Jakob Pelletier Bio
Jakob Pelletier is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Syracuse Crunch in the American Hockey League while under contract to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Born on March 7, 2001, in Quebec City, Quebec, Pelletier was selected by the Calgary Flames with the 26th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He is known for his offensive skill, hockey IQ, and sportsmanlike play throughout his junior and professional career.
Early Life and Background
Pelletier was born in Quebec City, Quebec, to parents Mario and Nancy. He began skating at the age of three and spent one season playing alongside his older brother Thomas at the novice level, despite Thomas being three years older. Growing up in Quebec’s hockey culture, Pelletier developed his skills early and showed promise as a talented young player.
During his youth career, Pelletier participated in several prestigious tournaments. In 2011, he played in the Brick Hockey Invitational Hockey Tournament with the Montreal Ice Storm. He later led the Citadelles de Québec to victory in the 2013 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, scoring three goals and one assist during the championship game and earning Player of the Game honors.
Path to Professional Hockey
During the 2015-16 season, Pelletier captained the Typhon du SSF-Québec Bantam AAA team while recording 50 points over 31 games. He then joined the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François in the Ligue de développement du hockey M18 AAA for the 2016-17 season. In his first 15 games with the team, he ranked fourth in the league with nine goals and 22 points. He finished the season with 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points as the Blizzard finished first in the league with a 29-8-3 regular-season record.
In the Blizzard’s 2017 playoff run, Pelletier collected 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points over 17 games, leading the team to the championships. His final goal of the tournament was the game-winner to defeat the Estacades de Trois-Rivières. He was recognized with the Trophée Clement-Filion as LHMAAAQ playoff MVP and received the Trophée Patrice-Bergeron as the league’s most sportsmanlike player. Following their championship win, the Blizzard participated in the 2017 Telus Cup midget hockey national championships, where Pelletier scored the game-winning goal over the Regina Pat Canadians and finished with a silver medal.
Jakob Pelletier Career
QMJHL Career (2017-2021)
As a result of his dominating season, Pelletier was drafted third overall by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2017 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft. He made an immediate impact in his rookie season, scoring 23 goals and 38 assists for 61 points as the Wildcats qualified for the 2018 President Cup. His performance earned him a spot on the QMJHL All-Rookie Team.
During the 2018 off-season, Pelletier was named to Team Canada’s U18 team for the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he helped the team win a gold medal. The following season, despite a delayed start due to injury, he was named the QMJHL’s Forward of the Month of October after tallying nine goals and 16 assists through 15 games. He finished the regular season with a career-high 39 goals and 50 assists for 89 points.
Leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Pelletier was ranked 27th among all North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. He was praised by scouts as one of the smartest players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was eventually selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Calgary Flames and signed a three-year entry-level contract on September 23, 2019.
The 2019-20 season proved to be Pelletier’s final season with the Wildcats. Although selected to represent Team Canada at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, a concussion prevented him from playing. He recorded his 200th career regular-season point during the season and finished with 32 goals and 50 assists for 82 points over 57 games. His exceptional sportsmanlike play, with only eight minor penalties, earned him the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player in the QMJHL. He was subsequently traded to the Val-d’Or Foreurs in June 2020.
Calgary Flames Era (2021-2025)
After playing one season with the Val-d’Or Foreurs, Pelletier began his professional career with the Stockton Heat in the American Hockey League for the 2021-22 season. He scored his first professional goal in his second game and quickly earned a spot on the Heat’s top line. Pelletier’s consistent offensive output through October and November helped the Heat maintain an impressive 11-2-2 record through their first 15 games.
On March 9, 2022, Pelletier recorded his first career AHL hat-trick in a 5-2 win over the San Diego Gulls. A few weeks later, he earned the AHL’s Player of the Week honor after recording five goals and two assists over four games. He finished the season leading all rookies with 27 goals and ranked second with 62 points, setting a new rookie scoring record. His performance earned him a spot on the AHL’s 2021-22 All-Rookie Team.
During the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs, Pelletier contributed four goals and three assists for seven points over 13 playoff games as the Heat advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Following the 2022 off-season, the Flames relocated their AHL affiliate to Calgary and renamed them the Calgary Wranglers.
Pelletier was recalled to the NHL level on January 7, 2023, and made his NHL debut on January 21 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He recorded his first career NHL goal on February 11 against the Buffalo Sabres. However, his rookie NHL season was interrupted by occasional healthy scratches as he adjusted to the professional level.
During the 2023 preseason, Pelletier suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery in October, causing him to miss three months of play. He made his season debut on February 6, 2024, against the Boston Bruins but re-injured his shoulder shortly after.
Recent Career Moves (2025)
On January 30, 2025, Pelletier was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers along with Andrei Kuzmenko and two draft picks in exchange for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. He was not tendered a qualifying offer following the season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
On July 2, 2025, Pelletier signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While playing for the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, he set a franchise record with points in 19 consecutive games.
Jakob Pelletier Career Highlights
Throughout his hockey career, Pelletier has accumulated numerous accolades at both the junior and professional levels. His combination of offensive production and sportsmanlike play has distinguished him throughout his career.
Major Achievements
At the junior level, Pelletier won gold with Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, earned QMJHL All-Rookie Team honors in 2017-18, and won the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL’s most sportsmanlike player in 2019-20. He was also named to the LHMAAAQ First All-Star Team and received the Trophée Clement-Filion as playoff MVP.
In the AHL, Pelletier was named to the 2021-22 All-Rookie Team after leading all rookies with 27 goals and finishing second in scoring with 62 points. He earned AHL Player of the Week honors during the 2021-22 season and set a Syracuse Crunch franchise record with a 19-game point streak in 2025.
Jakob Pelletier Family
Family Background
Pelletier was born in Quebec City, Quebec, to parents Mario and Nancy. His older brother Thomas also played hockey and was three years older than Jakob. The two brothers spent one season playing together at the novice level, providing Jakob with early experience competing against older players.
Personal Life
Pelletier maintains an active presence on social media, with an Instagram account where he shares updates about his hockey career. He has represented Canada internationally at both the U18 and World Junior levels, earning a gold medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant transition in Pelletier’s professional career. After beginning the year with the Philadelphia Flyers organization following a January trade, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in July 2025.
Upon joining the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, Pelletier immediately made an impact. He set a franchise record by recording points in 19 consecutive games, demonstrating the offensive consistency that has characterized his career. This performance solidified his value as a key prospect within the Lightning organization.
Looking ahead, Pelletier continues to work toward establishing himself as a regular NHL contributor with the Tampa Bay Lightning while maintaining his strong play with the Crunch in the American Hockey League.