Sam Lafferty Bio
Sam Lafferty is an American professional ice hockey player who is a center for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Buffalo Sabres. Born and raised in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Lafferty attended Hollidaysburg Area High School before a spot opened at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. His collegiate career was spent at Brown University where he achieved notable success before transitioning to professional hockey in 2018.
Early Life and Background
Sam Lafferty was born on March 6, 1995, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, to parents Jill and Andy. His parents later divorced, and his mother remarried to Dave Weaver, who coached Lafferty during his formative years. Inspired to play hockey after the 2000–01 NHL season, Lafferty began his journey in the sport by attending a skating clinic run by Weaver. He and his younger brother Charlie played for the Mid-State Mustangs and the Altoona Trackers in the Pittsburgh Area Hockey League.
Lafferty spent his freshman and most of his sophomore years at Hollidaysburg Area High School before applying to prep schools. He initially committed to attend Shady Side Academy but later transferred to Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. During the 2013–14 season, Lafferty achieved a career-best 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in just 25 games, earning a spot on the 2014 Prep School All-New England team. Over three seasons at Deerfield, he tallied 38 goals and 57 assists for a total of 95 points in 74 games.
Path to Hockey
Following his graduation in 2014, Lafferty was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Despite being drafted, he opted to play four seasons of college hockey with the Brown Bears men’s ice hockey team from 2014 to 2018. In his freshman season, Lafferty played in all 31 games, finishing fourth on the team with eight assists and fifth with four goals. He also competed in Division I golf and qualified for the 2015 Ivy League Men’s Golf Championship.
Lafferty’s sophomore year saw a decrease in offensive production, but he bounced back during his junior season, leading the Bears in scoring with 35 points in 31 games. His performance earned him selections to the All-ECAC Third Team and the Third Team All-Ivy League. In his senior season, Lafferty recorded eight goals and 14 assists, was named a second-time assistant captain, and received the ECAC Player of the Week award in February 2018.
Sam Lafferty Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Lafferty concluded his collegiate career on March 7, 2018, by signing an amateur tryout agreement with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the remainder of the 2017–18 season. He also signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that began in the 2018–19 season. Upon joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lafferty scored his first professional goal on April 3, 2018, against the Hershey Bears.
After attending Pittsburgh’s 2018 training camp, he was reassigned to their AHL affiliate. In his first professional season, Lafferty scored 49 points in 70 games, becoming the team’s second-leading scorer. He made his NHL debut on October 8, 2019, and scored his first NHL goal and assist a few days later in a game against the Minnesota Wild.
Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On January 5, 2022, Lafferty was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Alexander Nylander. During the 2022–23 NHL season, he established new offensive highs, finishing the season with 12 goals and 27 points in 70 games between the Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was traded to the Maple Leafs along with Jake McCabe and two future draft selections on February 27, 2023.
At the end of the Maple Leafs’ 2023 training camp, Lafferty was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a fifth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on October 8, 2023. On June 26, 2024, Lafferty was traded back to the Blackhawks, and on July 1, 2024, he signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. After just one season with the Sabres, he returned to the Blackhawks on July 1, 2025, in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Sam Lafferty Family
Sam Lafferty is married to Madison Stillman, who is the daughter of former NHL player Cory Stillman and the sister of current NHL players Riley and Chase Stillman. The couple has a son together.
Personal Life
Lafferty’s personal life is characterized by his dedication to family and his professional career. He maintains a low profile outside of hockey, focusing on his role as a player and a husband. His family background in hockey has influenced his career, and he continues to be an active participant in the sport.