player recognized by the New England Hockey Writers Association as an All-New England All-Star since David Jones in 2006–07.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2020–2025)
Following the conclusion of his collegiate career, O’Connor signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had also received interest from the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, and Anaheim Ducks during the free agency period. As the NHL paused play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Connor was loaned to Manglerud Star in Norway, where he tallied six goals and four assists through seven games before reporting to the Penguins training camp.
After attending the Penguins training camp, O’Connor was assigned to their Taxi Squad to begin the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season. He was recalled to the NHL on January 26 after Evan Rodrigues was injured and made his NHL debut that night in a 3–2 win over the Boston Bruins. O’Connor tallied his first NHL assist while seeing time on the second power-play unit. He spent the remainder of the season bouncing between the NHL and AHL, eventually finishing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he scored his first professional goal in his first game to lead the team to a 6–3 win over the Binghamton Devils.
During the 2021 offseason, O’Connor made significant lifestyle changes including cutting out all gluten and dairy, and he worked on adding weight and improving his speed in the gym. After impressing at the Penguins 2021 training camp, he made their opening night roster for the 2021–22 season. On October 16, 2021, O’Connor scored his first career NHL goal to lead the Penguins to a 5–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, with his goal and assist helping coach Mike Sullivan achieve the most wins in Pittsburgh Penguins history. Later that season, O’Connor suffered a collapsed lung in January 2022 that caused him to miss 11 games. He signed a one-year contract extension on March 12, 2022, and finished the AHL regular season with a career-high 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points while leading the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 0.98 points-per-game.
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, the Penguins signed O’Connor to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $925,000. While O’Connor started training camp on their third line, he finished the preseason on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. However, O’Connor struggled to produce consistent results during the season, suffering through a 32-game goal drought before breaking the streak on December 31, 2024, by scoring both Penguins goals in a 4–2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Vancouver Canucks (2025–Present)
On January 31, 2025, O’Connor was traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with defenseman Marcus Pettersson, in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, right wing prospect Melvin Fernström, and a conditional 2025 first-round pick. Less than three weeks after being acquired by Vancouver, O’Connor signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension to remain with the Canucks through the 2026–27 season, demonstrating the team’s confidence in his abilities and long-term potential.
Playing Style and Strengths
O’Connor plays the left wing position and shoots left. His physical transformation from a 5-foot-10 high school graduate to a 6-foot-3 professional athlete has contributed to his effectiveness at the NHL level. He has demonstrated the ability to play both wing and center positions, showing versatility that proved valuable to his teams throughout his professional career. His two-way play and ability to contribute in various offensive situations have made him a reliable depth player at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, O’Connor has achieved several notable milestones at both the collegiate and professional levels. His Dartmouth career saw him break multiple program and conference records, while his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins marked the beginning of his professional journey. Scoring his first NHL goal against the Chicago Blackhawks while helping coach Mike Sullivan set the franchise’s coaching wins record represented a significant professional achievement. His trade to Vancouver in January 2025 opened a new chapter in his career, and his subsequent contract extension reflected his importance to the team’s future plans.
Drew O’Connor Career Highlights
Throughout his hockey career, Drew O’Connor has accumulated notable achievements across multiple levels of competition, from youth hockey through his professional career in the NHL and international play.
International Achievements
Following the 2022–23 NHL season, O’Connor was selected to represent the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. While Team USA failed to medal that year, O’Connor tallied three goals and five assists for eight points through 10 games played, demonstrating his ability to contribute at the international level. He returned to represent the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded one goal and three assists in ten games and helped Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933, a historic achievement for American hockey.
Collegiate and Junior Achievements
At the youth level, O’Connor won the 2011 USA 12U Hockey National Championship with the New Jersey Colonials, scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game. His collegiate career at Dartmouth saw him become the fourth player in program history to be named Ivy League Player of the Year, a first-team All-ECAC selection, and an All-New England All-Star. He led the conference in goals during his sophomore season, marking the first Dartmouth player to accomplish that feat in 40 years.
Drew O’Connor Family
Family Background
Drew O’Connor was born in Chatham, New Jersey, to parents Shawn and Meagan O’Connor. His father Shawn and mother Meagan supported his hockey ambitions from the earliest stages of his career, frequently taking young Drew and his older brother Jack to skate at the Bayonne rink every Saturday. O’Connor grew up alongside his two sisters, Erin and McKenna, in a family that fostered his athletic development and passion for hockey.
Personal Life
Following his professional hockey career, O’Connor re-enrolled at Dartmouth College to finish his Bachelor’s degree in sociology, officially graduating on September 7, 2023. While completing classes over the summer, he trained and worked out at Dartmouth’s Thompson Arena, demonstrating his commitment to completing his education alongside his professional hockey pursuits. O’Connor maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle @drewoc, where he shares glimpses of his professional and personal life with his followers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant turning point in Drew O’Connor’s professional career. After struggling with consistency during his final seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, including a memorable 32-game goal drought, O’Connor was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on January 31, 2025. The trade brought new opportunities and a fresh start for the young winger. Less than three weeks after arriving in Vancouver, O’Connor signed a lucrative two-year, $5 million contract extension, signaling the Canucks’ belief in his potential to contribute to their long-term success.
Following the NHL regular season, O’Connor represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he played a key role in helping Team USA capture their first gold medal since 1933. This international triumph provided a memorable conclusion to a season that began with uncertainty and transition. O’Connor’s performance at the world championship demonstrated his ability to elevate his play when representing his country on the biggest international stage.
Looking ahead, O’Connor is positioned to be a contributor for the Vancouver Canucks as they pursue their competitive goals in the NHL. His contract extension through the 2026–27 season provides him with stability and the opportunity to continue developing his game at the highest professional level while representing one of the league’s storied franchises. The combination of his collegiate achievements, NHL experience, and international success with Team USA provides a strong foundation for continued growth and accomplishments in professional hockey.