Vancouver Giants have traded captain Mazden Leslie to Kelowna Rockets in exchange for a conditional 2028 first-round pick and a conditional 2026 third-round pick.

A native of Lloydminster, Alberta, Leslie brings elite offensive production from the blueline and valuable leadership experience. The 6鈥�1鈥�, 202-pound defender spent the past four seasons with the Giants, serving as their captain in 2024-25. 

"The Giants would like to thank Mazden for the significant time he put into our organization over the last five years," Giants Assistant General Manager Pete Toigo said. "This provides an opportunity for him to compete for a Memorial Cup in the event that he returns to the WHL next season."

Leslie is committed to Bowling Green State University for the 2026鈥�27 season.

鈥淢azden is a player we are very familiar with,鈥� said Rockets Assistant GM Curtis Hamilton. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a defenceman who does a little bit of everything and his competence is never in question. We look forward to working with him and are hopeful that we will see him in a Rockets jersey next season.鈥�

Originally selected by the Giants in the first round (10th overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Leslie is the Giants franchise leader for career goals by a defencemen with 57. He also ranks 10th all-time among all Giants skaters with 190 points (57G-133A) and sixth in career games with 280. His 72 points last season tied Kevin Connauton for the most in a single season by a Giants defenceman. 

Beyond his regular season performance, Leslie has appeared in 21 career WHL playoff games, collecting eight playoff points across his postseason appearances, including three goals and fiv assists.

Leslie was ranked 133rd among North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings for the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.